Chapter Sixty-Two: A Chapter Full of Flavor

Wang Beibei said, "There are more than a dozen people in my family, all counting on me to send them money for living expenses. If they find out I’ve been deported, they’ll be worried sick."

Handsome Hao replied, "No, I don’t think so. I believe your family must miss you a lot. They definitely want you to come home, to reunite with them."

Wang Beibei said, "Mr. Hao."

Handsome Hao responded, "Hmm?"

Wang Beibei asked, "Could you stay with me a little longer?"

Handsome Hao was taken aback, glanced around, then squatted down beside her. Wang Beibei opened her bag and gazed at the lunchbox, momentarily lost in thought.

She said, "When I first came to M City, I worked in this very restaurant."

Handsome Hao was surprised, "You worked here?"

Wang Beibei replied, "Waitress, flyer distributor, courier, factory worker—I’ve done them all. Did you think that just because I’m pretty I get special privileges? That I don’t need to work? I scraped together some savings, joined audition after audition, and finally made a name for myself. Did you think all I know is romance? That I rely on men?"

Handsome Hao quickly said, "No, no, I never meant that. Truly."

Wang Beibei continued, "Lately, it feels like I’ve been dreaming a very long dream. I struggled so hard for so many years, and all of a sudden, I’m back to square one. But maybe returning home isn’t so bad—I can settle down and be a simple village girl. Let me ask you something: If I wasn’t a seductress, would people trust me more?"

Handsome Hao mumbled, "Yes, they would."

Then, suddenly realizing, he corrected himself, "No, no, that’s not it—it’s not about that, not about being a seductress. I mean, I hope—you understand what I mean?"

Wang Beibei smiled, "I do. Thank you."

Handsome Hao said, "It’s nothing. You’d better eat while it’s still hot."

After leaving Wang Beibei, Handsome Hao headed to the evidence room. He found Wang Beibei’s fart bottle, pondered for a long time, then resolutely opened the lid. Moments later, he emerged from another door, patting the shoulder of Wang Zixuan, who was busy writing the closure report. Wang Zixuan, several detectives, and a few investigation center staff were all present. They watched as Handsome Hao walked out from a cloud of white smoke.

Little Deng exclaimed, "I’m exhausted—gas leak! Run!"

At that moment, alarms sounded. In the blink of an eye, everyone had vanished. Even the customers and staff at the front were driven out by the fumes.

Wang Zixuan had just stood up and said, "I want—"

He hadn’t finished speaking before nausea overtook him, and he rushed out without a second glance at Handsome Hao. But the unluckiest of all was Old Xie, who ran a small restaurant nearby.

Old Xie came out shouting, "Don’t run! You haven’t paid yet!"

Before he could finish, he clutched the nearest pillar and started vomiting.

Handsome Hao had no idea how long he’d been unconscious. When he finally came to, he braved the lingering stench and made his way to the detention center. He reached Wang Beibei’s cell, only to vomit again. When there was nothing left, he forced himself upright, fighting the nausea.

Handsome Hao asked, "Miss Wang, please tell me—aside from you, who else has your fart?"

Wang Beibei replied, "What?"

Handsome Hao pressed, "If you want to clear your name, you’d better speak up."

Late at night, Handsome Hao took a taxi to an old neighborhood, got out, and, phone in hand, began searching for the address.