https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-67-The-Canteen-Lady-s-Anomaly-is-the-Strongest/12969574/
Chapter 68: A Confrontation!
Chapter 68: A Confrontation!
Clang!
With a loud clatter, half a pudding shattered on the table, leaping up and gracefully soaring over the small mountain of stewed beef. It then plummeted into Lyon's soup bowl with a plop.
???
Lyon, who was enjoying his meal, paused, looking up in surprise. To his astonishment, he saw a familiar face filled with anger sitting across from him.
The wasteful female officer from this morning?
Are you kidding me? With so many empty seats, why did you choose to sit across from your "enemy"? Are we even acquainted?
"Miss Isa."
Considering her identity as a secret police officer, Lyon put down his fork politely and gestured to a nearby empty seat, saying, "I prefer eating alone, so if it's convenient for you, could you please move over there..."
"No!"
Seeing the person who had treated her like a fool this morning and was now stealing her lunch, the female officer glared at Lyon while untying her scarf and placing it on the table. Through gritted teeth, she said, "I'm sitting right here today! If you don't like it, you can leave!"
"Very well, then I'll change seats. I hope you can keep your promise and stay here without moving!"
As the female officer's expression turned slightly bewildered, Lyon grinned with a sinister smile and carried his plate away, sitting at the adjacent seat. He casually speared a piece of tender stewed beef, savoring it with a look of pure bliss.
Ah, some people in the police department might be detestable, but the cafeteria's food was undoubtedly top-notch! Especially this home-style stewed beef, it wasn't an extravagant dish, but the chef had clearly put in a lot of effort.
The beef had been seared before cooking, preserving its tenderness. The ratio of broth was also well-considered, neither too much nor too little, ensuring the flavors weren't diluted or overly saturated.
Lyon's teeth gently pressed down, and the broth infused with white pepper, bay leaves, and cloves oozed out from the tender beef fibers. The flavorful broth, with its hint of spiciness, instantly conquered his taste buds.
On a chilly autumn day when fingers could freeze from the cold wind, having a mouthful of this tender, slightly spicy beef was a true delight for a busy worker like Lyon.
Damn it, I can't take this anymore!
She glanced at Lyon's blissful expression and the delicious broth on the corner of his mouth. Then, she looked at her own plate, where the fried pork cutlet had turned cold due to being left out for too long. The female officer, who had endured a terrible day, felt her eyes well up with tears.
I've never seen such an arrogant rebel!
After sneaking into the police department by chance, instead of being discreet and hiding, he had the audacity to boldly enjoy the police cafeteria right in front of her, savoring the stewed beef that was meant for her! How dare he...
Damn it! And now he's smacking his lips!
Clang!
The sound of the iron plate hitting the table echoed again. After witnessing Lyon's blissful eating, the female officer abandoned her earlier promise to stay seated. She picked up her plate and sat down across from Lyon, glaring at him with intense hatred.
I've made up my mind! I'll use the most sinister expression I can muster and tell him...
You don't think no one knows what you did four days ago, do you?
According to the director, the department can't arrest this jerk, nor do they plan to feed him false information. Since the lead has been completely abandoned, I might as well use it to scare him!
I can warn him to tone down his behavior and let him know that we secret police aren't just idling around! Hopefully, he'll realize that he should leave after being exposed!
...
"You..."
Just as the enraged female officer slammed her hand on the table, ready to confront Lyon even if it meant violating the Secret Service's discipline and getting fired, the jerk across from her glared back first. With a cold expression, he asked, "Why are you wasting food?"
"Huh?"
What do you mean, 'huh'?
Lyon, who had experienced three years of eating rice pudding almost daily and scavenging bread crusts from trash cans when hunger struck, couldn't help but feel upset at the sight of the rice pudding scattered across the table.
As he frowned and looked up, about to say something like, "Don't waste food. At least half the people in the capital city can't even afford to eat what you've spilled on the table," he noticed the clothes the female officer was wearing.
According to the regulations of the Kingdom Police Department, except for officers on duty or at their service locations, the department does not usually require officers to wear uniforms. However, the female police officers' duty attire is simple yet elegant, with fine embroidery at the collar and a fabric that always remains smooth and wrinkle-free, no matter how it moves. One glance reveals its undeniable value.
So... what's the point of telling her all this?
Lyon looked down at his old coat, examined his thin elbows, and the exposed cotton core where the collar lining had worn through. He couldn't help but laugh at himself and gave up the idea of reasoning with her. He glanced at her indifferently and then lowered his head again.
"Forget it, as if I never said anything."
"..."
The female officer, who had been furious just moments ago, looked at Lyon as he lowered his head and continued eating, now refusing to even glance at her. She was at a loss for words and remained frozen in her seat.
Due to long-term malnutrition, Lyon was rather thin, with little flesh on his cheeks, making his eyes appear especially large and expressive.
Just as the Red-Haired Bureau Chief had said, although Lyon didn't talk much and rarely showed expressions, one look into his eyes revealed a person with rich inner emotions. His eyes spoke volumes.
At that moment, the female officer was shaken by the coldness emanating from his eyes, a coldness that kept people at a distance.
It wasn't disgust, disdain, anger, or hatred, but a pure coldness devoid of any other emotion.
Summer insects cannot speak of ice.
Although she had never heard this saying before, the female officer unexpectedly read a similar meaning from Lyon's fleeting glance. It was an extreme coldness that came from clearly recognizing the vast difference between them and not even bothering to communicate.
What... what was that?
Struggling to find the right words to describe that gaze, she snapped out of her daze and felt the stares directed at her. Listening to the whispers in the canteen, she looked at Lyon, who was still eating his stewed beef with an indifferent expression. The female officer's face turned bright red as if by magic!
"You bastard!"
I'll show you!
Accompanied by the harsh sound of the chair scraping across the floor, the female officer stood up abruptly. She lifted one side of the plate with both hands and emptied its contents onto Lyon's plate with a clatter. Then, amidst countless astonished gazes, she bit her lip, lowered her head, and ran out, leaving Lyon behind.
???
Are you... insane?!
Unaware of the psychological impact his glance had on the proud female officer, Lyon's anger rose as he looked at his now-empty plate.
Although the female officer wasn't the sharpest, her physical abilities were exceptional. By the time Lyon reacted and stood up to chase after her, she was already running with long strides, leaving no trace.
"..."
Lyon took a breath and reminded himself not to be foolish. He looked at the unfinished food on his plate and silently repeated this thought several times before sitting down again with a dark expression. He picked at the food, even tasting the rice pudding that had spilled onto the table.
It must be said that the dessert, a favorite among female officers, tasted delightful. It was a well-crafted dish, requiring the mixing of eggs, milk, white pepper, bay leaf, cloves, beef shoulder, and raisins with the rice, and then steaming it until the sugar dissolved and the rice became pudding.
Even though it had cooled down, the dish remained smooth and silky, with a sweet aroma that was soothing to the soul.
After sampling the fried pork cutlet and apple pie, both of which were equally delicious, Lyon's appetite was satisfied, and he managed to suppress his anger, nodding in contentment.
Not bad, the female officer might have her quirks, but she had good taste in food. Next time, I'll order the same thing.
Lyon, immersed in the delicious meal, didn't notice that on the table where they had first confronted each other, there lay a hand-knitted scarf with the word "Isa" embroidered on it.
As for the female officer who had just emptied her plate and run off, she had returned to the canteen entrance, standing there in a daze, watching Lyon pick up the scarf from the table and carefully place it around his neck, cherishing it as he ate the mixed-up contents of her plate.
In the afternoon, Lyon, a man with a modest appetite, arrives home with cat food and toys from the department store. He had previously endured a large serving from the cafeteria lady and a double portion from a foolish female police officer, managing to finish the meal with sheer willpower.
After resting and feeling his bloated stomach, Lyon checks the time and realizes it's almost 3:30 pm. He prepares the house for the witch's cat, setting out various toys and two bowls, one with water and the other with cat food. However, he realizes he forgot to buy a litter box and ends up using his own washbasin filled with sand.
At 3:30 pm, a small, short-legged, fluffy-haired cat arrives, meowing politely. The cat, Mango, presents Lyon with a card, introducing itself as the witch's pet. Mango then offers another card, explaining its non-black color, unlike typical witch's cats.
Through card exchanges, Lyon learns that Mango's owner prefers gray or white clothing and enjoys playing with flying discs, hence the lack of concern for fur on their clothes. Lyon invites Mango inside, and the cat requests to use the bathroom first.
(End of Chapter)
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