Happiness Road lived up to its name, a street brimming with the scent of everyday life.
Both sides of the street were lined with shops, and the air was filled with the tempting aroma of breakfast.
Jiang Ning put her hand on her stomach and stepped into a breakfast shop nearby.
"Boss, give me a serving of steamed rice noodles."
After ordering, Jiang Ning casually found a spot to sit down.
As she waited for her meal, she chatted with the System in her mind, "Do I really have to catch these criminals myself? Can't I just provide the clues and let the police catch them?"
There were so many fugitives on the System's interface.
Providing this information to the police would certainly be more efficient than her catching them one by one.
[No can do, Host.]
[The Host must not expose the existence of this System, nor the task information it provides you.]
[Each task must be done personally by the Host.]
[There is an order to all things in the world, and the Host must not feel that doing the tasks alone is too slow and a waste of time. In fact, if it weren't for the Host, these criminals might never get caught and remain at large forever. Or, it could be a long time before they're found.]
[The Host is doing a great deed.]
The System spoke, even with a hint of a regional accent.
The breakfast was delivered by the server, and the famished Jiang Ning tore open a pair of disposable chopsticks and tucked into her meal.
Halfway through eating, her phone in her pocket began to vibrate with a buzz.
Jiang Ning answered the call, only to discover it was that young officer who had asked her to register yesterday.
"Miss Jiang, it's me, Officer Zhang who did the registration with you yesterday. My name is Zhang Lang."
"Hello. What can I do for you?" Jiang Ning asked, holding her phone and halting her eating.
"Don't be nervous, it's nothing serious. It's just that there's something I'd like to ask you about." Zhang Lang's voice was very young. "Have you checked out Mengbo or Douyin today?"
Jiang Ning's hand tightened slightly on her phone, "Not yet..."
No way.
Had the trolls continued to badmouth her throughout the night?
And now even the Public Security Bureau was aware?
As Jiang Ning's thoughts raced, she heard Zhang Lang's voice on the other end of the phone: "I knew you wouldn't have seen it. Here's the thing, the video of you saving someone at the Tianxin District shopping mall yesterday was captured by a passerby and uploaded online."
"Many netizens have seen this video, and they've also heard about your illness."
"The netizens are particularly concerned about you, but the passerby's video was too distant and blurry. They couldn't figure out who you are, so they turned to us for help."
"Many people want to donate money to you, hoping you'll get aggressive treatment and recover soon."
"Our unit's official Weibo was nearly @exploded by netizens last night. We just had an emergency meeting. We've decided that if you need it, we'll lead a donation for you and share your donation information."
At this, Zhang Lang paused for a moment, his concern evident as he asked, "The illness you have, is it severe?"
To be honest, even he deeply admired Jiang Ning's courage for her actions yesterday.
He truly hoped that her cancer diagnosis was nothing more than a lie to make the perpetrator let down their guard.
However, having been in close contact with Jiang Ning yesterday, Zhang Lang noted her gaunt frame and the pervasive scent of disinfectant that could only be picked up from long stays in a hospital.
Jiang Ning hadn't expected there would be follow-up from yesterday's events.
However, her illness had already been deemed terminal by the doctors; it couldn't be cured with money.
And besides, she already had the System for that.
Jiang Ning politely declined, "Thank you, Officer Zhang, thanks to all of you, and please extend my gratitude to the netizens as well. I do not need donations from the public. Their kindness would be better given to others who need it. I won't be responding online, so could you please convey my thanks to the netizens while you respond to them?"
Zhang Lang was taken aback, seemingly surprised by Jiang Ning's swift refusal.
He was about to ask more when he suddenly heard Jiang Ning on the other end of the phone ask, "Officer Zhang, are you busy right now?"
Zhang Lang: "?"
Zhang Lang: "Not busy."
"Great. Come to Toucheng District Xingfu Road right away."
Jiang Ning's voice carried a trace of excitement, "Officer Zhang, there's work to be done."