"Li Man anxiously said, 'There really isn't anything wrong, it's just... it's just that they all know I killed someone...'
Li Man's voice grew quieter, and she lowered her head.
'What's wrong with killing someone?' Huo Jian Sheng exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. 'If you don't kill, are you just going to wait to be killed? In that situation, no matter what you do, self-preservation is the right thing.'
Li Man looked up at Huo Jian Sheng with gratitude. In truth, these past few days, she had been struggling with this burden in her heart, feeling that she was different from others because she had taken a life. She felt guilty and afraid, torn by various inexplicable emotions. So when she heard others discussing her like this, it made her feel so miserable.
The strange looks from others made her feel like an outsider.
'Don't think too much about it. You did nothing wrong, really,' Huo Jian Sheng said gently.
Li Man's eyes welled up with tears, and she quickly pulled out the handkerchief that Huo Jian Sheng had given her earlier, dabbing at the corner of her eyes.
'Aren't you afraid of me?' she asked.
'Why should I be afraid of you?'
'Because I've killed someone.'
'You've only killed bad people. It's not your fault. Don't burden yourself with guilt.'
'Thank you,' Li Man said, deeply moved, her voice hoarse.
'Don't thank me anymore. You've thanked me many times today,' Huo Jian Sheng said, sounding a bit displeased.
Li Man wiped away her tears and smiled. 'By the way, how much did you pay the lawyer for me? I want to repay you. If it weren't for you, this case wouldn't have been resolved so quickly.'
'Forget it, that lawyer is my friend, and he didn't charge me much. Just treat me to a meal.'
Actually, Li Man knew that for a case like hers, hiring a lawyer would cost at least tens of thousands.
Li Man truly wanted to express her gratitude to Huo Jian Sheng, but he had just told her not to thank him anymore.
So she could only say, 'Then what would you like to eat? I'll treat you. It can be as expensive as you want.'
'Okay, this café is actually a Western restaurant, and their steaks are delicious. The ingredients are imported from abroad. How about you treat me to a steak?' Huo Jian Sheng suggested.
'Sure, feel free to order anything you like,' Li Man generously replied.
'But the steaks here are quite expensive. Are you sure you want to treat me to one?' Huo Jian Sheng kindly reminded her.
Li Man felt a bit uncertain. She didn't have much money left, having been out of work for a month. She hesitated and asked, 'How much does it cost?'
Huo Jian Sheng thought Li Man was adorable and fought back the urge to laugh. 'Even one serving would cost around ten to twenty thousand.'
'Ah?' Li Man widened her eyes in astonishment. 'That's so expensive!'
Her poverty had limited her imagination. With ten to twenty thousand, she could buy a whole cow!
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Li Man thought that it would cost at most two or three thousand.
Seeing Li Man's embarrassment, Huo Jian Sheng decided not to tease her further and said, 'Actually, I don't really like steak. It's just a small portion and won't fill you up. How about this? Let's go for hot pot instead. They have everything in hot pot, and you can eat to your heart's content.'"
"Li Man quickly agreed, 'Sure, sure! I also think steak is not filling enough on its own, and it doesn't go well with rice. How can it be satisfying?'
Huo Jian Sheng wanted to laugh, but he held it back and glanced at his watch. 'It's getting late. Shall we go now? Where do you want to eat?'
'Where do you feel like going?' Li Man asked.
'Can you handle spicy food?'
'Of course.'
'How about we go for Chongqing-style spicy hot pot?'
'Sure!' Li Man readily agreed.
The two of them went to enjoy hot pot, and at most, it would cost them around one or two thousand yuan. It was an expense Li Man could still afford."
