Chapter 1598: 1597 Strange Food Chapter 1598: 1597 Strange Food Last time, they didn’t eat the food but couldn’t take it out because someone was specifically checking items at the door. To ensure their safety, Samiyi and Tan Rou threw away what they had taken.

Ina had said that the Dawn Society didn’t use to provide food, but the last two times, food had been arranged. Could it be that the Dawn Society had changed their meeting procedure?

“We have carefully prepared some snacks and coffee, Miss Zhuang Rou, if you’re hungry, you can have something to settle your stomach,” Gand said, “Of course, even if you’re not hungry, you can still have some. The food is quite delicious.”

“Thank you for your kindness,” Tan Rou tactfully declined Gand’s invitation, “but I’ve been taking a certain medicine lately and the doctor advised that I shouldn’t mix it with coffee or have sweets, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to enjoy what you’ve prepared. Besides, I had a full meal before coming, and after 10:00 PM, I generally don’t eat anything.”

Gand frowned and said, “Oh, that’s truly unfortunate. But since you’ve come, we can’t let you be underserved. I heard that in your country, people prefer drinking tea, so would you like us to prepare a cup for you?”

Tan Rou wasn’t accustomed to drinking tea either, but she found Gand’s insistence peculiar; she had already said she didn’t need anything, so why keep offering?

She certainly didn’t consider Gand to be kind-hearted. The fact that he was persistent in feeding her made her suspect that there might be something untoward about the food.

“Then please prepare a cup of plain boiled water for me,” Tan Rou said, “I’m not really fond of tea, and plain water is more suited to my current needs.”

Gand had no objections. He instructed someone nearby, “Please go and get Miss Zhuang Rou a cup of boiled water. It’s quite warm weather, remember to put some ice cubes in it.”

Tan Rou didn’t stop Gand’s actions; rather, she was curious to see what he planned to put in her water.

The meeting began, and it followed almost the same process as last time–everyone sat together eating at the outset.

Tan Rou lifted her cup and pretended to drink water, but in reality, she poured the water onto her clothes. She wore black that evening, and since the Dawn Society provided black garments as well, there wasn’t a noticeable trace even after spilling water on her clothing.

Acting required a full performance. Tan Rou brought the cup to her lips, and under Gand’s gaze, she pretended to take a sip of air, then mimicked the sound of swallowing.

Seeing Tan Rou ‘drink’ water pleased Gand greatly, and he smiled with satisfaction before turning his attention elsewhere.

After this act, Tan Rou didn’t touch the cup again, and Gand didn’t concern himself with it, probably assuming she had indeed drunk the water.

The meeting was very calm this time, no one went onstage to perform shooting, and not many people were present, so the duration was shorter than last time.

After the meeting ended, a girl called out to Tan Rou, offering her the snacks she hadn’t finished, “Friend, did you miss dinner? This cookie is what I saved; let me give it to you.”

Tan Rou was not at all hungry and wanted to say “I don’t want it,” but the girl didn’t allow her to speak.

“Don’t be polite, it’s the least I can do,” the girl insisted, pushing the cookie into Tan Rou’s hand, “Go ahead and eat, no one will mind.”

Tan Rou wondered, “Why are you offering me snacks?”

The kind girl said, “Your table was the only one without snacks, and you were the only foreigner in the room, so I think those people deliberately didn’t prepare them for you. Don’t be upset; my cookie is for you, so you won’t feel left out.”

Tan Rou wasn’t upset at all and had no desire to eat something that already looked suspicious. As she was about to decline, she felt a push from behind.

“Tan Rou, what are you doing blocking the doorway?” Ina burst in from behind and pushed them toward the exit, “Come on, let’s go out first.”

There was only one entrance and exit, and it was already very crowded with everyone queuing in and out. Ina’s push only added to the chaos.

In the midst of the confusion, Tan Rou felt her hand gripped tightly.