Chapter 26: 26 Investigation Task (Mid)

26 Investigation Task (Mid)

“Oh my, really… so you’re Hannah’s savior’s brother! I misunderstood you!”

After learning the full situation, the administrator woman who had just looked like a fearsome demon instantly softened into a kind, gentle expression, even grabbing Li Ang’s arm to scold him:

“Look what a mess this has become… why didn’t you just say you heard Hannah was sick and came to visit? Why show me your ID? I’ve always treated Hannah like my own daughter—if I’d known there was this connection, would I have stopped you from coming up?”

“…”

Come on… if you hadn’t stopped me earlier, interrogating me like I was a thief, I’d have just walked right up the stairs—why would I have needed to show my ID?

Seeing Li Ang’s expression of disbelief, the administrator woman blushed, then muttered awkwardly:

“I stopped you before because you looked unfamiliar—I know everyone in this building, and I’d never seen you before. And you were dressed… uh… and you were carrying a huge bag, so I thought I should ask a few questions…”

You weren’t worried about the bag—you were worried I was a thief because of how shabby I was dressed, weren’t you?

Looking down at his old coat, its edges worn thin, probably nearly twenty years old, Li Ang gave a helpless smile.

This coat had been left by his “father,” older than he was by several years; its appearance was truly pitiful, but given his family’s past reliance on pensions, having warm enough clothes was already a luxury—he had no choice but to make do.

Now, though he had a high-paying job, his first paycheck hadn’t arrived yet, so he had no money to buy a new coat. He was genuinely impoverished in attire, and with the cold wind making him hunch and shiver, it was no wonder he’d been mistaken for a suspicious character…

“Ahem… sorry, young man. I misjudged you.”

Seeing Li Ang’s resigned expression, the administrator woman knew he’d understood her unspoken meaning, and quickly apologized. Then, together with the middle-aged nurse’s husband, she ushered Li Ang inside and reached out to take his shopping bag.

“Oh my, your sister is Hannah’s savior—you came all this way with so many gifts? Your hands are red from carrying them—put them down and rest… oh…”

Though Li Ang reacted swiftly and dodged the woman’s hand, the black goat’s horns were too sharp; in the sudden jolt, they sliced straight through the bag and thudded to the floor.

“…”

“…”

“Uh… sorry, this is what our director asked me to buy for soup.”

Quickly bending down, Li Ang shoved the black goat’s head back into the bag and tied a tight knot over the tear, then sheepishly explained to the two stunned people:

“Our director loves goat-head soup, but she stays up late and can’t wake up early, so she asked me to run to the morning market for her. I bought the goat head and just happened to come here afterward.”

“And… I’ve only been employed a few days—I don’t have much money yet, so I didn’t bring anything meaningful. Sorry.”

“Ah, sorry, young man—it was my hand too fast, hehe…”

Having messed up several things and made the atmosphere extremely awkward, the administrator woman couldn’t bear to stay any longer. After forcing out a few more trivial remarks, she claimed she had to watch the front desk and hurriedly left the nurse’s home.

After she left, the middle-aged man apologized again, embarrassed:

“Auntie Mary… today she’s probably just overly worried about Hannah, so she acted a bit rashly—but she didn’t mean any harm.”

“Whenever anyone in the building has trouble, big or small, she shows up without being asked. Auntie Mary is a genuinely kind and thoughtful person. If she offended you, I apologize on her behalf.”

“No, no.”

Recalling what he’d seen in his soul vision before entering the building,

Li Ang smiled and waved his hand:

“I can tell she’s an extremely kind person—and not just her, everyone in this building is good… uh… may I make a bold request?”

Glancing at the closed door to the inner room, Li Ang ventured:

“I heard from the gas company’s claims officer that your wife seems to have… a different perspective on yesterday’s incident?”

“Don’t rush to respond—I think I understand the reason behind your wife’s condition, and it might help resolve her issue. May I speak with her alone?”

“This…”

Hearing Li Ang’s request, the middle-aged man—evidently scholarly—hesitated, as if wanting to refuse. But remembering that Li Ang’s sister had saved his wife’s life, and seeing no reason for him to harm her, he finally agreed reluctantly and led Li Ang into the inner bedroom.

“Hannah?”

Gently calling his wife’s name, he woke the middle-aged nurse, still wrapped in her blanket and sleeping soundly. Before he could explain Li Ang’s purpose, the nurse—hair disheveled, eyes bloodshot—jolted upright, staring at Li Ang with desperate urgency:

“I’ve seen you! You’re Anna’s brother! You were there the day before yesterday, weren’t you!”

“Quick! Tell me! Did you see the hospital eating people? Did you see that bandaged woman with incredible strength?”

“Yes, I saw it. And I came today because of it.”

Giving the middle-aged man a reassuring glance—telling him not to worry, leave it to him—Li Ang spoke gently:

“Don’t worry—you’re not crazy. Everything you saw was real.”

“See! See! He saw it too!”

Hearing Li Ang’s words, the nurse burst into joy, grabbing her husband’s arm and shouting:

“I told you I wasn’t crazy! The hospital really has a problem! There really is a bandaged woman!”

“…”

Watching his wife suddenly become overexcited, the middle-aged man stared at Li Ang, who had confirmed her claims. His lips moved slightly, his face filled with unspoken words.

After taking sedatives and drifting in and out of sleep for nearly two days, his wife still believed she’d seen the bandaged woman, but under others’ insistence, she’d begun to doubt whether she’d been mistaken—her condition seemed to be improving.

But now this sudden visitor, the savior of his wife’s life, was firmly affirming her delusion—wouldn’t that make her condition worse again?

“Forget it. You can stay and listen too.”

Seeing the middle-aged man’s expression, Li Ang knew he wouldn’t leave. He sighed, abandoned the idea of sending him out, turned, and pulled the bedroom door shut.

“What your wife saw was actually…”

“Zzz…”

【Encountered an incomprehensible special entity. Unique Badge “Materialist Soul (Crimson)” activated. Your cognitive boundaries expanded, and partial information about this entity was acquired.】

【Name: The Dwelling of Spirits (Miracle, Guardian)】

【Appearance: An old, ordinary apartment building. In the lobby’s reception room sits a frail elderly woman with white curly hair, a hunched back, and bowed legs.】

【…】

★￠o