Chapter 429: Investigation Task (Part 2)

"Oh my, I'm so sorry… So you're Hanna's savior's brother! I misunderstood you!"

Once she understood the situation, the administrator, who had just been glaring fiercely, 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 Hanna was sick and came to visit? Why did you have to show me your ID? I've always treated Hanna like my own daughter—if I'd known we were connected, would I have ever stopped you from coming up?"

"…"

Please, spare me… If you hadn't stopped me earlier like I was a thief and grilled me nonstop, I'd have just walked right up the stairs! Why would I have needed to show my ID?

Seeing Li Ang's exasperated expression, the administrator flushed with embarrassment and muttered awkwardly:

"I stopped you 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 didn't care about the bag—you thought I was a thief because I was dressed in rags, didn't you?

Looking down at his old coat, its edges worn thin and clearly nearly twenty years old, Li Ang gave a weary 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 clothes at all was a blessing—he'd never had the luxury of choosing.

Now, though he had a high-paying job, his first paycheck hadn't arrived yet, so he had no money for a new coat. He was plainly destitute, shivering in the cold wind—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 knew he'd understood her unspoken meaning, and quickly apologized before joining the middle-aged nurse's husband in ushering Li Ang inside, reaching out to take his shopping bag.

"Oh my, your sister is Hanna'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 administrator's hand, the black goat's horns were too sharp; as the bag jolted, it tore open with a thud, and the head fell out.

"…"

"…"

"Uh… sorry, this is what our director asked me to buy for stew."

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 figures:

"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 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. Sorry about that."

"Ah, sorry, young man! My hand moved too fast, hehe…"

Having messed up several times and made the atmosphere painfully awkward, the administrator couldn't bear to stay. After forcing out a few more trivial remarks, she claimed she had to watch the entrance and hurriedly left the nurse's home.

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

"Aunt Mary… today she's probably just overly worried about Hanna, so she acted a bit rashly—but she didn't mean any harm."

"Whenever anyone in the building needs help with something big or small, she shows up without being asked. Aunt 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's vision before entering the building, Li Ang smiled and waved his hand:

"I can tell she's an extremely kind, good person—and not just her. Everyone in this building is good… Hmm… 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've guessed the reason behind your wife's condition, and it might help resolve it. May I speak with her alone?"

"This…"

Hearing Li Ang's request, the middle-aged man, steeped in scholarly air, hesitated—seeming to want to refuse—but remembered that Li Ang's sister had saved his wife's life and had no motive to harm her. Finally, he reluctantly agreed and led Li Ang into the bedroom.

"Hanna?"

Gently calling his wife's name, he woke the middle-aged nurse, still wrapped in her blanket and sleeping heavily. 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 that's exactly why I'm here today."

Giving the middle-aged man a reassuring glance, signaling him not to worry, Li Ang spoke gently:

"Don't worry—you're not crazy. Everything you saw was real."

"See! See! He saw it too!"

Overjoyed by Li Ang's words, the nurse grabbed her husband's arm and shouted:

"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 trembled 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 doubting whether she'd imagined it. Her condition seemed to be improving.

But now this sudden visitor, the very savior of his wife's life, was confidently affirming her delusion—wouldn't that only make her relapse?

"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 his plan to send him out, turned, and closed the bedroom door.

"What your wife saw was actually…"

"Zzz…"

【Encountered an incomprehensible special entity. Unique Badge "Materialist Soul (Crimson)" activated. Your cognitive boundaries expanded, and you gained partial information about this entity.】

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

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

【…】

(End of Chapter)