Chapter 461: Why Not Sleep on the Street?

Wuh wuh wuh, this guy's luck is terrible—he's so pitiful!

As Li Ang sighed over the doll-faced girl's misfortune, the tearful doll-faced girl was secretly glancing at him, feeling nearly the same sympathy.

Master Li Ang is a good person, but his whole family seems to have terrible luck.

Last time, when the gas pipe incident happened, her younger sister was only hospitalized and nearly got blown up; this time, he's suffered even worse misfortune—he simply walked past the cash box, and the mountain of Golden Wheels inside suddenly crushed through the walls, burying him whole, nearly killing him on the spot.

Wuh wuh wuh… and also, I personally asked around: his parents died in battle six years ago, his sister is too weak to do heavy work, and there are two younger siblings who haven't started school yet.

Master Li Ang's family of four relies entirely on him, the eldest brother, working early and late; he started working at fourteen to support them, yet their situation only worsened—only recently, after joining the Police Force, has it slightly improved.

Wuh wuh wuh… it's so tragic—if anything happens to him this time, even if I compensate his family with all the money I have, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!

"I'm truly, truly sorry! It's all my fault!"

Remembering the bare, nearly empty home she saw when she came to apologize, the doll-faced girl sniffled hard, lifted her head, and pleaded earnestly:

"Master Li Ang, beyond the standard compensation, all your lost wages, medical expenses, nutritional costs—everything—is covered by Charle Department Store!"

"I know you don't care much for money, but please, this time, don't refuse! Also, if you have any other demands, say them freely—we'll do everything we can!"

"…"

Uh… you're apologizing so sincerely, it's making me feel awkward…

Looking at the doll-faced girl who had blindly taken two massive black sacks of blame and was still tearfully apologizing to him, Li Ang instinctively scratched his head, feeling like he was scamming her.

Hmm… no, no.

This time is different from last time—if I hadn't intervened, that toad would've caused massive casualties.

After the Cleansing Bureau's God-Brain revised the outcome, it would likely become a massive stampede caused by too many shoppers, forcing the big sale to be canceled.

So by killing that toad, I actually helped Charle Department Store a great deal—and I was injured precisely while helping them. Maybe I'm not entirely undeserving?

…

"Um… forget the compensation, but I do have one favor to ask—could you help me?"

After thinking of his family's situation, Li Ang shifted his sore neck brace and spoke hesitantly:

"You've been to my home—you've seen my younger brother and sister, right? They've reached school age and were supposed to enroll this summer."

"But something happened then—the Military Department revoked… uh… anyway, we had no money at the time, so we postponed it."

"Now that things have improved, I went to ask the school, but they said they're not accepting new students this year—only next year. So if possible…"

"Yes! Absolutely!"

Seeing the "poor good man" finally make a request, the doll-faced girl's conscience eased instantly. She hurried from the foot of the bed to the side, slapped her thin chest twice, and vowed firmly:

"We, Charle Department Store, hold shares in many top schools and have annual internal recommendation slots—except for the Imperial Academy, you can choose any suitable church public school or noble private school!"

"Um… no need for those…" Thinking of Veterans' Alley's location and the nature of those schools, Li Ang shook his head: "Our whole family are non-believers, and given our situation, they wouldn't be happy in noble private schools. Just pick a decent regional public school with good teaching and strict discipline… and if it's close to home, even better."

Our whole family are unbelievers, and given our circumstances, those two wouldn't be happy even if they entered a noble private school, so there's truly no need to send them to such an excellent school—just pick a district public school with decent teaching and strict discipline… hmm… ideally one close to home.

Hearing Li Ang's concerns, the doll-faced girl blushed, apologized shyly, then hesitated:

"But the better regional public schools… around the Old Quarter, all the schools are chaotic. The only decent ones are Platinum Public School, Bridgehead Public School, Chelsea Public School, and Westminster Public School."

"But your home is on the edge of the Old Quarter, in Veterans' Alley—those schools, to ensure enrollment, are all built near the New Quarter, so they're quite far. If you walk every day, it'll take forever. What if…"

Sneaking a glance at Li Ang's expression, the doll-faced girl ventured:

"I'll compensate you with a house over there?"

Shall I compensate you with a house over there?

Wait… isn't the normal response supposed to be, "Why don't you switch schools?" or at most, "Here's an old horse-drawn cart"? Giving a house in the school district? What kind of insane operation is this? Are you guys at Charle Department Store really this obscenely rich?

Isn't the normal response supposed to be either switching schools or compensating with an old-style carriage? Giving a whole school-district house—is that even a real thing? Are you Charles Department Store really this obscenely wealthy?

Startled by the doll-faced girl's suggestion, Li Ang instinctively sucked in a deep breath—his cracked ribs throbbed. He choked out two coughs, then clutched his aching chest and slumped back against the headboard, face twisted in pain.

"Ah! Master Li Ang! You… you hold on! I'll call the doctor right away!"

Seeing Li Ang, who had been fine moments ago, suddenly turn pale and collapse, the doll-faced girl was terrified and spun around to rush for the doctor.

But before she could turn fully, Li Ang grabbed her wrist with lightning speed.

"I'm fine, I'm fine… c-cough… I just… inhaled too fast."

Afraid she'd suggest another outrageous compensation, Li Ang gripped her hand, steadied his breath, and gently pressed his sore ribs as he refused:

"No need for a house! Just help my brother and sister enroll! By the way, of those decent public schools, which one is closest to Veterans' Alley?"

I really don't need a house! You just need to help my brother and sister enroll! By the way, among these decent public schools, which one is closest to Veteran's Alley?

Looking helplessly at her hand still in his grip, feeling the heat of his palm and the rough calluses, the doll-faced girl didn't pull away immediately. After a moment's thought, she blushed softly:

"The closest public school… would be Bridgehead Public School. Its main gate is at the end of Bridgehead Street, and it's not far from your workplace in the Municipal District."

"If you finish work early one day, you could pick up your brother and sister after school… um… Master Li Ang, your hand…"

If you happen to finish work early one day, you could pick up my brother and sister after school… um… Mr. Liang, your hand…

Hearing the reminder, Li Ang, somehow dazed, quickly let go of her hand and frowned in thought.

Bridgehead Street… that Happiness Apartment that nearly cut him in half with giant shears… it's at number 35. The rent is extremely low, and there are many empty units.

Also, the husband of the middle-aged nurse from the hospital incident is a teacher at Bridgehead Public School—and Anna happened to "save" his wife, so they owe us a favor.

At the very least, if Mei Lan-ni and the others attend Bridgehead Public School, they'll be well taken care of; if they misbehave, Anna and I will find out quickly. Moving there seems like a win-win… but…

Recalling the "sickly" muscular old man and his giant shears that nearly bisected him, Li Ang rubbed his temples in distress.

Anna and the kids could move in… but what about me?

(End of Chapter)

(End of Chapter)