Chapter 485: What Help Was Provided?

Holding onto the lucky chance that he might be able to slip in, Li Ang came to the front of the apartment building for the second time.

After glancing toward the position of his home on the sixth floor, he took a deep breath, gripped the Holy Spirit Pendant on his chest tightly, and tiptoed into the apartment's front lobby.

However, whether it was because the old man had already gone to sleep or because the badge's effect had countered the detection, Li Ang passed through the lobby on the first floor and reached the stairwell without seeing the burly old man appear with his gardening shears, nor did he see the building manager auntie.

So... I can go home?

Overjoyed, Li Ang quickened his pace and climbed the stairs, but just as he raised his hand to knock, the door was pulled open from the inside before he could make contact.

"Big Brother?"

Seeing Li Ang outside the door with a smile, looking quite happy, Anna asked curiously:

"Didn't you say you were very busy these two days and wouldn't be coming back to sleep?"

"Well, I was indeed very busy, but suddenly I wasn't so busy anymore, so I could come back... By the way, I haven't had dinner yet, is there... uh..."

Looking at the burly old man sitting by the dining table inside, glaring at him with hostile intent, Li Ang's smile froze on his face.

Not... you actually set up an ambush?

"Big Brother, you didn't have time to help us move our luggage this morning, so Uncle John helped carry it all up. While I was busy tidying up the house this afternoon, William and Jin Juan were also taken care of by him; he even helped coax them to sleep just now."

Seeing Li Ang staring intently at the burly old man, Anna explained with a smile:

"Uncle John helped our family so much and refused to accept the payment I offered, so I decided to invite him over for a home-cooked dinner to show our gratitude."

"..."

So... you were the one who invited the enemy in?

Opening his mouth speechlessly, Li Ang mobilized his stiff facial muscles and managed to squeeze out a smile.

"That really is something we should thank him for. Uh, hehe, well... how is Uncle John enjoying the meal?"

"Good."

Answering Li Ang's question with extreme brevity, the corners of the burly old man's mouth twitched, revealing a smile that was just as stiff, and then he stood up abruptly, reaching out to touch the basket containing the large shears.

Holy crap!

Just as Li Ang's expression changed and he prepared to flee, a sharp cough came from behind him.

"Ahem..."

?!!!

Is this... a pincer attack?

Turning his head to see the familiar face of the manager auntie, Li Ang's heart skipped a beat, and he grabbed the Holy Spirit Pendant on his chest, ready to defend himself at any moment.

However, the auntie who had successfully snuck up behind him didn't attack; instead, she smiled and lifted a large plate, handing over a beef bread roll with a crispy crust.

"Young man~ You must be starving, right? Want to try a piece?"

"Uh... it's okay... I'm actually not that hungry..."

"If you're not hungry, then move aside and let Auntie pass... Hehe, this thing is quite hot."

"Ah! Okay!"

Stepping aside in a daze and letting the manager auntie pass, Li Ang sniffed the fragrance of the food she left behind and looked at the burly old man who was still fiddling with his large shears, falling into a state of confusion.

Are you letting me in or not? Why are the attitudes of this married couple so different?

"Big Brother?" Seeing Li Ang hesitating at the door for a long time without entering, Anna blinked in surprise and pulled him inside.

"You haven't had dinner yet, right? Sit down and eat!"

"Uh... okay."

Walking halfway around the large table and sitting as far away from the burly old man as possible, Li Ang, feeling extremely uncomfortable under the man's gaze, picked up his knife and fork, cut a slice of the meat roll, and ate it without tasting a thing.

After observing the situation and realizing the reason for Li Ang's awkwardness, Anna pinched his thigh lightly and complained with a hint of reproach:

"Didn't you tell me before that although Uncle John looks a bit fierce, he's actually a warm-hearted, good person? Why are you acting so reserved now?"

"..."

Big Brother isn't being reserved; Big Brother is worried that this 'good person' will see that I don't look like a good person and come over with those shears to 'snip' me...

"Hehe, men are all like this."

After observing Li Ang's rather complex expression, the white-haired manager auntie smiled at him and kindly smoothed things over:

"My old man is the same. He actually praised your brother to me, saying that although he works at the Police Department, he's a decent person, and he hopes they can get along well and get closer in the future... Put that down, why are you still touching those broken shears?"

Giving the burly old man's hand a hard slap and snatching away the large shears that had been polished to a shine, the manager auntie laboriously moved the large basket away, then roared at the burly old man who was at a loss after having his shears taken away:

"Go wash your hands! Your shears are covered in dirt; how can you eat after touching them?"

"Oh..."

After being roared at by the manager auntie, the burly old man's bear-like back bowed slightly, and he left his seat, looking back every few steps as he headed to the bathroom.

Phew... It seems the auntie has the higher status in this household, so I guess I'm safe...

Watching the burly old man who looked so pitiful heading to wash his hands, Li Ang let out a long sigh of relief, his smile becoming much more natural, and he gave the auntie a sincere thumbs-up.

You certainly know how to handle your husband; you're the best!

"No, no, it's not like that; the old man just lets me have my way."

After waving her hand in embarrassment, the manager auntie said with a chuckle:

"Let's talk about you. Anna said you're with the Police Department's Cleanup Bureau; what do you all do every day?"

"This... it's just helping out, dealing with some troublesome situations and the like."

Looking at Anna, who was also listening with curiosity, Li Ang pondered for a moment and said with a troubled expression:

"As for the specific content of the work, some of it isn't really suitable to talk about while eating... Why don't we chat about your family instead? Uncle John, he... uh..."

Seeing Li Ang suddenly get stuck, the manager auntie blinked in surprise and followed his gaze toward the bathroom.

Then, the manager auntie discovered with extreme speechlessness that her husband was washing his left hand while using his right hand to make a scissor-like gesture, gesturing toward Li Ang while making "snip-snip" mouth movements.

"Go wash your hands properly!"

After roaring at the burly old man once more, the manager auntie turned back and nodded apologetically:

"Unlike me, who is responsible for preventing danger, my old man has a rather stubborn personality. He can't stand... well... you should understand what I mean, right?"

"Yes, yes, I understand."

After hearing the manager auntie's words, Li Ang nodded in realization, finally understanding how this couple operated.

The Happiness Apartment had two abilities: "Accident Avoidance" and "Evil Extermination." It seemed they were each responsible for half, and the burly old man was responsible for the "Extermination" part, which was why he had been glaring at him all along.

"Hehe, I'm glad you understand."

After hinting at their family situation, the manager auntie glanced at Anna, who was listening in confusion, and continued with a smile:

"Young man, the Cleanup Bureau is a good place. Although I don't know much about you all, I've encountered people from your Cleanup Bureau before."

"Well... or I could put it this way: my old man and I have the Cleanup Bureau to thank for where we are today~"

(End of Chapter)