Chapter 59

58 Why not sleep on the street instead?

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

As Li Ang sighed over the girl’s misfortune, the tearful girl with a baby face was secretly glancing at him, feeling nearly the same sympathy.

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

Last time, when the gas pipe incident happened, her sister was only hospitalized and nearly got blown up; this time, he’s suffered even worse misfortune—he was just walking normally near the cash box, yet the mountain of golden wheels inside suddenly crushed the box’s wall and collapsed, burying him whole and nearly crushing him to death.

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

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

Wuh wuh wuh, he’s so pitiful—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 tiny, bare home he showed her when she came to apologize—almost empty of any furnishings—the girl with the baby face couldn’t help sniffing hard, then lifted her head with earnest pleading:

“Mr. Li Ang, beyond the proper compensation, all your lost wages, medical expenses, nutrition costs—everything—will be 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 girl with the baby face, who’d inexplicably taken two huge black sacks on herself 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 shown up, that toad would’ve caused massive casualties.

After the Cleansing Bureau’s God-Brain revised the outcome, it’d likely become a massive stampede caused by too many shoppers during the sale, forcing the promotion to be abruptly canceled.

So by killing that toad, I actually helped Charle Department Store a great deal—and I was injured precisely while helping them; it’s not entirely without merit, right?

…

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

After thinking about his family’s situation, Li Ang stretched his neck, sore from the collar brace, and spoke hesitantly:

“You’ve been to my home, so you’ve seen my younger brother and sister, right? They’ve reached school age and were supposed to start this summer.”

“But something happened at home then—the Military Department reclaimed… uh… anyway, we had no money during that period, so we postponed it.”

“Now that things have improved a bit, 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 guilt-ridden girl with the baby face brightened instantly, hurried to the bedside from the foot of the bed, and slapped her thin chest twice, swearing earnestly:

“We, Charle Department Store, hold shares in many top schools and have annual slots for recommended students—except for the Imperial Academy, all eligible church public schools or noble private schools—”

“You can pick any one!”

“Uh… that’s not necessary…”

Thinking of the location of Veteran’s Alley and the nature of those public and private 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. We don’t need such elite schools—just a decent regional public school with good teaching and strict discipline… and if it’s close to home, that’d be even better.”

“Ah! I’m so sorry—I was careless!”

After hearing Li Ang’s concerns, the girl blushed, apologized awkwardly, then hesitated:

“But the better regional public schools… around the Old City, all the schools are chaotic. The decent ones are only White Gold Public School, Bridge Public School, Chelsea Public School, and Westminster Public School.”

“But your home is on the edge of the Old City, in Veteran’s Alley—those schools, to ensure enrollment, are all built near the New City, so they’re quite far. Walking there every day would take forever. Maybe…”

Sneaking a glance at Li Ang’s expression, the girl ventured:

“I’ll 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-style carriage”? Giving a house in the school district? What kind of operation is this? Are you guys at Charle Department Store really that obscenely rich?

“Sss… cough! Cough cough!!!”

Startled by the girl’s suggestion, Li Ang instinctively took a deep breath—his cracked ribs throbbed faintly. After choking out two coughs, he clutched his aching chest and slumped back against the headboard, face twisted in pain.

“Ah! Mr. Li Ang! You… hang on! I’ll go get the doctor right away!”

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

But as soon as she turned, Li Ang grabbed her wrist with lightning speed.

“I’m fine, I’m fine… cough… I just… inhaled too quickly.”

Afraid the tearful compensation clerk might suggest another outrageous settlement, Li Ang held her hand, caught his breath, and gently pressed his sore ribs as he refused:

“No need for a house! Just help my brother and sister get enrolled! By the way, of those decent public schools, which one’s closest to Veteran’s Alley?”

“…”

Looking helplessly at her hand still held in his, feeling the heat of his palm and the rough calluses, the girl didn’t pull away immediately. After a moment’s thought, she spoke shyly:

“The closest public school… would be Bridge Public School. Its main gate is at the end of Bridge 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… Mr. Li Ang, your hand…”

“Ah, sorry!”

Hearing the reminder, Li Ang, somehow dazed, immediately let go of the girl’s hand and frowned in thought.

Bridge Street… that Happiness Apartment that nearly cut him in half with giant shears—wasn’t it 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 Bridge Public School, and Anna happened to “save” his wife—they’ve formed a good connection.

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

Recalling that “sickly” muscular old man and his giant shears that nearly sliced him in two, Li Ang rubbed his temples in distress.

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