Chapter 83: 82 What Help Did You Provide?

82 What Help Did You Provide?

Hoping against hope that he might slip inside, Li Ang returned a second time to the front of Happy Apartments.

After glancing toward his sixth-floor apartment, he took a deep breath, gripped the Holy Spirit pendant at his chest, and tiptoed into the building’s lobby.

Yet whether the man had gone to sleep or the badge’s effect had canceled out detection, Li Ang passed through the first-floor lobby and reached the stairwell without seeing the burly old man with the scissors—or even the female manager.

So… can I go home?

Overjoyed, Li Ang quickened his pace and bounded up the stairs. Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door—just as it had countless times over the past three years—opened before he could strike, pulled from within.

“Brother?”

Seeing Li Ang outside, smiling brightly as if delighted, Anna asked curiously:

“Didn’t you say you were too busy these two days to come home and sleep?”

“Yeah, I was indeed busy, but suddenly I wasn’t anymore, so I came back… By the way, I haven’t eaten dinner—do we have… uh…”

Seeing the burly old man seated at the dining table, glaring fiercely at him, Li Ang’s smile froze on his face.

Wait… how the hell did you set up an ambush?

“Brother, you didn’t have time to help us move our luggage this morning, so Uncle John carried everything up. This afternoon, while I was cleaning, William and Melanie were looked after by him, and just now he even helped put them to sleep.”

Seeing Li Ang staring fixedly at the burly old man, Anna smiled and explained:

“Uncle John has helped our family so much, and he refused to accept payment for his trouble. I didn’t know how to thank him, so I decided to invite him over for dinner—consider it my thanks.”

“…”

So… you invited the demon in yourself?

Li Ang opened his mouth in disbelief, then forced his stiff facial muscles to form a forced smile.

“Then we really ought to thank him properly, hehe… uh… how did Uncle John like the food?”

“Good.”

After answering Li Ang with his usual brevity, the burly old man’s lips twitched slightly, revealing a smile even more rigid than before. Then he suddenly stood, reaching for the basket beside him where the large scissors lay.

Holy shit!

Just as Li Ang’s expression changed and he prepared to bolt for the door, a loud cough echoed from behind him.

“Cough…”?!!

Is this… a pincer attack?

Turning his head, Li Ang saw the familiar face of the female manager. His heart skipped a beat. He instantly clutched the Holy Spirit pendant, bracing himself to strike if needed.

But the manager, who had stealthily positioned herself behind him, made no move to attack. Instead, she smiled warmly, lifting the large tray in her hands and offering him a crispy roasted beef bread roll.

“Young man~ Starving? Want a bite?”

“Uh… not really… I’m not that hungry…”

“If you’re not hungry, then move aside—let Auntie pass… hehe, this thing’s still hot.”

“Ah! Okay!”

Confused, Li Ang stepped aside to let the manager pass with her tray. He sniffed the lingering aroma of food, then glanced at the burly old man across from him, still fiddling with the scissors. He was utterly bewildered.

Are you letting me in or not? Why are your attitudes so different?

…

“Brother?”

Seeing Li Ang lingering at the door, unwilling to enter, Anna blinked in surprise, then walked over and pulled him inside.

“Aren’t you hungry? Come sit and eat!”

“Uh… okay.”

Walking halfway around the table, Li Ang chose the seat farthest from the burly old man. Nervous under the man’s stare, he picked up his knife and fork, forced himself to cut a slice of the meat roll, and swallowed it without tasting it.

Observing Li Ang’s discomfort, Anna gently pinched his thigh and scolded him lightly:

“Didn’t you tell me Uncle John might look scary, but he’s actually a kind-hearted man? Why are you acting so tense now?”

“…”

Brother isn’t being tense—he’s afraid this kind-hearted man will decide I’m not a good person and just grab those scissors and snip me in half…

“Hehe, men are always like this.”

Seeing Li Ang’s complex expression, the white-haired female manager smiled at him, then kindly defused the tension:

“My husband’s the same—he’s actually praised you to me before. Said you work in the Police Department, but you’re a good guy, and he hopes you two can get along well, spend more time together… Put it down! Why are you still fiddling with that broken scissors?”

She yanked the burly old man’s wrist, snatching the polished scissors from his grip, then struggled to drag the basket away. Turning to the now-helpless old man, who stared helplessly at her, she barked:

“Go wash your hands! Your scissors are covered in dirt—how are you going to eat after touching them?”

“Oh…”

After being scolded, the burly old man’s bear-like back hunched slightly. Reluctantly, he rose from his seat, glancing back over his shoulder every few steps as he shuffled toward the bathroom.

Phew… looks like Auntie has higher authority than Uncle. I’m probably safe now…

Watching the pitiful old man head off to wash his hands, Li Ang exhaled deeply. His smile grew more natural, and he genuinely gave the manager a thumbs-up.

You’ve got the husband under control—bravo!

“No no, it’s not like you think—it’s all because my husband lets me.”

Blushing slightly, the manager waved her hand and chuckled:

“Tell me about you. Anna says you’re in the Clearance Bureau of the Police Department. What exactly do you guys do every day?”

“Uh… mostly assisting, handling complicated situations and such.”

Glancing at Anna, who watched him with equal curiosity, Li Ang hesitated, then said with obvious discomfort:

“As for the specifics of our work… some things aren’t suitable to discuss over dinner. Why don’t we talk about your family instead? Uncle John… uh…”

Seeing Li Ang suddenly stumble, the manager paused, then followed his gaze toward the bathroom.

She then stared in utter disbelief: her husband was washing his left hand while using his right to mimic scissors, gesturing through the glass at Li Ang, mouthing “snip, snip.”

“Wash your hands properly!”

After barking at the burly old man again, the manager turned back, offering a slightly apologetic nod:

“Unlike me, who handles danger prevention, my husband is stubborn. He can’t stand… uh… you understand what I mean, right?”

“Mm, I understand.”

Hearing the manager’s hint, Li Ang nodded in sudden comprehension. He now understood the couple’s dynamic.

Happy Apartments had two abilities: “Accident Avoidance” and “Evil Entity Extermination.” Clearly, they each handled one half—the burly old man was in charge of “Extermination,” which explained his constant suspicion of Li Ang.

“Hehe, good that you understand.”

After subtly revealing their situation, the manager glanced at Anna, still confused beside her, then continued cheerfully:

“Young man, the Clearance Bureau is a good place. Though I don’t know much about you, I’ve met people from your bureau before.”

“Hmm… or rather, the reason my husband and I are like this today? We owe it all to your Clearance Bureau’s help.”