"What makes you think that?"
The friendly Friday was a qualified listener. After Lu Li asked, she shrugged indifferently, "Just seeing you buzzing around like a headless fly, maybe you’re just a genuinely good person."
But her question did make Lu Li ponder the purpose of his actions. To kill ti, seek the truth, or simply out of habit?
"Do you have any suggestions?"
"Do you like cats?" Friday suddenly asked without any reason.
Lu Li recalled the thought of wanting to pet a sleek black cat nad "Flowing Cat" from Room 202 not too long ago and nodded.
"Interacting with patients is like interacting with cats. We need to observe if they are resisting or anxious. If they are anxious, help them relax. If they are wary, help them lower their guard."
Lu Li digested Friday’s tips.
"It seems you already know what to do." Friday gestured for Lu Li to look at the bed by the window, "See that? There’s a wild little kitten."
The cold girl sat by the bedside, with blood threads swirling around and a black halo hovering over her head, like a Fallen Angel without wings.
Mishelia—the na popped up from the patient’s list in Lu Li’s mind.
This theologically related image indeed matched Friday’s description of a "wild little kitten."
"Can you demonstrate for ?"
But Lu Li didn’t want the first target to be this hard to deal with.
"As it should be."
Determined, Friday magician-like pulled a rose from her bosom, bit it into the shade of her hood, and floated to Mishelia’s bedside, leaning against the window sill. From beneath the gray robe ca a deliberately deep invitation: "Beautiful lady, may I buy you a drink?"
"...Go away."
Mishelia replied.
"Hey, girl, stop pretending to be cold—"
Smack!
Friday returned to Lu Li’s side, covering her face.
"You failed."
Lu Li calmly watched Friday.
"I thought we knew each other well."
The rose she was biting disappeared, and Friday’s hand reached into the shadow of her hood, rubbing her cheek.
"Maybe she doesn’t like . Now it’s your turn, use the thod I taught you."
With enthusiasm, Friday urged, only to see Lu Li heading toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To change patients."
Friday only got a slap. If it were him, he might wake up on the eleventh day’s morning.
Lu Li left the ward amidst Friday’s regret, skipped Room 209’s worm door, and entered Room 208.
[208: Pig King; Dog at; Gatekeeper]
After Dog at was discharged, only Pig King and Gatekeeper were left in the ward. When Lu Li arrived, he received a similar outco to Friday’s.
"You’re not welco here, get out." The brown short-cloaked Gatekeeper yelled.
"If you’re angry because of Dog at, I did nothing wrong, and the head nurse thinks so too." Lu Li said to stay here.
"Do you know what you’re talking about?"
The Gatekeeper followed his words, which was exactly what Lu Li needed: communication is the foundation of interaction.
"If you hated Dog at, his discharge ans you never have to face him again. If you liked him, you should be happy for his discharge."
"...What exactly do you want to say."
The Gatekeeper’s tone softened a bit. At least Lu Li sensed his emotions becoming complex.
"I’ve realized many patients here need help, like Dog at, like him." Lu Li eyed the Gatekeeper, trying to make his tone earnest, "Do you need help?"
"Do you think you’re a doctor?"
"No, I’m a patient too. Maybe I can help you more than a doctor."
But the Gatekeeper had had enough and impatiently drove Lu Li out: "I’ve heard enough, get out."
Lu Li didn’t force himself to stay and left the ward, retreating to the rhythm of the driving and Pig King’s grunts.
Perhaps a few more interactions could make him loosen up a bit.
[207: Boy; Big Sis; Kate]
The boy was the rotting body, already recovered and discharged. Kate and Big Sis...
Lu Li didn’t waste ti going in to ask which of the siren and the puppet was Kate and which was Big Sis and arrived at Room 206’s door.
[206: Crow Mask; Golden Retriever; Model]
The door was open, and after entering, Lu Li locked eyes with the Crow Mask, then looked at the tall "outline" lying on the short hospital bed.
Half of her face was crowded with fine, sharp teeth, a beak-like hooked nose and deep well-like eye sockets made her look like a nightmare creation, unsettling.
Model—at least that’s how it was listed on the patient’s roster.
It wasn’t Lu Li’s first glance at her, but this ti was different—he needed to confront this outline that evoked deep-seated human fears.
"The head nurse said you used to be a model."
The Model’s eerie leaden eyeballs turned toward him. Lu Li ignored the chilling pressure and continued, "I guessed so too. Your features are clear and pronounced."
Like mountain peaks, the high bridge of her nose and deep basins of eye sockets, fine, sharp teeth packed the lower half of her face.
"Tall stature."
The two-ter-long hospital bed seed more like a crib for the Model. Her head touched the wall, and her legs stretched out, knees bent at a right angle, feet resting on Di Zhun.
"Smooth skin."
Her birch-like smooth, sickly pale skin evoked tales of Vampires and similar legendary creatures.
Inflated with Lu Li’s complints, the Model spoke, her hoarse, obscure, muffled voice like a crow eating rotten carcass: "What do you want to say..."
"Your voice is also elegant."
Lu Li paused lightly, maintaining the rhythm: "Why are you hospitalized?"
"...I’m looking for my mother."
Lu Li’s praise had an effect—Friday’s thod wasn’t without rit.
"Have you found her yet?"
"...No."
"Does the nurse know where your mother is?"
"...No."
"Do you need my help?"
The Model then sat up, her upper body towering over Lu Li, exerting a deeper pressure: "...You want to help ?"
"That Golden Retriever was discharged with my help." Lu Li pointed to the empty bed, "So I can help you too."
"...Fine...find my mother." The Model said in a deep voice.
"Is she a patient here or healthcare staff?"
"...Patient."
"What clues do you have so far?"
"...She’s in the hospital."
"So you don’t know which floor she’s on either, right."
"...Hmm."
Not just that, the Model didn’t know her mother’s appearance, na, or age. But that wasn’t the issue—under "delusion," Lu Li couldn’t clearly see the patients themselves either.
The known clue Lu Li could relate to was the Gut Woman, who was also searching for her child...but they shared no commonality.
And the unexplored areas were only Rooms 203, 211, and 212.
If the Model’s mother was on the second floor, it could only be one of these three rooms.
Beside him, the Crow Mask watched with interest as Lu Li finished questioning the Model.
"I believe now you can handle my commission." she said
"Then can I borrow your flashlight first?" Lu Li asked.
"No."
Reviews
All reviews (0)