Chapter 125: Rebuilding St. Elizabeth |
Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen stood frozen, their eyes wide with a mix of terror and disbelief as they looked at Yu Xiao. Their minds raced—was it really a good idea to confront the elephant in the room so directly? Could this boldness backfire?
The boss, with his brows knitted together in a delicate frown, kept his gaze fixed on Yu Xiao. To him, she was his beloved child, the apple of his eye.
“Why do you ask?” he asked softly, his voice almost hesitant.
With a steady tone that contradicted her inner turmoil, Yu Xiao replied, “I’m scared of you.”
As she spoke, the fear that had gripped her heart began to fade. She knew that if she didn’t address this issue with him now, she would be no closer to finding a solution in the next ten minutes.
“Have you forgotten? You tried to kill me. That’s why I’m scared.”
Confusion flickered across the boss’s face. The Coin of Great Observation, thrice enhanced, was foolproof. Its magic made him see Yu Xiao only as his cherished daughter, dismissing any inconsistencies as trivial.
Yet here he was, faced with his ‘daughter’s’ admission of fear, feeling turmoil brewing in his chest.
Unbidden, memories surged—visions of his hands closing around Yu Xiao’s throat.
He reached out, his hand hovering over Yu Xiao’s neck, where the ghost of his grip lingered in shades of bruised purple.
In that moment, Zhou Xiao Zhen, overwhelmed by fear, tried to move forward, but Zhao Lan’s strong grip prevented her from doing so,.
“Does it still hurt?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Yu Xiao nodded, tears glinting in her eyes. “Daddy, it hurts.”
The boss recoil as if he had been burned, his head bowing in a silent apology. He studied Yu Xiao with newfound intensity, as if truly seeing her for the first time. She was his flesh and blood.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured, the weight of his guilt palpable. The mystery of his actions haunted him, leaving him uncertain and afraid of what the future held.
“I am strong,” he whispered, “You can’t kill me.”
Yu Xiao’s eyes fluttered shut.
Time was slipping away from them. Was there truly no way out? Misty and Precious were trapped, their chances of escape dwindling. All Yu Xiao could do was buy precious seconds, stalling for her friends to find a way out.
If she was dead and the others had completed their task, they would be able to leave the instance.
“Chop off my head,” suddenly the boss offered casually, shrugging as if it were as simple as passing the salt. “Without my head, I’m as harmless as a kitten. Can’t see, can’t fight.”
Yu Xiao’s jaw dropped. This was not an everyday offer. The boss, always a gentleman, loosened his tie and handed it to her. “Make sure to blindfold me. Don’t let me see.”
With a nod that couldn’t hide her confusion, Yu Xiao accepted the tie, her thoughts in a jumble.
The boss, usually towering and unapproachable, now knelt on one knee, bowing his head—a giant humbled. “Pumpkin, would you?” he asked, gesturing toward his eyes.
Yu Xiao’s hands trembled as she took the tie. Zhao Lan’s voice cut through the tension, “C’mon, Smiley, quick!”
With trembling fingers, she blindfolded him.
“Now, off with the head,” he instructed.
A wave of panic washed over Yu Xiao. “I’ll… I’ll get a knife from the kitchen,” she stammered.
“No need for that,” the boss interrupted, and in one swift, surreal motion, he pulled his head cleanly off his shoulders.
Yu Xiao gasped. No blood, no gore, just the bizarre sight of a man calmly handing over his detached head.
“Keep it safe,” the head whispered, its eyes hidden beneath the makeshift blindfold. “Look after Daddy’s head.”
As Yu Xiao cradled the head, silence fell. The body, now sightless and soundless, wandered aimlessly.
Zhou Xiao Zhen, emboldened, jumped in front of it, eliciting no response.
“We’re okay,” She exhaled, relief and glee blending in her voice. “Honestly, I was scared stiff. Thought we were done for, for sure.”
“Ah, don’t jinx us,” Zhao Lan chided, placing her hand on her chest before flashing a grin. “Just between you and me, I was shaking in my boots too. Hey, Smiley,” she prodded, “what’s the plan now?”
Yu Xiao, holding the head like the world’s most eerie bouquet, replied, “We stick to the script—finish the mission, tick off every task, and get out of this madhouse together.”
The day had nearly slipped through their fingers amidst the chaos.
**
In the restaurant, Xue Rong Rong and her group found Zhao Yang. By that point, he had finished two dishes and was teetering on the edge. The sight of Ye Lang and the others triggered a breakdown, with tears mixing with his retching long after his stomach waved the white flag.
**
With the boss no longer breathing down their necks, Yu Xiao easily completed the Health Track chores. When evening came, it was time for a meal.
This time, Misty took charge in the kitchen and turned a simple bag of chicken wings into a delicious feast of crispy, golden delights. The trio gathered around to enjoy a meal that tasted like victory.
After dinner, it was time for a leisurely stroll, and the trio set off again. Unfortunately, the lawn was now nothing but a charred memory, and the scent of burnt earth accompanied them as they walked down the road. At eight o’clock in the evening, a reminder came that it was time for Yu Xiao to sleep.
Sleeping should have been risky because there was a ghost in the bed. However, Yu Xiao had long since removed the ghostly nightgown, and now the room was very safe as the ghost enjoyed its “job” at the meatpacking factory.
The trio settled down for the night, the head now securely sealed with a talisman, and another matching talisman hung on the door. Outside, the sound of the headless body trudging along provided a ghostly lullaby.
Yu Xiao and the others nestled into the big bed, surrendering to slumber’s embrace.
**
Elsewhere, four patients were marooned in wakefulness. When they split, Yu Xiao’s parting words were to vanish soon as they get Zhao Yang.
Huddled in the wilderness, they were a pitiful sight—exhausted, starving, and desperately trying to stay awake. They couldn’t reach her by phone, couldn’t contact Yu Xiao and the others, and had no idea what their situation was. No one dared to sleep that night. They were all on edge, fearing that the boss might come after them.
**
At six in the morning, Yu Xiao and her roommates were awakened by Fu Shen.
He appeared, holding the boss’s head like a grim trophy. Yu Xiao rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep, and Fu Shen’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “You did this?”
Yu Xiao, always modest, scratched her head and gave a sheepish smile. “Just dumb luck.”
“Luck, huh?” Fu Shen pondered, holding the head of the big boss, gesturing for them to follow him to the door. “Well, your luck is worth its weight in gold. Congratulations, you’ve all passed the test. The game is over, it’s time to return to the hospital.”
The three amigos hopped off the bed and approached the door. Yu Xiao glanced back, noticing the head in Fu Shen’s grip. “Uh…”
Fu Shen shot her a look that could curdle milk. “You want to take the head away?”
“Heck no!” Yu Xiao backpedalled faster than a crab at a beach party, “I was just wondering, once we’re out of here, could you maybe… pop the head back on?”
“Absolutely,” Fu Shen replied with a smirk, “He’s the chairman of the Ghostly Commerce Group, in charge of this whole operation. It’s only right that I return his head to its rightful place.”
“Phew,” Yu Xiao sighed, nibbling on her lip, “So he’s still the chairman of the group?”
“Why wouldn’t he be?” Fu Shen was puzzled by the question. Who else but the big boss would take the chairman’s position in this instance?
No more puzzling questions from Yu Xiao. They pushed open the door and stepped through, only to find themselves back in their ward room.
“We just… poofed back?” Zhou Xiao Zhen spun around, but the door had disappeared. “Do you think Xue Rong Rong and Yang Xian made it back? Without the big boss, they shouldn’t be in any danger, right?”
“Why don’t we give them a buzz?” Yu Xiao whipped out her phone, ready to dial Ye Lang’s number.
Ye Lang and his group had been concerned about Yu Xiao and her friends. They had spent the entire night outside, almost catching a cold.
When dawn came and there was no word, they cautiously approached the burned ground to snoop. But just as they were about to get closer, the world spun, and bam! Back in their wards they were.
Xue Rong Rong and Yang Xian were on pins and needles, clueless about Yu Xiao’s whereabouts. Ye Lang was about to call her when—bingo—her call came through first.
“Hello?” Ye Lang answered, “Is everyone okay?”
“All good, we’ve popped back,” Yu Xiao lounged on the bed, snacking on the pineapple Zhou Xiao Zhen had brought her, “Just checking on you guys, are you all okay? Did you manage to leave the instance?”
“We’re all here,” Ye Lang cheered, “Thanks a lot, we owe you one.”
“It’s what patients do for each other,” Yu Xiao chirped.
Hearing Yu Xiao’s words, Ye Lang felt a warm feeling inside. He was touched by the kindness and selflessness of people who not only refrained from profiting from talismans but also risked their lives to ensure everyone’s safe exit from the replica. Ye Lang’s eyes got misty.
“Thanks a lot,” Ye Lang said, adding casually, “By the way, how did you manage to escape from the clutches of the big boss after we went our separate ways?”
Yu Xiao dodged the question by quickly reminding Ye Lang to sell those discounted amulets to the Fifth Hospital crew before hanging up.
**
Meanwhile, Fu Shen finally understood what Yu Xiao had asked earlier.
“You gave her the company seal?” Fu Shen’s voice was a mix of disbelief and impending disaster. “How could you hand it over? That means she’s the new chairperson, and you’re demoted to a mere puppet under human control!”
The boss, who had just got back his head, wore a resigned expression, with a hint of regret. “The prop influenced me, and how did you let her walk away with the company seal?”
“I had no idea she took it!” Fu Shen fumed, pacing back and forth. “I used to mock George from Saint Elizabeth for being under human thumb, but look at me now!”
**
“I’m curious about Saint Elizabeth,” mused Yu Xiao, her voice tinged with hesitation. “Should I call George?”
“Maybe we shouldn’t,” interjected Zhao Lan, concerned that Saint Elizabeth’s issues might still be unresolved and a call could complicate things. “If it’s sorted, it’ll be in the morning news.”
Convinced, Yu Xiao dropped the idea.
Zhou Xiao Xhen couldn’t contain her excitement. “Gals, I earned two titles this time!”
“Seriously? Let’s see them,” leaned in Zhao Lan with interest.
Zhou Xiao Xhen’s face beamed with pride. “I’ve got ‘The Flower*-Wrecker’ and ‘Mahjong Empress’. Pretty cool, huh?”
“I’m going to check mine,” said Zhao Lan, scrolling through her phone. “Look at this! ‘The Reliable Ally’, I love it.”
Titles were handed out, and Yu Xiao was eager to see hers.
“I bet Smiley’s got a bunch of titles this time,” speculated Zhou Xiao Xhen.
Yu Xiao began sifting through her messages.
【Congratulations! You’ve successfully completed the eighth ordeal. Welcome to the Level Nine member on the hospital’s patient forum.】
【Thanks to your exceptional performance during the treatment, you have earned 3 basic points and 3 bonus points.】
【And a special shoutout to you, the ‘Master of Evil Spirits’—here’s a quartet of bonus points to add to your collection.】
Titles like these used to make her heart skip a beat, but now? Yu Xiao simply moved on to the next message with the composure of a seasoned ghost whisperer.
【Congratulations on acquiring the title of ‘Heart Deceiver’, which rewards you with 4 bonus points.】
【And let’s give a standing ovation to the new ‘Chairman of the Ghosts’ Union’, who also receives 4 bonus points.】
Hold on a second—Chairman? Yu Xiao’s eyebrows shot up. A chairman, her? She had barely even thrown her graduation cap, and she was already playing in the big leagues?
A surge of pride bubbled up. That’s right, no guts, no gory—uh, glory. She’d danced with danger, and now she was the one calling the shots!
“Yu Xiao is grinning from ear to ear,” Zhou Xiao Zhen observed, leaning in. “What title did you get?”
Yu Xiao’s grin threatened to split her face. “Just wait, I’m not finished reading yet.”
【Here’s to the ‘Patricidal Daughter’, with 4 bonus points to your name.】
Yu Xiao’s smile faltered. “…”
“Misty, take a look—her smile slipped.”
Zhao Lan’s lips twitched. “Maybe that title’s a bit too… spirited for her.”
“Pfft, as if Yu Xiao would be put off by that,” Zhou Xiao Zhen scoffed, with unwavering faith in ‘Smiley’.
【And now, a drumroll for topping the leaderboard! You’ve won a pair of function cards. Head over to the forum to claim your prize.】
Yu Xiao set her phone aside, a smile playing at the edges of her lips, not quite reaching her eyes. “I’ve got some news, gals. I’ve won four titles this time around.”
“Whoa!” Zhou Xiao Zhen barrelled over, her voice a mix of awe and decibels, “You’re the champion!”
With a playful eye roll, Yu Xiao gently pushed her away and declared, “I’m officially on vacation for a week. Just imagine: seven-day marathon of nothing but Z’s and snacks.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Zhao Lan chimed in, her attention partly on her own achievement, “I’ve also obtained a prop card.”
Both Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned in, curious. “Can we see?”
On Zhao Lan’s private forum page, a prop card awaited them, its potential yet to be discovered.
Zhou Xiao Zhen, always the cheerleader, encouraged her, “Come on, Misty, crack it open!”
【Prop card, do you want to use it?】
Zhao Lan’s heart skipped a beat. Her first prop card since arriving at the Sixth Hospital. She tapped on it, hoping for something game-changing.
【Choose your desired prop from the list: A. Soap. B. Enema. C. Flashlight. D. Key.】
“A choice again?” Zhou Xiao Zhen’s face fell. “No mahjong? Bummer.”
Zhao Lan scrutinised the four ordinary options with a critical eye. “Even though they seem mundane, they must have unique functions, like Precious’s mahjong.”
Yu Xiao leaned in, intrigued. “So, what’s it going to be?”
Zhao Lan hesitated, “Enema…”
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s jaw dropped. “Misty, an enema? Seriously? What if it’s for… you know, ghostly spankings?”
A cloud passed over Zhao Lan’s expression. “I would never choose an enema.”
“Ah,” Yu Xiao let out a sigh, relieved that Zhao Lan’s tasts weren’t that heavy as she feared. “The soap,” she deduced, “must be a control-type item, much like the mahjong tiles.”
Zhao Lan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And why’s that?”
Yu Xiao leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Ever ponder the real power of soap?”
“To scrub-a-dub-dub?” Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, half-joking.
Zhao Lan added, “To wash away grime?”
Yu Xiao nodded, prompting further, “And beyond that?”
The pair were stumped. Zhou Xiao Zhen tapped her temple, “Drawing a blank here.”
Zhao Lan playfully groaned, “Don’t keep us in suspense, Smiley. Out with it.”
“It’s simple,” Yu Xiao declared with a sly smile, “Ever heard the phrase ‘don’t drop the soap’?”
Zhao Lan’s eyes widened, a moment of realisation dawning.
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s face lit up with understanding. “Aha!”
Yu Xiao elaborated, “Imagine this: you toss the soap, and those ghoulish goons can’t help but pick it up. Now that’s what I call a nifty trick.”
Zhao Lan mulled it over in silence.
Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded vigorously, “That’s genius! It could be a game-changer, way handier than my mahjong tiles. They need a crowd, but soap? Just one slippery ghost.”
Zhao Lan’s mouth twitched into a smile, but she seemed convinced that soap was off her list now.
“What do you think of flashlights?”
Zhou Xiao Zhen pondered, her voice filled with mischief. “Hm… they’re more than just a source of light in the dark.”
Zhao Lan leaned closer, now intrigued. “Oh? How so?”
A glimmer of excitement appeared in Zhou Xiao Zhen’s eyes. “Ever catch an episode of Doraemon, Misty?”
Zhao Lan hesitated, her brow furrowed. “Can’t say I have.”
“Well, in the show, there’s this nifty thing called a ‘Shrink Ray’,” Zhou Xiao Zhen explained enthusiastically. “Imagine if our flashlight had that kind of power – we could shrink ghosts down to size! We’d have them under our boots in no time!”
Zhao Lan ran her fingers through her hair, scepticism evident on her face. A flashlight with cartoon powers? Zhou Xiao Zhen’s leap of logic was a stretch too far.
“And what about the key?” Zhao Lan questioned, hoping for a more practical explanation.
“Door opener, plain and simple,” Zhou Xiao Zhen replied with a smirk. “Unless you think it moonlights as a delivery guy?”
Yu Xiao’s gaze shifted to the key, her enthusiasm fading. “Best-case scenario, it’s a master key. It opens doors… big whoop.”
Zhao Lan made her decision clear. “I’m going with the key.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s jaw dropped. “Hold on, Misty! Choosing props isn’t a game; it’s a matter of life and… less pleasant alternatives.”
Zhao Lan’s choice remained firm. “Option C, locked in.”
And with that, the screen erupted into a display of celebratory fireworks.
【Congratulations on acquiring a permanent prop key.】
【Instructions: This key can unlock and lock all doors with locks. Once locked, unless opened again with the key, the door cannot be opened by anyone else. No cooldown time, can be used at will.】
“… Bloody hell!” Zhao Lan’s eyes went wide as saucers. “Wow, this is amazing!”
Zhou Xiao Zhen, practically bouncing with glee, wrapped Zhao Lan in a bear hug. “Does this mean we’re invincible with Misty’s key? Just lock up and poof, a safehouse?”
Yu Xiao chimed in, her voice a cocktail of shock and delight. “Who knew a key could pack such a punch? We hit the jackpot!”
Zhou Xiao Zhen and Yu Xiao exchanged high-fives, their previous scepticism about the key now forgotten.
With their spirits soaring, Zhao Lan suggested, “Let’s raise a toast to our stroke of luck, shall we? And no need to worry about overindulging. I’ll secure our room in advance with the key.”
“To victory!” Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, her cheer enough to wake the dead.
Before the meal attendant had even begun to loiter outside the door, the courier had arrived.
As sweet as a serenade, the delivery girl cooed, “‘Nickname Hassle’, got a package with your name on it.”
“That’s me, ‘Nickname Hassle’,” Zhao Lan beamed, darting towards the door, while Yu Xiao chimed in with her gratitude, her voice drifting through the gap. “Thank you kindly, miss.”
The delivery girl’s giggle was light, a playful note in the sterile air. “It’s all in a day’s work, you know~”
Yu Xiao leaned closer. “Been away for a bit—anything interesting go down at St. Elizabeth lately?”
“Why not ask George?”
Yu Xiao sighed, a smile playing on her lips. “You know how those attending docs can be, all high and mighty. But you? You’re a gem. I’d rather share the hospital’s gossip over a meal with you.”
The delivery girl’s laughter rang out, a clear bell in the quiet corridor. When she finally composed herself, she said, “Oh, it’s been quite the show. The Gluttony snuck into the hospital and had a go at George. And of all the times, George was hosting his doctor friends. It turned into an all-out melee, leaving the place in tatters.”
Yu Xiao’s eyes widened. “My hospital…”
“Don’t fret,” the delivery girl reassured, “The attending doctors will foot the bill. The Health Bureau dropped by for a surprise visit and caught the whole spectacle. Now, both the doctors and Gluttony are in a bit of a pickle, waiting for tomorrow’s judgement.”
Yu Xiao nodded, feigning concern. “A huge incident at St. Elizabeth and I missed it? That’s my hospital.”
“Don’t worry,” she comforted, “The Health Bureau’s got a rebuild in the works. St. Elizabeth will be back to its old self soon enough.”
Yu Xiao’s heart raced at the thought. A rebuild could reveal Nightmare!
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