Chapter 131: Avengers |
Lolita’s proposal lingered in the air, greeted by an overwhelming silence from the other doctors. But Gu Shu? He was flooded with a surge of emotions. Ever since his life-changing meeting with Deaf Descendant in Gu Village, peace had become nothing more than a distant memory. Forced to abandon his home, subjected to mandatory labour, and now utterly destitute… life had taken a nosedive faster than a skydiver without a parachute.
“So, what’s the plan?” Gu Shu asked, his voice laced with a blend of curiosity and desperation.
A sly grin spread across Lolita’s face as she beckoned to Qing Shi and Gluttony. “You guys want to kill Deaf Descendant too, right? Let’s work together and cook up a scheme!”
Qing Shi, reclining in his wheelchair, flashed a serene smile, his porcelain-like features radiating detachment. “Honestly, I only hold a slight grudge against Deaf Descendant. I won’t be part of this vendetta.”
Lolita’s jaw nearly hit the floor. A slight grudge? If that was the case, why the heck was he even here?
Her pretty face twisted with fury. “Qing Shi, don’t tell me you’re chickening out because of that measly human! Or worse, are you planning to stab us in the back?”
Qing Shi didn’t even flinch at Lolita’s accusation. With a flick of his wrist, he manoeuvred his wheelchair away from the gaggle of attending doctors, his voice ringing out loud and clear, “Say whatever you want, but count me out. I don’t want any part of your harebrained schemes.”
Standing beside him, Gluttony’s face was split by a mocking grin. Did he want to pummel Deaf Descendant into the ground? Hell yeah, he did! Never before had he felt such an all-consuming desire to devour a human. But cooperating with these so-called attending doctors? Not a chance. They were nothing but useless trash, not even worthy of being in the same room as him, let alone working together.
Besides, revenge was a dish best served by his own hands. He craved the thrill of taking Deaf Descendant down himself, savouring every delicious moment. The mere thought of these garbage doctors laying a finger on her made his blood boil. No, Deaf Descendant’s body will be his and his alone.
Gluttony remained silent, an elegant smile playing on his lips as he sauntered towards them, his every step oozing with confidence.
Lolita, in all her infinite wisdom, interpreted Gluttony’s silence as a resounding “yes” to the plan to off Deaf Descendant. Talk about jumping to conclusions!
On the other hand, George was as enthusiastic as a kid being dragged to the dentist. His eyebrows furrowed together like a pair of angry caterpillars. Joining this scheme? Not exactly high on his to-do list. For starters, he and Gluttony had a relationship as bad as cats and dogs. The guy had tried to kill him, for crying out loud!
And let’s not forget the fact that every time George crossed paths with Deaf Descendant, bad luck followed him like a clingy ex. This time was no different – he could feel the impending doom lurking in his gut like a bad burrito.
But with Gluttony supporting the “Kill Deaf Descendant” team, Lolita was full of confidence.
She tilted her head back and announced, “With our powers combined, we don’t need any fancy plots or tricks to take down Deaf Descendant. It’s as simple as finding out which instance she is going to next and ambushing her there. Piece of cake! Oh, but wait, there’s a tiny detail we can’t forget – she’s the big cheese at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. She could return there faster than you can say ‘boo.’ So, one of us needs to stay there and make sure she doesn’t escape.”
Gu Shu, always the sceptic, narrowed his eyes and spoke up, “But what if the head attending doctor of that instance gives us the cold shoulder? You know the drill – no permission from them, no entry for us other doctors.”
“Already thought of that, my dear Watson,” Lolita said, looking pleased with herself. “Have you been keeping up with the news lately?”
All eyes were fixed on Lolita as she dropped the bombshell: “Deaf Descendant is the new head of the Ghost Group. You know what that means – she has the fancy seal that screams ‘I’ve got the power’ in her hands. Whoever eliminates her and takes that seal becomes the new boss. It’s an offer nobody can refuse!”
“So,” Gu Shu’s gaze swept over the ghostly gathering, “who is up for a little instance-hopping, and who will stay at St. Elizabeth’s?”
Unsurprisingly, Lolita and Gluttony focused on George like a pair of heat-seeking missiles.
George: “…”
Well, wasn’t this just a predicament? He hadn’t even decided whether to join this crazy plan, and they were already trying to burden him with a mission that was as appealing as a root canal.
Lolita’s eyes narrowed into slits, her gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. “Well, well, well,” she drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Looks like someone’s been a naughty boy. Have you gone soft on us, George? Turned into that human’s little pet?”
George’s face twisted into a snarl, his eyes flashing with a murderous glint that could freeze hell over. “Oh, I’ll take care of it alright. I’ll make sure to give her a warm welcome at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital—and a quick goodbye.”
“Music to my ears.” Lolita’s lips curled into a wicked grin. “The rest is on you, Gu Shu.”
Gu Shu quirked an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as Lolita went on, “You’ve got a knack for digging up dirt on the Deaf Descendant’s next instance.”
And she was right. Gu Shu had pulled this stunt before, weaselling his way into the very instance Yu Xiao was about to step into, playing the role of the perfect attending doctor.
He didn’t utter a word, just gave a curt nod.
**
Back in the creaky old wooden house in Gu Village, Zhuo Ge’s mind was whirring like a well-oiled machine. He yanked open a drawer, snatched a sheet of letter paper, and started scribbling away like his life depended on it.
Here’s what he wrote:
【 Dear Mr. Gluttony,
Greetings from Wang Shu, a humble cleaner at the Sage Hospital. I heard you’re tired of your old job and looking for a fresh start as an attending doctor. Oh, forgive my impertinence, but St. Elizabeth’s Hospital isn’t exactly the cream of the crop. Have you considered Sage Hospital instead? It’s one of the best instances out there.
I wonder if you’d be interested in joining our ranks? To be honest, I have some…creative differences with our current attending doctor, Qing Shi. I’d be more than happy to help you, ah, “persuade” Qing Shi to step down, and in return, I have only one tiny request: the freedom to clock out early from Sage Hospital.
Your most sincere friend, Wang Shu. 】
Zhuo Ge put down his pen, a sly grin spreading across his face.
This was his master plan—trick Gluttony into thinking Wang Shu was inviting him to Sage Hospital. And the best part? He had no beef with Qing Shi or Wang Shu, so no one would ever point the finger at him. Plus, as long as either Gluttony or Wang Shu kicked the bucket, this little secret would be buried six feet under.
With mischievous eyes, Zhuo Ge slapped a stamp on the envelope and sealed it with a flourish, his grin wider than the Cheshire Cat’s.
Just then, Yu Xiao sauntered in from outside, her eyebrows shooting up at the sight of Zhuo Ge’s face-splitting smile. “Well, well, well,” she drawled, “something good happen, huh?”
“Oh, you know,” Zhuo Ge shrugged, his eyes twinkling with secrets. “Just a little something-something. But enough about me, I’m dying to know—how does the esteemed investigator evaluate my work?”
Yu Xiao’s lips twitched, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners. “Eh, it’s not half bad, I suppose. A few hiccups here and there, but overall? I’d give it a solid C+.”
“A C+?” Zhuo Ge clutched his heart, pretending to be shocked. “Why, that’s practically a glowing recommendation coming from you!”
“Yeah, yeah, don’t get too full of yourself,” Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, her tone becoming serious. “But listen, our hospital values putting patients first. So no more pulling the wool over their eyes, capiche?”
“Capiche,” Zhuo Ge nodded, crossing his heart as an added gesture. Not that it mattered—those poor saps probably wouldn’t make it out alive even if he played nice.
He was just about to make his excuses and leave when a shrill voice cut through the air like a banshee’s wail. “You two good-for-nothing scoundrels, get your sorry hides out here!”
Yu Xiao: “…”
Zhuo Ge: “…”
They locked eyes, their faces filled with confusion.
As they stepped outside, they were confronted by a mob of villagers tightly packed into Zhuo Ge’s small courtyard, resembling sardines in a can. Standing at the forefront was Old Lady Gu, Gu Jing Rong’s mother.
With her hands on her hips, Old Lady Gu pointed accusingly at Yu Xiao and Zhuo Ge. “Come one, come all!” she screeched, her voice piercingly loud. “Behold this disgrace! My poor daughter-in-law returns for just one day and is already led astray by this… this home wrecker! Doctor Zhuo Ge, what in the seven hells were you doing with my precious girl behind closed doors?”
Gu Jing Rong pulled at his mother’s sleeve, his voice barely above a whisper. “Ma, let’s just go. We’re divorced, remember?”
“Divorced?” Old Lady Gu scoffed, her eyes burning with anger. “Do you think it’s that simple? She wasted your youth, and you’re just gonna let her waltz off into the sunset?”
“…”
Zhuo Ge’s face hardened, his eyes turning to ice. Sure, he might play the subservient dog when Yu Xiao was around—she was the big, bad investigator, after all—but these yahoos? They were less than dirt beneath his feet.
His face was as frigid as a frozen corpse, and the air around him seemed to crackle with icy malevolence that made their skin crawl. The villagers took one look at the ghostly figure and scattered like roaches when the lights came on, their terrified squeaks echoing in the sudden silence.
Yu Xiao couldn’t help but gawk at Zhuo Ge’s impressive display of power. If he was such a badass attending doctor, then just how insanely strong must ‘Wide Sea and Sky’ be?
The mere thought of that guy made her mood tank faster than a lead balloon. Sure, Yu Xiao had been pissed at the time, but it’s not like she’d ever even met the dude in person. Yu Xiao knew she shouldn’t stick her nose where it didn’t belong, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of being seriously bummed out. Every time she tried to reach out to him, Yu Xiao just ended up thinking about Teng Jing Zhi and that creepy ghost chick with the blood-red claws.
They’d kicked the bucket ages ago and were stuck in that hospital, living a pretty sad existence. There wasn’t a damn thing Yu Xiao could do to help them, but she figured maybe she could still do something for ‘Wide Sea and Sky.’ If he could bust out of that place, it might give Teng Jing Zhi a bit of peace too.
Plus, if ‘Wide Sea and Sky’ actually managed to escape, it’d be a huge morale boost for them too.
But even with the chance to leave, he just wouldn’t do it. Yu Xiao had a hunch that something was up with him, or maybe there were some other top-secret conditions for getting out of that hospital that Yu Xiao didn’t know about. But with ‘Wide Sea and Sky’ being about as warm and fuzzy as a cactus, Yu Xiao doubted he’d spill the beans even if she asked.
“Ugh,” Yu Xiao groaned, feeling like she just swallowed a lead weight. Maybe she could try asking him about it when he was in a better mood?
“I wish to live for another five hundred years…”
Suddenly, her phone started blaring like a banshee, nearly giving her a heart attack. Since Yu Xiao was stuck inside an instance, the folks in the ward shouldn’t have been able to reach her. Yu Xiao fished out her phone and nearly dropped it when she saw who was calling – Gluttony.
She stared at the screen, her finger hovering over the answer button as Yu Xiao debated whether to pick up or not.
She just pulled a fast one on Gluttony, and as far as Yu Xiao knew, her little betrayal was public knowledge now. Last she heard, he was supposed to be slaving away at the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital construction site. So why the hell was he calling her?
As Yu Xiao stood there like an idiot, Zhuo Ge shot her a curious look. “Investigator, are you going to answer that?”
“Oh, uh…” She mumbled, taking a few steps away from Zhuo Ge’s place and heading towards the little river that ran through the village. Finally, she decided to bite the bullet and take the call.
“Heh,” Gluttony’s voice oozed through the speaker, “sounds like someone’s got their panties in a twist.”
“Oh, please,” Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, even though he couldn’t see her. “The only thing ‘in a twist’ is your warped little mind.” She couldn’t help but smirk, thinking, ‘If only you knew the shitstorm that’s coming your way, you’d be the one pissing yourself.’
“Aww, don’t be like that,” Gluttony purred, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You know how much I crave you, right? How much I want to sink my teeth into your tender—”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it all before,” Yu Xiao cut him off, stifling a laugh. “Keep dreaming, buddy. The only thing you’ll be sinking your teeth into is a big ol’ slice of humble pie.”
Yu Xiao’s snarky comebacks didn’t faze him one bit. In fact, the creep had the audacity to laugh.
Gluttony let out a low, menacing chuckle that sent shivers down her spine. “We’ll see about that, my sweet little morsel. We’ll see. Gotta hand it to ya, my tasty friend. That confidence of yours? It’s like a fine wine – makes the meat taste all the sweeter.” He let out a contented sigh, as if savouring the thought. “But hey, no rush. You just keep on living your best life, all healthy and happy-like piglet. I’ll be seeing you soon enough.”
Yu Xiao was about to fire back another zinger when Gluttony dropped a bombshell. “Oh, by the way, I’ve got some juicy gossip for you. My esteemed colleagues? They’re cooking up a plan to murder you.”
“Wait, what?” Yu Xiao’s mind raced, trying to process this unexpected twist. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks – Gluttony’s so-called colleagues were none other than the disgruntled doctors currently slaving away at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.
“Just thought I’d give you a little heads-up,” Gluttony chirped, sounding overly pleased with himself. “I mean, it would be a real shame to see you get your head twisted by those losers.”
Yu Xiao’s eye twitched, a telltale sign that her bullshit metre was going off the charts. As much as she hated to admit it, Gluttony’s warning rang true. There was no point in him lying, unless he enjoyed watching her squirm.
Swallowing her pride, she put on her best sugary-sweet voice. “Well, aren’t you just the sweetest thing? I’m truly touched by your concern. So, tell me, do you happen to know what plans those big, bad doctors have for little ol’ me?”
Gluttony practically purred with delight. “Oh, I’m privy to all sorts of secrets, my dear. They think I’m on their side now, the poor fools. But the real question is, do you want me to tell it to you, my tasty friend?”
“I’m all ears,” Yu Xiao replied, trying not to gag on the saccharine words.
“Ah, but here’s the thing,” Gluttony continued, his voice dripping with false sincerity. “You’ve wounded me deeply in the past. What possible reason could I have to help you now? Unless, of course, you’re willing to beg…”
Before he could finish his twisted little proposal, Yu Xiao cut him off. “Oh, please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top! I’m on my knees here, grovelling for your mercy, daddy~!”
Gluttony was rendered speechless, his silver tongue turned to lead. In all his years of tormenting hapless victims, he’d never encountered someone with such brazen shamelessness. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water, a belly full of witty retorts suddenly evaporating into thin air.
“…”
“Seriously, don’t you have any shame left in that twisted soul of yours?”
Yu Xiao’s laughter rang out, bright and cheerful, like the tinkling of shattered glass. “Ha! Shame? Why would I need something as useless as that with a good friend like you around?”
Gluttony’s mind was a jumbled mess, a tangle of emotions he couldn’t quite untangle. He’d never been one for the online world, and now he was drowning in a sea of confusion.
With a helpless sigh, he adjusted his tie, the fabric suddenly feeling like a noose around his neck. “They’re planning to ambush you in your next instance, y’know? Gonna use that official seal on your body to bribe the attending doctor to kill you. And don’t even think about running off to St. Elizabeth’s—George is waiting there, ready to pounce.”
Yu Xiao’s eyes flashed with a hint of ferocity as she hung up the phone, a predatory grin spreading across her face. “Bring it on, then,” she whispered, her voice dripping with anticipation.
Rising to her feet, Yu Xiao’s cold laughter echoed through the air, a chilling promise of the unforgettable memories she’d etch into the minds of those foolish enough to seek revenge.
**
“So, why do they call you Gu Shu?” George asked again, his brow furrowed in puzzlement. Yu Xiao had insisted he ask this question, and though he couldn’t fathom why, he figured he might as well satisfy her curiosity before she kicked the bucket.
Gu Shu’s gaze was indifferent, their current cooperation rendering him unable to respond with his usual icy demeanour. “And why exactly do you want to know?”
“Just curious,” George lied smoothly, “I’ve got a thing for the origins of other attending doctors’ names, y’see.”
Before Gu Shu could utter a word, Lolita chimed in, her voice saccharine sweet. “It’s ’cause I’m absolutely in love with Lolita dresses! They’re the most beautiful clothes in the whole wide world, so that’s why I’m called Lolita!”
“Wasn’t asking you,” George snapped, pushing his gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose. He turned back to Gu Shu, his eyes narrowing. “So, why Gu Shu?”
Gu Shu’s expression was one of speechless resignation, but he answered nonetheless. “I’m the first attending doctor of Gu Village, hence the surname Gu. When I built my house there, I planted a tree sapling in the courtyard with my own two hands. That’s why they call me Gu Shu (Ancient Tree).”
George nodded, patting his already-stained white coat. Slipping back into his usual cold demeanour, he walked away, settling himself in a shaded corner.
Lolita pouted, her voice laced with indignation. “How come he gets to slack off? He started this whole thing, so why doesn’t he have to do any mandatory labour?”
George appeared to be spacing out, but beneath the cover of his sleeve, his fingers were busy typing out a secret text message to Yu Xiao.
**
In the damp, cavernous temple, Yu Xiao stood bathed in the flickering firelight. The light danced across the dark, frigid pool’s rippling surface, which rippled and churned like a restless beast, as a colossal monster lurked beneath, sensing her presence.
As she patiently waited for the creature to emerge, her phone buzzed with an incoming text. It was from George, revealing the origin of Gu Shu’s name.
Yu Xiao’s mind raced with questions. Did the attending doctors choose their own names? Or were they given new identities when they took on their roles, shedding their pasts like snakeskin?
And then there was George, the sly fox who hadn’t breathed a word about the attending doctors’ sinister plan. It seemed he had a one-way ticket booked for Yu Xiao to the afterlife.
A cold smile played on her lips. Reporting him? Nah, she had a better idea. She’d kill him with kindness.
“Splash…”
Once again, the pungent, fishy stench assaulted Yu Xiao’s nostrils, causing her to cover her nose and mouth as she stumbled back.
A massive shadow exploded from the water’s depths, sending cascading waves crashing down like a torrential downpour.
“Moo—”
The behemoth hovered above the water’s surface, its unseen eyes boring into Yu Xiao with venomous intent. Tentacles, tangled beneath the water, stretched out like gnarled, seeking fingers. The creature had seen better days, its appendages reduced in number, with short, newly-sprouted tentacles dotting its grotesque form.
With blinding speed, the tentacles shot towards Yu Xiao, driven by the monster’s insatiable hunger for revenge. Its memory might have been shoddy, but the ant-like human who had deceived and framed it? That was a grudge it would carry to its watery grave.
Just as the tentacles were about to ensnare Yu Xiao, ready to pop her head off like a champagne cork, she whipped out the assessment book and waved it like a magic wand. “Are you stupid, or just suicidal? You dare to attack me? I’m the big cheese, the head honcho of the inspection team. The higher-ups sent me to assess your sorry excuse for a performance.”
“Moo?”
The ferocious tentacles froze mid-strike, hovering mere inches from Yu Xiao’s face.
Yu Xiao flicked the water droplets off her clothes with a look of pure disdain, as if the thought of being drenched by this huge squid was beneath her. She pulled out her assessment book and started scribbling away with determination.
【 Assessment Target: Deity of Gu Village.
Notes: Prone to violent outbursts, with a love for bloodshed… attempted to attack the investigator… poor mental state… 】
“Moo…” The monster’s painful howl echoed through the cave, making Yu Xiao’s ears ring. It thrashed around in the pool like a toddler throwing a tantrum, its tentacles flailing and hitting the cave walls. Water surged out of the pool, and Yu Xiao had to do some fancy footwork to avoid getting swept away.
Nevertheless, she continued writing because nothing says “professional” like multitasking in the face of certain death.
“Woo woo woo…”
Out of nowhere, the monster started whimpering like a lost puppy. Yu Xiao froze, her pen hovering over the page. She looked up and saw the creature’s tentacles all tangled up, wrapping around its massive body like a straitjacket. For a moment, she almost felt sorry for the big lug.
With a sigh, Yu Xiao put down her assessment book. “Listen, I can give you a passing grade, but you have to follow my rules, understand?”
“Moo.”
“Hmph.” Yu Xiao assumed that was the closest thing to a “yes” she would get from a giant, tentacled monstrosity. She tore off the page she had just written on and started over.
Yu Xiao had just two poor saps to assess in Gu Village: Zhuo Ge and the temple monster.
After jotting down her reports, she rummaged through her bag and pulled out a fancy-schmancy seal.. With a flourish, she stamped the reports, fully aware that the higher-ups at the Health Bureau would scrutinise them closely. As for the unsealed ones? Straight to the trash, baby.
With her work completed, Yu Xiao was ready to leave. She needed to inform Misty and Precious about the attending doctors’ little Avengers Alliance.
Bless his heart, Zhuo Ge couldn’t let Yu Xiao depart without a parting gift. He handed her a pack of tea eggs, insisting that she take them for the road.
**
Back in the ward, Zhao Lan was dozing off out of sheer boredom, her gentle snores providing a soothing background noise. On the other hand, Zhou Xiao Zhen was engrossed in an anonymous forum, where she enjoyed posing as a newbie and causing trouble.
Suddenly, a “click” interrupted the silence.
Zhou Xiao Zhen immediately turned her head and witnessed Nightmare crawling out of his box like a vampire emerging from his coffin. Wasn’t he supposed to be in there, sluggish and all? What was he doing out and about? Did the guy need to use the restroom or something?
As Yu Xiao returned to the ward, Nightmare made a beeline for her, extending his claws to snag her trouser legs like a needy toddler.
“Smiley!”
Yu Xiao waltzed back into the ward, a bag dangling from her hand like a tantalising promise.
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s ear-splitting shout jolted Zhao Lan out of her slumber, making her sit up faster than a cat on a hot tin roof.
“Guess who’s back?” Yu Xiao sing-songed, her hand diving into the bag like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. She whipped out a tea egg and tossed it to Nightmare, who snatched it out of the air with feline grace.
“What’s that?” Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned in, her nose twitching like a curious bunny. “Is that a tea egg I smell?”
“You bet your sweet bippy it is,” Yu Xiao grinned. “The attending doctor himself boiled these babies. Want one?”
“Heck yeah, I do!” Zhou Xiao Zhen bounced on her heels. The tea eggs were still warm, their aroma wafting through the air like a siren’s song.
She took a whiff and sighed dreamily. “Mmm, smells divine. I thought attending doctors only feasted on human flesh.”
“Everyone’s got a hobby,” Yu Xiao shrugged, offering an egg to Zhao Lan with a wink. “Take a bite.”
Zhao Lan accepted the egg with a wry smile. “Looks like someone’s been busy on their little investigation adventure. Bringing back souvenirs and everything.”
Yu Xiao plopped down beside Zhao Lan, the backpack and tea eggs forgotten for the moment. “Listen up, ladies. We need to talk.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen and Nightmare, their mouths full of eggy goodness, swivelled their heads in perfect synchronisation. Yu Xiao took a deep breath. “I’m in trouble. Big trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?” Zhao Lan’s brow furrowed, her earlier levity vanishing like a puff of smoke. “Spill the beans, and don’t skimp on the details.”
Yu Xiao launched into the tale of the attending doctors’ dastardly Avengers Alliance scheme. “I was gonna rat them out before I even set foot in there, but then I thought, ‘Nah, that’s too easy. They don’t deserve to get off that lightly.’”
“I can help!” Nightmare piped up, his tail swishing with excitement.
“Absolutely not,” Zhou Xiao Zhen cut in. “You’re a wanted feline, remember? If you go charging in to save Smiley here, it’ll just prove that she’s been hiding you all along. We might as well gift-wrap you and hand you over to the cops.”
Nightmare’s face fell, his ears drooping in disappointment, but Yu Xiao wasn’t ready to give up on him just yet. “Hold your horses, Nightmare. You can still help.”
The little yellow kitten perked up, his ears standing at attention like tiny satellite dishes. He stared at Yu Xiao, hanging on her every word.
“But here’s the thing,” Yu Xiao continued, her voice low and conspiratorial. “You can’t let on that you’re doing it for me. When they inevitably catch you, just spin a yarn about how you’ve been lurking in that instance the whole time. Say you stumbled upon the attending doctors’ nefarious plot and decided to play the hero and save the day. They’ll be so busy pinning medals on you, they’ll forget all about your past transgressions. Boom, instant redemption arc. No more living life on the lam.”
Nightmare nodded slowly, a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling in his eyes. But he kept his thoughts to himself, content to let the plan unfold as Yu Xiao intended.
Yu Xiao knew Nightmare couldn’t spend the rest of his nine lives playing hide-and-seek with the law. The poor kitty needed a get-out-of-jail-free card, and fast. An idea sparked in her mind like a lightbulb on steroids. If she could score him a cushy gig in a different department, he’d be sitting pretty. The Chairman of the Ghost Group had a nice ring to it, and Nightmare was the purr-fect fit. It’s not like she was planning on waltzing back into the Ghost Group anytime soon, so the official seal was about as useful to her as a screen door on a submarine. Might as well hand it over to Nightmare and let him work his magic.
“Here’s the plan,” Yu Xiao leaned in, her voice low and conspiratorial. “I’m going to wait until the attending doctors make their move, and then I’ll report them. The more dirt they dig themselves into, the harder it’ll be for them to wriggle out of it later. But I’m not gonna lie, it’s a risky play. I can handle myself, but I’m worried about you guys and the other patients who’ll be caught in the crossfire.”
Zhao Lan dismissed her concerns. “Girl, why are you stressing? You have the Coin of Great Observation, don’t you? That’s like a supercharged ‘Get Out of Trouble’ card. Ten minutes is more than enough time for help to arrive, guns blazing.”
Yu Xiao shifted uncomfortably, her nose wrinkling at the thought of calling those attending doctors “Mum” and “Dad.”
Zhao Lan took one look at her expression and burst out laughing. “Oh, I see what’s bothering you. If you can’t stomach the idea of playing happy families with those creeps, just toss the coin my way. I’ll be their ‘Mummy Dearest’ and ‘Daddy-o’ all day long.”