Zhu Xi Ning nodded. "I remembered a bit more. It seems there was someone in the fog."
"I can't recall anything beyond that."
Nan Yue finished what she was eating. "Don't worry. It's likely because of this mission. You have a strong intuition, so you had a premonition on the very first night."
"After all, this is a mission in a pollution zone; it won't be that simple. You'll remember more as time goes on."
Zhu Xi Ning’s phone rang. It was Gu Xiang Kai asking if she and Nan Yue wanted breakfast.
In the end, everyone gathered in Nan Yue’s room to eat.
The one who had woken up earliest was actually Gu Xiang Kai, because his roommate, Shi Xiaojie, had gotten up at five to pack his things and head to the construction site.
Gu Xiang Kai had been woken by his dog-like hearing but didn't move. He had planned to go back to sleep after Shi Xiaojie left in a hurry.
Click.
He heard the very faint sound of a door lock clicking shut.
"Someone else went out with Shi Xiaojie at that time."
The egg-stuffed pancakes from downstairs were famous, and Gu Xiang Kai was currently munching on one.
"I couldn't quite tell who it was. The brothers Wu Ming and Wu Gang aren't quite right either."
"There's a certain hostility in Wu Ming’s expression, and Wu Gang unconsciously walks on his tiptoes. I suspect they belong to the shady underbelly of society, like thieves or bandits."
Although Jiang Haoyu was the mobile encyclopedia of the group, he hadn't heard of such niche terms.
Chi Yu explained to him that a foye was a thief, and a bangke was a bandit.
Jiang Haoyu clicked his tongue. Initially, he felt that Oasis Community was making a mountain out of a molehill, thinking they shouldn't squeeze out other people's living space just because they were wealthy.
Now that he thought about it, with a street separating them from prostitutes, thieves, and bandits... it was only natural to be worried.
"It's normal for a place like this to be filled with all sorts of people, but that's not why we're here."
An old urban village demolition building having these elements wasn't enough to warrant a visit from Mingmu News Studio.
The key was that serial killer.
"When I stepped out, the person was already gone, and Wu Gang was just leaving. After he left, I sprinkled some dirt in front of both their doors. We'll check later to see whose dirt hasn't been disturbed; that'll be the person who followed Shi Xiaojie out."
Finding them wouldn't prove anything, but at this stage with so many loose ends, they needed a starting point.
Gu Xiang Kai suspected either the mute or Wu Ming.
Wu Gang had said yesterday that he was also working as a security guard across the street, making him a colleague of Su Xiaoxi. They left around the same time. When Gu Xiang Kai slipped out to check the situation, Wu Gang was just rushing out.
"That was at six o'clock."
Gu Xiang Kai was always meticulous despite his rough exterior; Nan Yue didn't need to worry about him.
"On our floor, Yang Xufeng hasn't left yet, but Yao He has already gone out to buy breakfast."
Chi Yu was also a careful person. She didn't dare lean on Jiang Siyan, and the other two's strengths didn't lie here, so she had to keep a closer watch.
"Yang Xufeng is a delivery rider with flexible hours, so it's fine if he wants to sleep in."
"That girl Xie Hui definitely hasn't woken up yet. She must have come back around eight last night, carrying lunch boxes and such."
They had seen earlier that Xie Hui was eating downstairs with her adoptive father, Uncle Zhong. She had cooked the dishes herself and even gave some to Yao He and the others.
"Everyone, divide the tasks. We need to observe all the neighbors."
Gu Xiang Kai’s situation was slightly trickier. He was alone, and since Shi Xiaojie shared a room with him, he had to watch four NPCs, which was quite difficult.
However, no one voiced any concern; Gu Xiang Kai’s abilities were well-known.
"By the way, I might need your help with something later."
Nan Yue looked at Gu Xiang Kai with a smile. Gu Xiang Kai immediately perked up like a dog getting its head patted.
"What is it?"
"I have something for you to smell."
The dog slumped.
Granny Li always made a lot of noise, whether it was night or day; she was never quiet at home.
That was why Su Xiaoxi and the others had such a problem with her. They would come back exhausted after a long day only to hear her pounding herbs.
After finishing breakfast, everyone returned to their respective rooms. Nan Yue kept Gu Xiang Kai in her room, while Zhu Xi Ning took Jiang Haoyu to Gu Xiang Kai’s room to keep an eye on those two.
Jiang Siyan followed behind Nan Yue like a shadow as she headed to Wu's Clinic.
"Oh, aren't you the girl who moved in yesterday?"
The balding Old Wu glanced at Nan Yue, sizing her up. Before he could get a good look, a wave of coldness hit him.
He looked up and saw a man following behind the tall girl. The man was incredibly handsome, but his eyes didn't look human.
He shuddered and didn't dare look again. "Which one of you is the patient?"
Nan Yue sat down as if she hadn't noticed Old Wu’s scrutiny.
"Me."
"I've had a headache since I woke up, and I've been having heart palpitations since my nightmare last night."
Old Wu’s eyes flickered slightly as he placed his fingers on Nan Yue’s wrist.
His fingers were rough with calluses on the thumb and forefinger; they didn't look like a doctor's hands at all.
Nan Yue observed him surreptitiously.
"Hiss... I'm afraid cold qi has entered your body and invaded your spiritual clarity."
Nan Yue asked seriously, "Then what should I do?"
Old Wu smiled. "Just wrap yourself in a blanket, have a sleep, and take a hot shower. If that doesn't work, I'll prescribe some medicine for you."
Nan Yue raised an eyebrow. "You're a good doctor, old gentleman. I thought I’d have to spend some money the moment I walked into a clinic."
Old Wu gave a kindly smile. "We're all neighbors. I wouldn't dream of cheating you. Besides, my reputation around here is well-known; I don't use medicine to pull those money-making schemes."
Nan Yue nodded. "I don't have a medicine pot. Can you brew the medicine here?"
Old Wu chuckled. "Of course. Some people don't like the taste of bitter medicine, so I can also make it into a powder."
Nan Yue took the opportunity to say, "Speaking of which, I heard someone died of an illness in our room before?"
Everyone knew about this, so Old Wu wasn't surprised she knew.
"Yes, a severe illness. There was nothing an ordinary person could do."
"Did she ever come to you for treatment?"
Old Wu nodded. "She did. I exhausted everything I knew just to help her extend her life by a few days."
"With that illness of hers, even the city hospitals were useless. They said she wouldn't last a month, but I managed to keep her alive for an extra month."
As soon as he finished speaking, the man behind Nan Yue, who looked like a monster wearing human skin, turned and left without a word. It gave Old Wu quite a fright!
"You..."
Nan Yue didn't even need to turn around to know Jiang Siyan had left. "Don't mind him. Go on. Were there any signs before she got sick?"
With that man gone, the air seemed to circulate better, and Old Wu became more relaxed.
"That woman had poor health. she was always coming down with something, catching colds or fevers once a month, not to mention her cycle was irregular for years..."
"Did she come here often for medicine before?"
Old Wu nodded. "I was always helping her with her prescriptions."
"And you never found out why she suddenly fell so ill?"
Old Wu sighed. "Fate is unpredictable!"
Nan Yue didn't pursue that further, asking instead, "That woman actually had the money to go to a hospital?"
Old Wu smiled and looked down at the newspaper on his desk; after all, there were no other customers today.
Rate on N.U.
