Chapter 33
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Chapter 33: A Caring Citizen
“Allow me to correct you, what you just experienced was not a dream, but…”
Lin Qingliu elongated the phrase, looking serious as he gazed at Zhuang Mian,
“Divine enlightenment.”
Zhuang Mian softly repeated the word twice, starting to feel the weight it carried.
After thinking for a moment, she finally asked,
“Why are you helping me?”
Lin Qingliu sat back down, adopting the demeanor of a psychologist, casually brushing her off:
“Because a caring citizen from the eastern district asked me to.”
A caring citizen from the eastern district…
Upon hearing that familiar title, Zhuang Mian instantly tensed up. Ignoring the pain in her body, she stood up nervously and scanned the room, her voice filled with caution:
“Where is he?”
She never imagined that the Heart Snatcher would have brought her to this clinic. What was their real intention?
To humiliate her? To interrogate her? Surely, they couldn’t really want to save her…
Lin Qingliu was surprised by Zhuang Mian’s extreme reaction, but upon reflection, it made sense. After being saved while almost certain of her death, it was only natural for someone to be eager to express gratitude.
So, Lin Qingliu got up and glanced outside, noticing that El had already awakened from his sleep and was sitting quietly at the front desk.
He called El over and ushered the boy into the clinic, saying to Zhuang Mian:
“This kid here is one of my previous patients. He saw you collapse in an alley and brought you here, braving the heavy rain.”
Zhuang Mian sat on the bed, watching a sleepy-eyed boy being ushered inside. The child seemed to be around thirteen or fourteen years old, with a frail figure that appeared vulnerable to the slightest breeze. His silver-gray hair had a slight natural curl, and his features were quite handsome.
This is the Heart Snatcher?
No way, absolutely not!
Zhuang Mian dismissed her earlier suspicion, believing it was merely a coincidence that the doctor mentioned.
As for the Heart Snatcher?
Since that superpowered criminal prided himself on being a righteous vigilante, attacking members of the Public Security Team wouldn’t align with his code of conduct.
It seemed she could finally relax.
She looked at the boy, who was about ten years younger than her, and a kind smile appeared on her pale face:
“Big sister is a member of the Public Security Team. I was attacked tonight and got seriously injured. Thank you for saving me.
“May I ask where you live? I’d like to thank your parents in person.”
Though Zhuang Mian spoke without much thought, El’s gaze slightly dropped at her words.
“It’s almost dawn. Can you go upstairs and help me chop some minced meat? We’ll have noodles together soon.”
Lin Qingliu noticed El’s sadness and patted his shoulder to nudge him away.
After all, the boy had spent some time on the second floor and was quite familiar with the layout of the furniture and food.
After sending El away, Lin Qingliu returned to Zhuang Mian.
“That child’s parents have passed away, which is why he became my patient.
“After his recovery, we got along very well; he often comes here for a free meal.”
Zhuang Mian was momentarily stunned, then looked around the clinic, noting its differences from a typical medical office, quickly confirming her guess:
“You’re a psychologist?”
“I am.”
Zhuang Mian stared at the bandage on her arm and the scar, which was nearly healed and about to shed its stitches,
“So you can help me treat my wounds?”
“I occasionally take some private work.”
“So you’re still alive?”
Lin Qingliu shot Zhuang Mian a glance, clearly aware she was referring to the series of doctors dying in the outer city.
“I take private work, not illegal work.”
Zhuang Mian was at a loss for words. In the outer city, such matters had lost their hidden meaning.
If this were the inner city, no doctor would dare to calmly speak such things in front of a Public Security Team member.
“Regardless, thank you for saving me.”
Zhuang Mian’s tone was very serious,
“I will pay you three times the market price, and I won’t let it be known.
“After all, you know my identity.”
Zhuang Mian pointed at the Public Security Team emblem on her uniform and offered a wry smile.
“I’ll say it again, Ma’am, I don’t need money or thanks.”
Lin Qingliu firmly refused, standing up in a dramatic manner, spreading his arms to form a shape like a cross,
“It was not me who saved you, but that child’s kindness and the great gift from the divine. I merely made a trivial contribution.”
Lin Qingliu had repeated such words for the second time, attempting to steer the conversation back to where it should be. Zhuang Mian seemed to suddenly remember this matter, quickly following up with,
“I’m very interested in this.”
Who wouldn’t be interested? As a properly educated public security captain, Zhuang Mian had been taught about the dangers cults could pose to humanity.
One could say that among the four people Lin Qingliu bestowed a blessing upon, Zhuang Mian understood this better than anyone.
Thus, whether from a personal or professional standpoint, Zhuang Mian had to appear genuinely interested at that moment.
Lin Qingliu only wanted her attitude; he didn’t care whether it was sincere or not.
After all, the best way to solidify authority is to showcase power. By the time Zhuang Mian realized she had gained superpowers, she would have no choice but to believe it.
From upstairs came the orderly sound of a knife hitting a cutting board. In the clinic below, Lin Qingliu earnestly repeated his increasingly familiar prayers.
“…all glory and authority belong to You alone; may mercy and devotion endure forever.”
Zhuang Mian listened carefully, sincerely repeating the words, feeling a sense of inner peace. Moreover… this little prayer seemed quite positive.
With this thought, Zhuang Mian felt much more settled.
Thus, Zhuang Mian became the third person to complete all the rituals.
Ten minutes later, El wobbled downstairs carrying a tray.
The tray held three bowls of minced meat noodles, and all the utensils… were stainless steel.
The supply of goods in the inner city was much more abundant than in the outer city, so Zhuang Mian was quite shocked to be able to eat a bowl of minced meat noodles in this mental health clinic that resembled a fly-ridden eatery.
“Why is everything stainless steel?”
As a guest, Zhuang Mian shouldn’t have asked, but perhaps Lin Qingliu’s gentle demeanor gave her the courage to speak up, and she ultimately did.
“Durable.”
Lin Qingliu answered promptly,
“Some patients destroy everything they see, so we try to use metal for many items here.”
Lin Qingliu pointed to a differently colored area on the ceiling, which was a hole that had been there since he first arrived, now created when he had thrown a pot at an imaginary patient.
“It’s fine, just treat it like home.”
