Chapter 133

Chapter 133

The security guards dragged away a struggling Wendy, and the other two men fled the office as if their lives depended on it.

They had heard far too much they shouldn’t have tonight; they would likely be staring at the ceiling until dawn.

Tu Nan watched them leave the office before speaking up herself. “I still have the night shift to finish, so I’ll be heading out now.”

“Tu Nan.” The Head Nurse called out to her, her voice cold. “Don’t think that just because of what happened today, you’re off the hook. You’re just as suspicious. You’d better stay on your best behavior.”

Tu Nan knew the Head Nurse was putting on a show for Daisy’s benefit. She was happy to play along, putting on an expression of suppressed indignation before turning to leave.

She had barely walked a few steps from the office when she was suddenly called to a halt.

Tu Nan turned around to see a grim-faced Daisy walking toward her.

Daisy reached her side and tried to force a smile, but the events of the night made it impossible, resulting in a particularly distorted grimace.

“What happened tonight was truly unexpected.” Daisy took a deep breath. “I never thought Wendy would do something like this.”

“Yeah,” Tu Nan followed her lead. “I didn’t expect it either. I can’t wrap my head around why Sister Wendy would do such a thing. There’s no benefit in it for her.”

This was exactly what Daisy found suspicious.

Tu Nan sighed. “Everything was fine, so why would Little Red Riding Hood run away?”

Daisy scrutinized her expression, but whether it was because Tu Nan’s acting was too good or she truly was innocent, Daisy couldn’t detect the slightest hint of anything unusual.

Was she really completely ignorant, or was she just putting on an act?

“And why did Wendy try to frame you at the very end?” Tu Nan asked suddenly, appearing genuinely puzzled.

“She’s probably actually gone mad.” After thinking it over, Daisy decided she needed to go to the Solitary Confinement Room to ask Wendy herself. She also wanted to give her a warning, just in case Wendy still couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

“I have things to do.” She smiled at Tu Nan. “I’ll be going now.”

Tu Nan nodded and watched her leave with a smile.

Daisy hurried away. Tu Nan stood in place for a moment before turning back toward the office.

*

“Tu Nan?” The Head Nurse looked at the returning Tu Nan in surprise. “Why are you back?”

“Daisy is likely heading to the Solitary Confinement Room.” Tu Nan frowned. “She won’t do anything to Wendy, will she?”

“At most, she’ll give her a warning,” the Head Nurse sneered. “If Wendy actually dies, Daisy won’t be able to explain herself. Openly harming a hospital employee inside the building is something even her father, the Vice Dean, couldn’t protect her from.”

“But you reminded me of something.” The Head Nurse thought for a moment. “I should go over and take a look. It’s best to make Daisy truly believe that Wendy has switched to my side. That way, you’ll be much safer.”

Tu Nan blinked, then offered a sincere “Thank you.”

The Head Nurse glanced at her. “You’re only missing one last stamp, right? Get your official employee title as soon as possible. Only then will you have real protection in this hospital.”

Tu Nan nodded.

*

The rest of the night passed quietly.

Tu Nan held out until morning. After completing her rounds, she went back to the dormitory to catch up on sleep before returning to the Nurse Station.

“I heard Little Red Riding Hood escaped last night, and Wendy helped her?”

As soon as she sat down, a nearby nurse leaned in to whisper the gossip.

Tu Nan hadn’t expected the news to travel so fast. She nodded. “It seems so. As for the specifics, we’ll have to see how the hospital handles it.”
“Wendy was doing just fine. Why go through all that trouble?” a nurse said, her voice filled with confusion. “Well, now she’s been fired.”

“Fired?” Tu Nan raised an eyebrow. “That fast?”

“The notice is already posted,” the nurse beside her sighed. “Such a good job… she just didn’t know how to cherish it.”

Tu Nan remained silent.

“You were on the night shift with her. You must know exactly what happened. Come on, tell me about it.”

A few others nearby drifted over at the sound of the conversation. The human instinct for gossip was universal, and they all curiously urged Tu Nan to share the story.

Tu Nan smiled and shook her head. “I’m not entirely sure myself. It’s working hours now, so everyone should probably focus on their tasks.”

Having said that, she used the excuse of checking on patients to escape the surrounding crowd.

There was now only one patient left in each of Ward 403 and Ward 404. Since one of them spent all day lying in bed, unable to move, her workload had become much lighter.

Lepei was surprisingly not brushing her hair; she was sitting by the window, gazing at the scenery outside.

“If you like it, I can take you out for a look this afternoon,” Tu Nan suggested tentatively.

Lepei glanced back at her and gently shook her head.

“I am not permitted to leave this ward,” she said, her voice cold and devoid of emotion.

Why was that? Tu Nan was puzzled.

“You were the one who helped Little Red Riding Hood escape, weren’t you?” Lepei suddenly said, her words catching Tu Nan off guard.

Tu Nan’s pupils contracted slightly. She froze for a moment before smiling. “I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood. The person who helped Little Red Riding Hood escape has already been caught. It wasn’t me.”

“I am no fool.” Lepei picked up a nearby comb and began gently brushing her hair. “You cannot deceive me.”

“I didn’t sleep at all last night, and I know exactly when Little Red Riding Hood left.” Her tone rose slightly. “It’s quite interesting. How did you manage to make her invisible?”

Tu Nan said nothing.

If Lepei had wanted to expose her, she had plenty of opportunities yesterday; there was no need to wait until now when they were alone.

However, Tu Nan didn’t intend to admit it either.

“Freedom is such a precious thing. I’m actually glad she was able to leave,” Lepei said softly. “It’s just that I’m alone in this ward once again.”

“Do you want to leave as well?” Tu Nan sensed the longing in her tone.

Lepei looked into the distance, a trace of loneliness flickering in her eyes.

“What I want is something you cannot give me,” she said, shaking her head.

“No matter what it is, you won’t know until you try.”

Lepei turned back to look at her.

“I do want freedom.” Her expression was calm, but a sense of yearning leaked into her voice. “But no one can help me.”

“Why?” Tu Nan asked. “You are a princess. Can’t you leave the hospital?”

“I am imprisoned here,” Lepei said coldly. “The Witch cursed me. If I ever leave the hospital, my parents will die.”

“The Witch?”

Lepei stood up, her long hair trailing onto the floor behind her.

“My hair possesses the magic of eternal youth. Because of this, the Witch has imprisoned me here and does not allow me to leave. She placed a mark on me; the moment I step out of this room, she will sense it.”

Tu Nan frowned. This was indeed a difficult situation.

“So, there is no way for you to help me escape,” Lepei said airily.

It seemed she had already accepted her fate.

Her long hair had trapped her within these few square meters.