Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Complaints, complaints, and more complaints.

York’s handsome face was beginning to look more and more detestable.

Tu Nan felt a headache coming on. York’s tactics were old-fashioned, but they didn’t need to be original as long as they worked.

With the Rule weighing down on her, she couldn’t refuse such a reasonable request.

Tu Nan glanced at the other nurse standing nearby and asked, “You’ll be staying here the whole time, right?”

“Of course,” the nurse replied with a professional, composed air. “Serving the patients is our duty and obligation.”

Tu Nan took a deep breath, forced a smile, and nodded toward York. “I’ll be back as soon as possible. Please do not leave this spot.”

“Of course I won’t leave,” York agreed. He turned to the young girl and said tenderly, “With you here, I’m not going anywhere.”

Tu Nan couldn’t stand to watch this display of feigned affection any longer. She turned and sprinted back toward the hospital.

An uneasy feeling gnawed at her, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. Running at top speed to Ward 404, Tu Nan reached York’s bedside and pulled open the drawer of the nightstand.

“…”

She saw a drawer full of rings, every single one of them identical in style.

So much for the ring his mother supposedly left him.

His mother must have been a ring wholesaler, Tu Nan grumbled to herself.

Nearby, the Peters watched her movements, and the five of them sneered in unison.

“I wonder which innocent girl that despicable fellow has set his sights on now.”

“What do you mean?” Tu Nan asked instinctively.

York’s file clearly stated that he had an intense desire to rescue women. It was precisely because of this that Tu Nan hadn’t insisted on staying in the garden.

But hearing Peter’s tone, it seemed that wasn’t the case at all.

“What do we mean?” one of the Dwarfs let out a shrill laugh. “Go see for yourself and you’ll find out.”

Tu Nan’s heart skipped a beat. She grabbed a random ring from the drawer and bolted back downstairs.

As she ran, she analyzed what York might be up to.

For her, ensuring York’s safety was enough. York shouldn’t be stupid enough to put her in danger; the only one at risk was that girl from earlier.

In such a short time, and with other people around, what could York possibly do?

If this were the real world, she would certainly do her best to protect the girl. But this was a world of Strange Tales; she didn’t have much strength to spare. She had to prioritize her own safety before looking out for others.

She reached the back garden as fast as she could. From a distance, she saw a crowd gathered around the gazebo, packing the area so tightly that not even water could trickle through.

The nurse who had been with the girl earlier was stuck outside the crowd, holding a cup of water and standing on her tiptoes, peering anxiously into the center.

She must have been sent away by York. With no time for further thought, Tu Nan rushed forward to disperse the crowd.

The ring in her palm pressed into her flesh. She gripped it tightly as waves of anxiety surged within her.

After finally working with others to clear the gawking patients away, she finally saw what had happened.

The girl, who had been smiling shyly just moments ago, now had her eyes tightly shut, completely unconscious.

The back of her head must have struck a large stone next to the gazebo. She lay slumped against the rock, a large, jarring pool of blood spreading out from behind her head.

Tu Nan closed her eyes and sighed helplessly.

While she didn’t want to see this happen, it felt almost expected.

“Oh my god, how did this happen?” the nurse responsible for the girl screamed in a panic. “Someone! Quickly, someone get a stretcher!”

Tu Nan looked up at York, who was standing inside the gazebo.
He looked down upon the farce from his high vantage point, a flicker of playfulness in his eyes.

Tu Nan could clearly see the smug smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Noticing Tu Nan watching him, York finally shifted his gaze to her, his lips curling into a silent smirk.

Why?

Why would York hurt this young girl?

Tu Nan was utterly perplexed.

Could the file the Head Nurse gave her have been wrong?

While the others were bringing over a stretcher, York stepped down from the gazebo.

Ignoring the stares of the onlookers, he walked toward the unconscious girl.

Tu Nan stepped forward to block his path, but York swept a slow glance over her and said nonchalantly, “My dear nurse, with so many people here, what exactly do you think I could do?”

“You hurt her,” Tu Nan said with certainty. “I’m going to report your violent behavior.”

“Do you have evidence?” York didn’t seem the least bit nervous. Instead, he took an aggressive stance. “Without proof, no one will believe a word you say.”

“She is the witness.” Tu Nan pointed at the girl on the ground. “Once she wakes up, your actions will be exposed.”

“Oh?” York narrowed his eyes as if he had heard a joke. He countered, “I’m glad to see you’re so confident, but unfortunately, you’re bound to be disappointed.”

The medical staff with the stretcher finally arrived. They placed the stretcher beside the girl and worked together to lift her onto it.

“Mm…” The girl seemed to regain a sliver of consciousness from the pain.

“Are you alright?” Tu Nan leaned over the stretcher, trying to get information. “Do you remember what just happened? Did someone hurt you?”

She glanced back at York. He had a faint smile on his face, looking perfectly calm and composed.

Sensing something was off, she could only turn back to the girl and say, “Don’t be afraid. No one can hurt you anymore.”

“Yor… k…” the girl stammered, her hand trembling as she reached out toward York behind Tu Nan.

“I’m here.” York’s expression shifted to one of deep concern. He stepped forward, pushing Tu Nan aside, and took the girl’s hand. “You were very brave. I’m proud of you.”

A smile appeared on the girl’s pale face.

Seeing this scene, Tu Nan finally understood why York was so self-assured.

“The ring…” the girl said haltingly.

York looked at Tu Nan.

“…”

Tu Nan remained silent for a moment before handing him the ring she held.

York slid the ring onto the girl’s finger.

With a pale, fragile smile of satisfaction, the girl drifted back into unconsciousness.

The medical staff hurried to carry her away.

Tu Nan: “…”

Rarely was she this speechless.

She hadn’t expected to find such a simple-minded ‘love brain’ even in the Strange Tales world.

“You see?” York spread his hands toward her, his eyes full of laughter and blatant provocation. “I told you, you have no evidence.”

“Why did you do it?” Tu Nan stared at him. “Why hurt an innocent person?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” York shrugged. “I didn’t do anything. From beginning to end, I never even touched her.”

He didn’t look like he was lying.

But she would never believe that York didn’t have a hand in this.

“You instigated her?” That was the only possibility.

How on earth did he do it? How did he manipulate this innocent girl into doing this and leave her without a shred of resentment?

“It’s all just your speculation.” York looked at her with that greasy, lingering gaze. “Nurse, it makes me quite sad that you distrust me so much.”