The Hospital walls were a cold, pale gray, and the overhead lights made the place look even more ghastly white. The air was thick with the scent of disinfectant. Signboards on both sides ahead marked the directions of various departments in English. From time to time, medical staff pushed carts past, letting the wheels roll over the ground with a rhythmic clicking sound.

The overall environment wasn't crowded or chaotic, but it consistently exuded a tense, quiet, and busy atmosphere. After staying for a while, one would inexplicably feel a sense of suffocation.

Lao Qi sat blankly on a chair in the lobby, staring somewhat despondently at the ceiling ahead.

Tsk, the way things turned out today... I want a smoke.

The man's eyes shifted, eventually landing on a nearby no-smoking sign. His hand, which had been rummaging through his coat pocket, immediately stopped. He then irritably rubbed his left broken eyebrow.

Lao Qi knew his employer was a very good person and wouldn't hold him responsible for such an incident. However, what had just happened was indeed infuriating. As a bodyguard, he had essentially been acting as a driver, and now this had happened. Lao Qi felt a bit embarrassed to face everyone.

"Sigh—"

Lao Qi sighed once more, his gaze sweeping over the no-smoking sign again as he forced himself to calm down. What he should do now was immediately return to Manager Liu and the assistant's side to prevent any further dangerous situations.

Just as he wiped his face and his gaze became steady and firm again, he heard a familiar voice calling him from behind.

"Lao Qi!"

Lao Qi quickly turned his head and, sure enough, saw his boss walking toward him with a dark expression.

From his clothes, it was clear the boss had just come from the promotion event. He was still wearing the hip-hop hoodie from the morning activity. Combined with his current gloomy expression, he really looked like the toughest, most vicious troublemaker from outside a school.

The kind of person who, if dropped into an American high school, would be the most ruthless bully.

But Lao Qi knew that Xiao He had always been a very, very good person.

Yet, because of this, he felt even more ill at ease.

Lao Qi took a deep breath, stood up immediately, and bowed sincerely to Xiao He in apology. "I'm sorry, Teacher Xiao."

Xiao He stopped and looked the middle-aged man up and down. Noticing the other man's tightening fingers, he remained silent for a moment before asking, "Are you alright?"

"Huh?"

Lao Qi was stunned. He looked up at Xiao He and realized that the chill in the young man's eyes, which had been radiating a dark aura just a moment ago, had now faded, leaving only concern for him.

"I'm asking if you're injured."

Xiao He repeated his question.

In this team, Lao Qi had always been the most taciturn one. His relationship with Xiao He was neither close nor distant; he viewed him entirely as a respected boss. Even his usual form of address was "Teacher Xiao." He didn't take the initiative to join in the jokes and laughter of daily life. Most of the time, he silently played the role of a driver, an inconspicuous background figure.

But there was no doubt that his presence greatly facilitated many of Xiao He's work schedules, and he had always been reliable, making him an indispensable and important member of the team.

Therefore, Xiao He wasn't angry with Lao Qi. Instead, he was more concerned about Lao Qi's physical condition, fearing he might be hiding an injury just like Sister Liu.

"I—I'm fine."

Understanding the meaning behind Xiao He's words, Lao Qi waved his hands somewhat flusteredly to prove he was fine, while his throat felt a bit tight.

Teacher Xiao really is a good person.

It was because he was met with concern rather than blame that Lao Qi felt even more self-reproach.

Seeing the increasingly dejected Lao Qi, Xiao He smiled helplessly and kindly dropped the subject. Instead, he asked, "The Police have already been here? What did they say?"

"Ah, they've already made a record and gave me a case receipt. They've gone back to investigate the surveillance footage."

Lao Qi immediately handed the receipt along with the Hospital bill to Xiao He for inspection.

Xiao He took them and gave them a quick scan, then continued asking, "How many things did we lose?"

"Two DSLR cameras and four lenses, as well as two tablets and two hard drives..."

"Wait, you said there were two tablets?"

Xiao He interrupted Lao Qi.

"Yes." Lao Qi nodded and further explained, "One is the team's work tablet, and the other belongs to Xiao Chen for his photo editing..."

"Very well, I understand."

Xiao He nodded slightly. {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} "Do you remember those two guys?"

Lao Qi nodded decisively, a firm light gleaming in his eyes. "Even though they were wearing helmets, I will never forget their build, their clothes, and the motorcycle they were riding!"

"Good. Now come with me to check the surveillance. Look closely and talk less. As soon as you see those two guys appear, tell me immediately."

Xiao He dropped these words briskly and then turned to walk outside.

Lao Qi also followed Xiao He without hesitation, and they walked out of the Hospital together.

—

In the upstairs corridor, Xiao Chen was still a bit confused. "Sister Liu, are Brother Xiao and the others not coming back for now?"

"Yeah, let's head back first. After everything that happened today, we're indeed too tired."

Liu Rulan turned around and thanked Jamis beside her. "Thank you for your help today, Mr. Jamis. Regarding the Police side, I'll have to trouble you to help us find someone to coordinate with..."

Being robbed in a foreign country, the final result was most likely just accepting the bad luck.

Even if there were results later, they would probably have already returned home and wouldn't make a special trip back abroad to handle the matter personally.

So they still had to rely on Jamis, a local, for help.

"I know."

Jamis nodded. Then, as if thinking of something interesting, he deliberately said it to lighten the current oppressive atmosphere. "But you guys really are ill-fated. Last time Xiao encountered a serial killer, and this time you guys ran into robbers... Is it like this for you back in your country too?"

Encountering a crime wherever they went—were they really the reincarnation of that Death God Elementary Student?

It was fortunate that Jamis was just a foreigner; otherwise, he might have been more inclined to advise Liu Rulan and her group to find a temple to worship at and get rid of their bad luck.

Liu Rulan's lips twitched slightly.

Xiao Chen, who could also understand the foreign language now, was thinking about it quite seriously. "Speaking of which, we really did encounter things like this often back home, but it seems much better now."

Liu Rulan thought of the Birthday Event Poisoning Case, which was still in litigation, and rubbed her brow helplessly.

"Maybe..."

"We really should go find a temple to worship at when we get back."

One could still believe in fate when it was time to believe.