Chapter 35: Taking in Gwen
Bam! Crack!
A dull thud and the crisp sound of a skull shattering rang out simultaneously!
Green swung his arm down fiercely, slamming a heavy dumbbell plate onto the attacker's head.
The head exploded under the massive force, spraying backward and upward in a fan shape.
The headless corpse swayed for a moment before slumping forward onto the ground with a soft thud.
A complete eyeball rolled out of the shattered socket and was crushed underfoot by Green as he walked past.
"Where's your super strength, Jessica? Struggling to deal with a few rats?"
"Their gear is full military-grade! If I take a burst, I'll lose half my life!"
Jessica retorted irritably, reaching out to hoist George up from the floor and placing him on the dining table with none-too-gentle movements.
"And bombs! Who knows what kind of big shot this 'upright' Lord Sheriff has provoked!"
"Ugh..." The movement pulled at George's wounds, making him groan in pain.
"Good evening, Sheriff George," Green stepped forward, glancing at the wounds on George's body that were still seeping blood.
"It seems this carefully prepared family dinner was undoubtedly a failure."
As he spoke, he pulled a small metal canister from a pouch at his waist and sprayed it several times onto George's deeper wounds with a "pssh-pssh" sound.
What sprayed from the canister wasn't a medicinal mist, but a fast-solidifying hemostatic foam with a cooling and analgesic effect.
"Hiss—!" The sudden icy stimulus made George's body shudder, and he sucked in a breath of cold air.
"Helen... Gwen and the others... how are they..." Georgemanaged to catch his breath, his eyes swollen to mere slits and filled with anxiety, his voice slurred as he asked.
"I already called an ambulance when I was on my way, and I reported it to the police for you as well," Green said casually, putting away the hemostatic canister.
As if to confirm his words, the sound of sirens approached from around the corner of the block outside.
"See, they're here." Green jerked his chin toward the window, his gaze scanning the room.
"It's a bloody mess; looks like you'll need to do some spring cleaning."
"Yes, a complete 'cleanup' is necessary." George gritted his teeth, his eyes fierce.
"You're the boss, Lord Sheriff." Green shrugged, indicating he had no objection. As if suddenly remembering something, he added,
"Oh, right. Your deputy, Mike Jobs. He was an inside man. I've already 'taken care' of him."
"...Mike?!" George's eyes widened slightly, filled with disbelief.
"...I understand." After the shock, George's gaze quickly settled, becoming resolute.
"I'll handle the aftermath, don't worry."
He knew Mike's death might cause some trouble and investigations, but having reached the position of NYPDSheriff, George Stacy's tactics and political wisdom were certainly not lacking.
He was confident he could minimize the impact of this incident, or even turn it to his advantage.
"I really don't know how to thank you." George looked at Green, his voice hoarse but his tone sincere.
"It was nothing," Green waved his hand dismissively.
To him, this was indeed an "investment." A little effort and a phone call in exchange for a significant favor from the New York City Sheriff was a very good deal.
"Dad!"
Just then, Gwen's tearful cry came from the stairwell.
She stumbled down the stairs and immediately saw George's miserable state on the dining table.
"Oh, Dad!" Gwen's tears welled up. She rushed forward and hugged George tightly.
"Alright, alright, baby. Gently, gently..."
Being hugged by his daughter pulled at all of George's wounds, making him grimace in pain.
Yet he still tried to gently pat her back with his uninjured arm.
"Where's your mother? Is she okay?"
"She's in bad shape, but she's alive... for now." Gwen's voice was muffled and tearful.
"I'm so sorry for putting you through all this."
"I know it's not your fault, Dad." Gwen looked up, her eyes misty with tears, yet she managed to force a strong smile.
"I'll take care of her and handle everything." George's gaze went over his daughter's shoulder to Green, his eyes firm.
"Now, your safety is the most important thing. You're going with Green."
?
"Me?"
"Pfft," Jessica couldn't help but laugh. She crossed her arms with an expression like she was watching a good show.
"Handing the girl over to this guy, Officer? That's not exactly a great idea."
"The only person I can trust right now is you, Green, even though we've only known each other for a day."
George ignored Jessica's teasing, his expression serious, though it looked somewhat comical on his swollen face.
Even Mike had betrayed him; he didn't dare trust how many others within the police system had been compromised.
He needed someone completely outside the situation, someone who had already shown their stance through action and possessed sufficient ability to protect his daughter.
"So you're that thick-skinned? To trust me so much."
Green raised an eyebrow, his gaze turning to Gwen, who was avoiding his eyes, not daring to look at him.
"No," George shook his head, the movement causing him to hiss as it pulled at his wounds.
"I believe 'with great power comes great responsibility'."
"Are you cursing me?" Green's expression instantly shifted into a combat stance; he suspected he might have the wrong script.
"I believe in your character. Didn't you choose to be a journalist for the sake of justice in your heart?" George said quickly, somewhat puzzled by Green's reaction.
"Pfft! I can't take it anymore." Jessica waved her hand exaggeratedly and turned away.
"...Remember to send me the foster care fees."
Green stubbed out his nearly finished cigarette on the dining table, immediately burning a charred black circle into the wooden surface as a wisp of smoke rose.
George's eye twitched as he watched this crude action.
This table... he had made it with his own hands.
But it was already battered and broken now, so it didn't matter.
"Go with him, Gwen." George patted his daughter's shoulder gently, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Gwen nodded, let go of her father, slowly turned around, and looked up at Green.
Green merely gave her a faint glance and said nothing, turning to walk toward the door.
Gwen bit her lip and jogged to keep up, her small figure closely following his tall silhouette.
At that moment, the shrill sirens of the police and the ambulance arrived almost simultaneously outside.
Medical personnel pushed stretchers as armed officers rushed out of their cars with tense expressions, briefly crowding together in front of the wrecked courtyard.
"Calm down, everyone. I'm a good guy, officially certified." Green was the first to walk out, raising his hands symbolically.
Gwen clutched his blood-stained sleeve and hid behind him, only daring to peek out half her head cautiously.
"He's a field agent, ignore him. The injured are on the second floor, hurry!!"
George leaned against the damaged doorframe, forcing himself to walk out and shout to those outside.
"She... Sheriff?"
A young officer looked at the man before him, whose face was so bruised and swollen he was almost unrecognizable, and hesitantly tried calling out.
"It's me! Do I need to recite my badge number?! Save my wife, now!" George's roar immediately silenced everyone.
The medical staff snapped out of it and hurriedly pushed the stretcher into the house.
Several officers also rushed forward to support George.
Supported by the officers, George's gaze pierced through the chaotic crowd to look at Green and Gwen.
Green pulled open the car door and started the pickup truck with blood on its hood, while Gwen sat in the passenger seat as the vehicle pulled out.
"Gwen... I'm entrusting her to you, kid..."
He couldn't guarantee that he and his wife, Helen, would be safe afterward.
Those forces hidden in the darkness would never give up easily; tonight's bloody battle was only the beginning.
Chapter 36: Jessica Walks into the Trap
Click!
The light switch was pressed, and warm yellow light dispelled the gloom of the entrance, flooding the entire living room.
Green walked in carrying Lorna. He first took off her raincoat, hanging it casually on the coat rack by the door, and then carefully laid her flat on the sofa.
The girl's pale cheeks were bloodless under the light, and her wet, dark green hair was messily plastered to her forehead and cheeks.
He bent down, dragged a medical kit from under the sofa, and clicked open the latch. Inside, various potions, instruments, and dressings were neatly arranged.
He took a quick glance, pulled out several ampoules labeled with different ingredients, then tore open the sterile packaging of a disposable syringe and skillfully attached the needle.
Lifting Lorna's slender arm, he didn't even need to pat it; the blue veins on the back of her hand and in the crook of her elbow were clear enough.
This was the result of long-term malnutrition and hunger, starkly different from the healthy, powerful lines of Laura's body.
He used tweezers to pick up a cotton ball soaked in medical alcohol and gently wiped the skin in the crook of Lorna's elbow.
The slightly cool sensation made the girl subconsciously flinch.
Green lowered his gaze, his eyes showing no emotion. The needle tip precisely pierced the skin, opening a superficial vein.
The transparent medicine was pushed in, and the small vein bulged slightly with the injection of the liquid.
By this time, Laura had already trotted familiarly to the semi-open kitchen.
She stood on her tiptoes, struggling to reach the refrigerator door handle, pulled it open, and pulled out two cans of chilled Coke.
Instead of taking the long way around, she braced one hand on the edge of the counter and flipped over the half-height partition wall, landing on the living room carpet.
She walked to the sofa, watched Green's movements, and tilted her head curiously. "What's this?"
As she asked, she had already popped the tab of her Coke with one hand with a'snap,' holding the can and tilting her head back to gulp it down.
"Some essential trace elements and nutrients for the body."
Green replied while pressing the syringe's plunger with his thumb, controlling the medicine to be pushed slowly and evenly into Lorna's vein.
"Then when will she wake up?"
"Soon." Green pulled out the needle and immediately pressed a clean cotton swab against the puncture site.
"The medicine is also mixed with something to neutralize the effects of the chemical anesthetic she inhaled earlier."
He took the other can of Coke handed over by Laura. Lauramoved to the side of the sofa, reached out her small hand, and took over from Green, clumsily but seriously continuing to press the cotton swab on Lorna's arm.
Green opened the Coke and was about to bring it to his lips when he noticed Laura, sitting on the sofa armrest, tilting her chin at him and shifting her eyes toward the door.
He followed Laura's gaze.
Gwen was still standing at the entrance, not having stepped inside yet.
She was clutching the hem of her blood-stained dress with both hands, her head bowed. Her long blonde hair covered most of her face, and her shoulders were hunched.
The smell of blood that lingered in her nose constantly stimulated her sensitive nerves, amplifying her fear and unease.
She stood here, across from the familiar street, yet behind a completely strange door. Before her was an unfamiliar living room, unfamiliar furnishings, and unfamiliar people.
A massive sense of bewilderment and helplessness, almost enough to swallow her whole, was closing in like the heavy night outside, leaving her frozen in place, unable to move or even breathe carefully.
Green scratched his hair.
He was clearly not good at handling such delicate emotions.
But he didn't hesitate for long before stepping toward the door.
Gwen noticed his approach, her shoulders shrugging uncontrollably, and her body instinctively shrank back.
However, Green didn't even try to comfort her with words.
Or rather, he didn't know how to coax a girl at all.
He simply bent down and picked her up in his arms.
"Ah! Mr... Green..."
Gwen let out a short cry of surprise, her hands instinctively raised in front of her. Her field of vision suddenly rose, and she was forced to face Green's close-up face and broad shoulders.
A mixture of faint tobacco, gunpowder smoke, and an indescribable warm scent belonging to his own body temperature flooded her nose.
The smell wasn't unpleasant; it even had a reassuring sense of familiarity, just like the glimpse she had caught through the street smoke this morning.
Her elbow pressed against Green's firm chest, and she could clearly feel his steady, powerful heartbeat.
By contrast, her own heart was beating much, much faster than his.
Her fingers curled, and her cheek involuntarily turned to one side, not daring to look into Green's eyes at all.
Green did nothing, said no words of comfort; he just silently held her, took a small step back, and kicked off his slippers.
Then, he did something Gwen completely didn't expect.
He bent down, carefully lowering her until her mud-stained, fair little feet were hovering just above the floor.
Then, he slid his own slippers onto her small feet.
When her soles touched the surface of the shoes carrying his body heat, Gwen's body stiffened as a reflex.
But then, a sense of trust she couldn't explain, like a tiny static current, quietly flowed through her tense nerves, and her body slowly relaxed.
The slippers were far too large, like two clunky boats. Gwen's tiny feet sank into the massive footbeds, leaving a large gap at the heels and her toes nowhere near the tips.
"Take a sip. Sugar is a good remedy for sadness."
Green grabbed her still-trembling hand—the hand that had held a knife not long ago—wrapped it in his palm, pried open her fingers, and stuffed the can of Coke into her hand.
Water droplets ran down the can and dripped onto her hand, but Gwen didn't feel much cold because her hand was being warmed by that large, warm hand.
She lowered her head and took a hesitant, small sip.
The icy carbonated bubbles and excessive sweetness exploded in her mouth, stimulating her taste buds and briefly diluting the bloody taste and the choking sensation in her throat.
"Hngh..." A suppressed sob finally squeezed out of her throat uncontrollably.
She suddenly seemed to lose all her strength, her body leaning forward, her forehead resting against Green's abdomen.
Tears soaked the thin fabric of his T-shirt, the warm moisture seeping through.
"A shy Golden Puppy, a Brave Little Lamb, and a naughty Tagalong. I've certainly had quite a 'harvest' these past two days."
"I'm... not a puppy..."
Gwen buried her face in his clothes, her voice muffled as she retorted, not forgetting to sniffle back her running nose.
"To me, you are." Green's hand brushed against her cheek, and she subconsciously nuzzled against him.
But a second later, Gwen realized what she had done. She quickly raised her eyes, stole a glance at Green, then immediately looked down, her toes curling in embarrassment.
"Alright, you need to take a hot bath first to warm up and wash off the filth. And you, go with her and show her to the bathroom."
Green didn't pay it any mind and turned to look at Laura.
Laura nodded, tossed the cotton swab she'd been using to press the needle site into the trash, jumped off the sofa, and jerked her head at Gwen, signaling for her to follow.
"I'll take you to buy some new clothes tomorrow. You can't go back there for the time being."
Green looked at Gwen. This was not only for safety reasons but also to temporarily separate her from George Stacy's identity and the potential ongoing crisis.
Gwen looked out the window.
The house across the street where she had grown up was now surrounded by flashing red and blue police lights and yellow caution tape. She bit her lip and nodded vigorously.
"I understand. Thank you, Mr. Green."
With that, she took a deep breath, tried to steady herself in the ill-fitting slippers, and followed Laura toward the bathroom.
"And you, why haven't you left yet?" Green turned his head and looked at Jessica, who was leaning against the wall, eyeing him with an unfriendly expression.
"Did you only just notice me? Bastard," Jessica retorted crossly, walking toward him and making a show of throwing a punch at Green's chest.
The punch stopped halfway, its force inexplicably draining away, and finally just tapped his chest with a dull thud.
"At least... we were in a relationship for a while, weren't we?" she muttered in a low voice, with a hint of subtle awkwardness.
"Relationship?" Green frowned, as if he had heard something absurd, his expression filled with confusion.
"Didn't I pay you?"
He remembered that back at the bar, this woman was just looking for a sucker who could pay the bills and, ideally, provide a temporary place to stay.
He had kept her for three months, and during that time, she had quite contentedly lounged in his apartment, serving no purpose other than consuming food and alcohol.
Once he had experienced every position possible, he found it dull, left her enough money to open a small shop, and walked away.
It was a clean transaction, a deal. Where did a "relationship" come from?
"But... I always believed," Jessica's finger traced circles on his chest as she looked up at him provocatively,
"that there were moments of spiritual connection between us."
"Not at all," Green denied without hesitation.
"Only physical connection." He didn't bother to dwell on such a boring topic and turned to walk toward the kitchen.
"This... stubborn bastard..." Jessica gnashed her teeth and cursed under her breath behind him.
But watching him enter the kitchen, silently open the refrigerator, take out ingredients, rinse them carefully under the tap, handle them with professional and swift knife skills, and finally skillfully prepare the sauce...
That focused profile made it impossible for the anger in her eyes to coalesce.
Especially under the light, when certain contours became impossible to ignore as he bent over, her lips couldn't help but tighten.
She walked over, took a clean plaid apron from a hook on the wall, and went behind Green.
"Go away."
"Let me tie it for you~"
Jessica's voice suddenly became sultry. Her hands, holding the apron strings, wrapped around Green's waist, her fingertips brushing against the fabric at his sides as she slowly moved them to his front.
"Tie it? Then why are your hands loosening it?" Green noticed her little trick.
"I'm just re-checking the tightness; I'm afraid I won't tie it well," Jessica prevaricated.
She slowly crouched down.
"Tying it with hands is just too inconvenient. Let me... help you..." Her voice grew lower and lower.
Her upturned face was mostly shrouded in shadow, the light blocked out, and her eyes were crossed in a daze.
"Oh, my god!!"
She seemed to finally see something clearly, her mouth hanging open unconsciously.
The next second, she looked up and met Green's downward-looking face, which wore a faint, mocking smile.
"I... hehe..." The expression on Jessica's face was stiff, showing a look that was uglier than crying.
"I'm suddenly not very hungry..." Her eyes darted around as she searched for an incoherent excuse.
"I didn't say it was for you to eat, anyway."
Chapter 37: Lorna Awakens
"I... I... I already have... have a boyfriend!"
"You refused? You can call it off anytime." Green held the pan with one hand, skillfully tossing it. The ingredients flipped in the air and landed steadily back inside.
A cigarette dangled from his mouth, and his voice drifted over, muffled yet clear.
"Besides, I clearly said to let Matt handle it. Why is it you?"
"He... handed... the task... over to me."
"Then you should go ask him for your wages instead of loitering here."
"Sizzle—!"
Green suddenly increased the heat of the stove.
The food in the pan boiled violently under the high heat. Droplets of oil jumped and trembled on the scalding surface, making an even denser and louder sizzling sound. Steam and aroma rose, mixing with the cooking fumes.
"Bas... ugh... bastard... you... let me leave..."
She bit her lower lip and buried her face in the crook of her arm.
"Leave after eating." Green finally plated the dish from the pan.
He took out the cigarette and, without looking, casually pressed the burning butt directly against the smooth skin of Jessica's lower back, exposed as she leaned forward.
"Ah!" Jessica shuddered from the sudden sting.
Green's other hand grabbed her shoulder, lifting her away from the stove and tossing her onto a relatively clean spot on the nearby counter.
"Hiss..." Jessica clutched the small, red burn mark, glaring at him with both shame and anger. Her body was still trembling slightly, whether from rage or something else.
Meanwhile, as if nothing had happened, Green quickly finished plating the remaining two dishes and reached over to turn off the range hood.
"Take them over," he ordered without looking back. He reached into the fridge for a can of cold beer and popped the tab with one hand with a "crack."
"It hurts like hell! You bastard! I feel like my pelvis is about to split!"
Jessica grimaced as she stood up, supporting herself against the edge of the counter. She pressed two fingers together and poked a hole right through the beer can Green had just opened.
Foam and beer erupted instantly, splashing all over her hand and face.
She didn't care. Instead, amidst the spraying foam, she tilted her head back against Green's chest and took a large gulp, letting the liquid run down her chin and neck.
At the same time, her hand naturally slipped into Green's loose trouser pocket, quickly fishing out several rolls of cash.
Without even looking, she stuffed them into the inner pocket of her leather jacket as if it were only natural, even intentionally squeezing her chest to make sure the money was tucked in securely.
"Burp—" She looked down and let out an unladylike, boozy belch toward him, then casually zipped up his fly. Her movements were crude, without a hint of romance.
Only after doing all that did she wipe the foam from her face, turn around, pick up the dishes from the stove, and head toward the living room.
Passing through the hallway, she shot a mischievous look at the two little ones who had emerged from the bathroom at some point and were now pressed against the wall, peeking at the kitchen.
"You can do it too~ when you grow up."
Laura's eyes narrowed as she stared at Jessica's back. A low growl vibrated in her throat, showing her undisguised hostility.
"M-Mr. Green..."
Gwen's face was flushed all the way down to her neck. She gripped the corner of the wall with both hands, her legs unconsciously pressing together with knees turned inward. She mumbled, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
"Let's eat."
Green walked over and casually ruffled Gwen's damp hair, which smelled of shampoo, before passing her with the plates.
Gwen felt the lingering warmth of his calloused hand on her head. As she watched Green's back, her eyes shimmered with a complex, unreadable light.
It wasn't until Laura impatiently tugged at her sleeve that she snapped out of it and followed blankly toward the living room.
There was no formal dining table in Green's home; after all, he had only moved in a day ago and hadn't gotten around to such details.
On the bright side, the living room was spacious enough that they could sit on the floor (which was carpeted) facing the TV or huddle on the sofa to eat.
A few simple placemats were already set on the floor. Jessica put down the plates, and Green brought over the noodles.
The dishes weren't exactly exquisite, just home-cooked meals.
A plate of stir-fried beef with scallions, a dish of thinly sliced sugared tomatoes, and a large bowl of tender braised pork belly in soy sauce.
And a large basin of thin noodles that had been rinsed in cold water, each strand distinct and drizzled with a bit of sesame oil.
Jessica kicked off her shoes and carelessly propped her feet up on the coffee table, her dusty soles looking dark.
She picked up the remote and leaned back, flipping through the channels.
Slap!
Laura slapped her exposed calf.
"Hey! You brat! Mind your own business!" Jessica cried out in pain, her brow furrowed in annoyance.
Laura didn't say a word, only giving her a cold, disdainful glance.
Disdain for the woman herself, and for the heavy scent of Green that clung to her.
"Tch!"
Irritated by the kid's look, Jessica let out a snort.
Instead, she deliberately raised her feet and propped them on the sofa's armrest.
"Feet aren't just for walking, little one~ Green really liked them earlier~"
She lowered her voice on purpose, drawing out her words.
Laura bared her teeth, picked up Lorna, and moved to the other end of the sofa, staying far away from this "dangerous" woman.
Meanwhile, Gwen, who was gently drying her wet hair with a towel, paused slightly upon hearing Jessica's words.
She instinctively looked down at her freshly washed, clean, rounded toes, rubbing them together unconsciously.
The blush that hadn't quite faded surged back, spreading from behind her ears across her entire face.
Jessica wanted to keep teasing the girl, but as soon as she opened her mouth, a fresh cucumber slice thrown by Green flew through the air and was stuffed perfectly into her mouth!
With her mouth blocked, Jessica let out a muffled "mmph" and turned to look at Green.
Green was looking at her. His face was expressionless, but the slight impatience in his eyes made her heart skip a beat.
She wisely shut up and quietly shifted her position, moving further away from the sofa and those "little animals."
Green walked to the center of the sofa and sat down. The sofa sank visibly under his weight.
To his left was the temporarily quiet Jessica, and to his right were the three little ones huddled together, clearly divided.
Gwen sat on the far edge, still clutching the towel. Her head was down, but she occasionally peeked up to steal glances at the man beside her.
Her heart simply wouldn't slow down, and it seemed she didn't want it to. Yet her chest felt comfortable and full.
On the floor, a disc-shaped smart robot vacuum hummed diligently, repeatedly cleaning the water marks and stray stains left by everyone.
While they were eating, Lorna, in Laura's arms, suddenly shuddered and let out a few incoherent murmurs.
"No... don't... go away..."
Green put down his chopsticks and leaned over, placing his hand on her forehead.
"She doesn't have a fever."
Before he could finish, Lorna's tightly closed eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes suddenly snapped open.
The first thing she saw was the large hand hovering above her, filling her field of vision.
"Don't touch me!!"
A scream filled with resistance and fear erupted suddenly.
Almost simultaneously, centered on Lorna's body, a dark green orb of energy with a strange force field exploded outward.
Green was fine, but Laura beside him was thrown upward, plastered against the ceiling in a spread-eagle position.
With a dull thud, white dust fell from the ceiling.
"Crack!"
The TV screen nearby shattered into a spiderweb of cracks. With a sizzle, the screen went dark, and a wisp of acrid white smoke curled up from the fracture.
All the metal objects in the room flew in every direction with a clatter, hitting the walls and floor.
The incandescent light bulb on the ceiling shattered with a "bang." Glass shards mixed with tiny electrical sparks fell like miniature hailstones.
The living room instantly dimmed, with only a bit of light from the kitchen and hallway providing limited illumination.
The piece of braised pork Jessica had just brought to her mouth flew out of her hand along with her chopsticks, landing on the floor with a splat.
"My food..."
She looked down at the delicious morsel on the floor, her expression quickly shifting from shock to annoyance.
"I hate kids."
Chapter 38: Goodnight
Green was very calm. He caught the lighter flying out of his pocket, leaned down to pick up a rolling but relatively clean sugar persimmon from the floor, and stuffed it directly into his mouth to eat.
Several empty cans flew over and hit him with muffled "thuds," but he just shrugged his shoulders, completely unbothered.
At the moment the magnetic field became chaotic, Gwenlet out a startled cry. The next second, she lunged toward Green, her small hands grabbing the hem of his clothes, her little face full of nervousness.
Green picked up a piece and stuffed it into her slightly open mouth as well.
"Mmph..." Gwen was caught off guard by the stuffing and began to chew in small bites; she didn't seem quite so nervous anymore.
A few seconds later, the layer of dark green light on Lorna's body dissipated.
Her breath hitched, and then she let her arms hang limply as if deflated. Her chest heaved, and her eyes were still somewhat vacant.
"Done acting up?"
Green picked Gwen up off himself.
Lorna panted, her vacant gaze focusing and landing on the man in front of her.
On the other side, Laura fell from the ceiling, landing on the carpet with a "thud." Although she wasn't hurt, she was a bit dazed from the fall and shook her head.
"I'm Green," he said, looking at the girl.
Crack!
A spring in the sofa beneath them snapped, and the cushion sank. Their vision sank and swayed along with it.
Meanwhile, Lorna kept watching him, her eyes wary.
"Lorna!" Laura got up and rushed over to hug Lorna.
"Laura? Why are you here? Did he kidnap you too?"
Lorna's eyes widened. The next moment, she hurriedly tried to shield Laura behind her while staring at Green.
"No, I'm following him, and you're following him too." Laurashook her head.
"I could also throw you into the Red River Home."
Green chuckled and pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket. The moment the flame flickered, the dim yellow glow briefly outlined his profile.
"No, I'm not going to the Red River Home!" Lorna said sharply.
"He won't!" Laura gave Green a glare and spoke softly to Lorna.
"Then what do I... do next?"
Lorna was stunned. She had found Laura—or rather, Laurahad found her.
The goal that had supported her and given meaning to all her actions was suddenly accomplished. She felt as if she were suddenly standing in the middle of an empty wilderness.
"I can 'mail' you to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the Hellfire Club, the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, Godolkin University, or somewhere else. I don't have many connections, but enough for you to choose from."
Green exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at her.
"I won't throw you into the Red River Home, but I'm not demanding you stay here either. To put it another way, not only have you not provided any value to me yet, but you've also made a mess of my place."
Lorna listened, her peripheral vision sweeping over the surrounding mess. A belated sense of embarrassment crept up her spine, and she lowered her head awkwardly.
"Sorry," she said in a very soft voice.
"I'll clean it up!" Laura shouted.
"Heh, learning to be a big sister, are we?" Green stood up, walked over, and gave Laura's little head a flick.
The lines of Lorna's neck and shoulders tensed, and she subconsciously shrank back.
But Green just walked past without stopping. She watched his back carefully, remaining silent.
"We were homeless to begin with." Laura rubbed her flicked forehead, but she held Lorna even tighter, her voice low and firm.
"Now, he is our home."
"..." Lorna's lips pressed into a pale line. Beneath her eyelashes, empty thoughts surged in the depths of her eyes.
Gwen didn't know what to say seeing this situation, so she trotted toward Green.
On the side, Jessica ignored them, distressedly patting her smoking phone in an attempt to save it.
"Oh! Right."
Laura seemed to think of something. She slid off the sofa and ran toward the refrigerator with a "patter-patter" of her bare feet.
Fortunately, the range of Lorna's out-of-control power just now was limited, and the refrigerator survived.
She pulled over a stool, stepped on it, stood on her tiptoes to open the fresh-keeping compartment, and pulled out a portion of tiramisu.
"Here, eat quickly."
She ran back across the carpet and handed the cold, soft dessert to Lorna.
"Cake..."
Lorna stared at it blankly, as if suddenly touched by some distant and gentle memory, and as if she couldn't believe the real gift before her eyes.
"That seems to be my portion, you little rascal."
Green walked over carrying a toolbox. There was no reproach in his tone, only a hint of amused indulgence.
"I didn't eat it!" Laura puffed out her flat chest, sounding perfectly justified.
"But isn't your portion still in the fridge?"
Green didn't press further. With a "click," he opened the metal buckle of the toolbox and took out a new light bulb.
He stepped onto the edge of the table, unscrewed the blackened old bulb, and replaced it with a new one.
With a gentle twist of his fingertips—
"Click."
A warm yellow glow filled the room as current once again passed through the thin tungsten filament, shedding light and illuminating the delicate tiramisu sprinkled with cocoa powder in Lorna's hands.
"Eat it. Don't wait until it's completely melted; it'll be greasy if the cream collapses."
Green glanced at the still-dazed Lorna, then took the new light bulb Gwen handed him and screwed it into the ceiling socket.
"I'll take you to eat some tomorrow," he said to Gwen.
"Okay..." Gwen responded softly, but her heart felt inexplicably settled.
Without even realizing it herself, this kind of response had become more and more natural.
A warm, soft emotion dissolved in her chest. She lowered her eyes, and the corners of her mouth curved up.
Lorna looked up, her gaze falling on the man.
He was changing the lights with his back to the main light source. His tall frame blocked most of the light, with only a few stray beams swaying slightly as he moved, dust floating silently within them.
She just held the cake, sitting in the semi-darkness where the light didn't reach.
To be honest, this was different from the perfect "attainment" scene she had imagined; it was even a bit crude.
But this seemed... quite nice.
She was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly raised her hand. Instead of taking the fork Laura offered, she opened her mouth wide and buried her whole face into the soft tiramisu with a "nom."
When she looked up again, her nose, cheeks, and chin were all covered in cocoa powder and cream. Her cheeks were puffed out round as she chewed vigorously.
Laura watched from the side with a smile, not saying a word.
"It's not fake... it's sweet... it's the taste of cake..."
As Lorna ate, her face wrinkled up like a bitter melon.
At first, she just whimpered while holding her breath, then her shoulders began to shake. The shaking got worse and worse until she finally burst into loud sobs.
"What's going on? I didn't even touch her."
Jessica looked up blankly from the phone rescue scene and moved toward the single sofa, trying to avoid the emotional disaster zone.
"How should I know?"
Green stepped down from the table and walked over to Lorna, who was sobbing uncontrollably. He playfully patted his hand in front of her mouth, creating a broken "wah-wah-wah" tremolo.
"Go away~~~" Her crying lost its momentum from the interruption. Her mouth curved into a round arc, and her whole face was wrinkled and wet, looking both hilarious and pitiful.
"Looks like she's fine." Green casually scooped out a piece of tiramisu and stuffed it into her still-sobbing mouth.
"Mmph..." Lorna pushed him, but her hands had no strength behind them.
Laura watched with a grin from the side, while Gwen had already crouched down to quietly clean up the debris and clutter on the floor.
Green licked the cream off his finger and, taking advantage of her slight push, stepped back and turned toward the bathroom.
"Gre... Green..."
She suddenly called out to him, her voice still heavy with a nasal tone.
"What?" He looked back.
"Can... *sniff*... can I have another piece?" She sniffled and lifted her teary face.
"No. After you finish, clean up the stuff on the floor. Don't let Gwen do it alone."
He turned back and walked into the hallway.
"Blehh—" Laura made a face at his back and then leaned back toward Lorna, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"It's okay! We'll sweep together!"
"...Mm."
Lorna lowered her head, licked the cream mixed with tears from the corner of her mouth, and added very quietly and indistinctly,
"It's delicious."
Before long, the three little ones, having finished cleaning up and washing themselves, were pushed into the room by Green.
The room was simply furnished, even a bit cluttered.
There was a computer desk scattered with potato chip crumbs and snack packaging, a bunk bed, plus a cushioned floor bed against the wall.
A dartboard and a small mini basketball hoop were stuck haphazardly on the wall, giving it a somewhat boyish feel.
Green waited until the three girls had climbed into their beds and tucked themselves in before gently closing the door.
"Your place is practically becoming a shelter for runaway girls, huh?" Jessica leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, her tone teasing.
"I really didn't expect you to be a lolicon, Green." She tilted her head, intentionally drawing out her words.
"What, not interested in mature women?"
"You mean yourself?" Green gave her a suspicious look, walked straight to the cabinet, pulled out a sausage, took a bite, and then grabbed a bottle of whiskey.
"Mm-hmm, take me in." Jessica puffed out her chest, her curves prominent in the light.
"You? I'm tired of you for now; I'm not feeling it." Green unscrewed the cap and gestured toward her with the bottle.
"Want some?"
"Forget it. My stomach is very uncomfortable, and it's all your fault," she spat irritably.
"That's because your capacity is too small." Green brushed past her, his footsteps pausing suddenly as if remembering something. He seemed to have another appointment, but he quickly continued forward unconcernedly.
"You just have to snap back at me to feel good, don't you!" Jessica tried to follow.
"I don't like losing out." Green closed the door behind him, shutting her out.
"Hey! You're really making me sleep on the sofa!"
There was silence behind the door.
"At least give me a blanket."
The door suddenly opened a crack, a bundle of blankets was thrown out, and then it slammed shut with a "bang."
"A bastard like you will never find true love in this life!" Jessica cursed resentfully, picked up the blanket, and turned toward the living room.
Inside the room, it was silent.
The three little ones were quietly pressed against the door, listening to the commotion outside.
"Are they a couple?" Lorna lowered her voice and asked Laura in a whisper.
"She's just Green's mating partner," Laura said coldly.
"That... that's a bit too direct..." Gwen chimed in softly from the side, her face a little red.
"Is he... really a good person?" Lorna's voice was even softer, as if asking herself.
"No," Laura shook her head.
"Yes," Gwen nodded.
Lorna was confused, her eyes blinking repeatedly.
"Anyway, I'm just following him." Laura's tone was certain, without any hesitation.
"I... probably am too," Lorna bit her lip.
"But he seems a bit scary."
"Does he?" Laura hadn't noticed.
Gwen just shook her head gently.
"I see..." Lorna tilted her head and didn't ask further.
The three of them tiptoed back to the cushioned bed and flopped down together. No one was noisy; only Laura was carefree enough to fall asleep instantly.
Lorna and Gwen, however, each kept their eyes open, a sense of inexplicable wandering hidden in their hearts.
Outside the window, the drizzle had started up again at some point, hitting the glass and condensing into streaks of water that meandered down.
The chill seeped in through the cracks in the window, but it failed to wake them.
After an unknown amount of time, sleepiness finally overcame their thoughts, and the two of them also fell into a deep sleep.
The light was still on.
The door was gently pushed open, and a tall figure walked in.
He walked to the bedside, pulled up the slipped quilt, carefully covered the three girls, and tucked it in a bit more.
Lorna unconsciously turned her body in her sleep, and one hand softly rested on the back of his hand.
His movements paused.
After a moment, he slowly straightened up, walked to the light, and grabbed the pull cord.
"Click."
The light was dimmed to an eye-protecting low setting, its warm yellow glow gently covering the bed.
He turned and left, the door closing extremely softly.
Behind the door, under the light—
Lorna had opened her eyes at some point, squinting slightly, the corners of her eyes curving into a soft arc.
She let out a comfortable sigh, snuggled against Laura's back, hugged her, and sank back into her dreams.
And on the other side, Gwen, facing this way, also had the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.
She was sleeping very peacefully.
Chapter 39: Hanging Out
Early morning, New York gradually revived under a gloomy gray sky.
The sound of traffic on the streets shifted from a distant, faint hum to a clear roar as it drew near.
Slightly dim morning light spilled diagonally through the high windows, casting a cold band of light across the white tiles of the bathroom.
One adult and three children stood side-by-side in front of the vanity, bleary-eyed with hair sticking out in all directions, looking like four different breeds of ruffled cats.
Toothbrushes moved mechanically back and forth in their mouths.
"Gurgle, gurgle..."
Green tilted his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing.
His short black hair, which hadn't been trimmed in a long time, fell down to cover his half-closed eyes.
He lowered his head and spat out the mouthwash, the foam swirling down the drain with the water.
He picked up a towel to wipe his face, but just as he set it down—
The corner of the towel was gently tugged.
Laura, standing on her tiptoes, sleepily pressed her little face against a corner of the towel to wipe away the ring of white foam around her mouth.
The morning light cast long, slanted shadows in the hallway.
"Ahhh~~"
Green let out a long yawn and casually tossed the towel onto the rack.
The three little ones followed behind him with lingering drowsiness, splitting off at the corner of the hallway.
Because Lorna and Gwen were wearing them, the sleeves and pant legs were a bit short, leaving their slender white wrists and calves exposed.
Especially for Gwen, the fabric was stretched a bit tight over her body in a subtle way.
"What's wrong?"
Gwen tilted her head, her lips unconsciously pouting slightly.
She noticed Laura's faint gaze, which had landed on her modestly developed chest.
Gwen blinked her sleepy eyes, a clean look of confusion surfacing on her face.
"..."
Laura said nothing, silently turning her face away.
When they reached the living room, Green found four portions of breakfast set out on the dining table.
Hot milk, double-layered toast with slightly charred edges, sunny-side-up eggs, and a small side dish of strawberry jam.
Under each plate was a slip of paper with their respective names scribbled on them.
"Miss Jessica even left breakfast. How thoughtful."
Gwen picked up her portion and took a small bite of the toast.
Her chewing was slow, and her brow furrowed slightly.
"Well... okay, she meant well," she whispered to herself, as if offering comfort.
"But the burnt taste seems to have seeped into the bread."
She forced herself to swallow, her expression strained.
Green didn't touch his portion.
He immediately went to the shoe cabinet, squatted down, and opened the shoebox in the bottom right corner—the place where he habitually hid some cash.
It was empty, with only a folded card remaining.
"Medical expenses."
That's what was written on the card.
"This breakfast is pretty expensive," Green scoffed, flipping the card over to find a poorly drawn middle finger on the back.
He crumpled the card into a ball and tossed it into the trash.
"Tsk."
Laura broke the bread in her hand, baring her teeth with an annoyed look.
"What's wrong?" Lorna leaned over and saw half a footprint stamped onto Laura's toast, still stained with dust.
"Uh..." Lorna opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
She lowered her hands and carefully broke her own toast to take a look. Hmm, nothing. Hers was fine, but... she didn't want to eat it either.
"Next time, I'm taking her out."
Laura threw the footprint toast into the trash.
"...Next time, I'm gonna kill her."
Green's eye twitched as he also tossed his portion of 'abalone' toast inside.
"Let's go. We're getting a real meal."
Green rubbed the grease off his fingertips, grabbed a half-dozen Coronas from the fridge, snatched the keys from the entryway, put on his shoes, and pushed the door open.
The three little ones couldn't bear to waste the milk, so they huddled around the table, taking small gulps until it was gone.
He didn't rush them, heading straight to the car and sitting in the driver's seat. He opened the glove compartment, stacked several cans of beer inside, and kept one in his hand.
He closed the compartment, popped the tab, sipped off the overflowing foam, and set the beer on the center console.
Leaning forward, he inserted the key into the ignition and turned it.
The engine shuddered deeply twice, shaking off the lingering chill of the previous night, then woke up with a smooth roar. A familiar vibration rose from the bottom of the seat.
Green leaned back, casually adjusted the rearview mirror, and felt the fresh stubble on his chin in the reflection.
Then, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, shook one out, and leaned down to light it.
The red glow of the cigarette tip flickered in the dim cabin with a soft hiss.
He slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, his face in the mirror becoming blurred in the pale blue haze.
At that moment, his gaze drifted forward and suddenly froze.
The car parked not far ahead had a license plate that looked familiar.
He narrowed his eyes, grabbed the can of beer, and pushed the door open to get out.
The three little ones just happened to walk out the door. He gave them a casual wave, signaling for them to wait in the car.
Then, he walked straight to the other car, stopped by the driver's side, and rapped his knuckles firmly against the window.
The window slowly rolled down.
Matt propped himself up from the reclined driver's seat, gripping the window sill. His face still bore the lingering bruises that hadn't fully healed.
"Ugh... Morning."
"For last night's backup, didn't you have Jessica do it?" Green took a puff of his cigarette and handed it over. "What, can't afford the mortgage? Got kicked out and had to sleep in your car?"
"No..." Matt took the cigarette, took a deep drag, and hissed as he rubbed the corner of his mouth with his knuckle to ease the pain.
"I'm investigating dark creatures—the two you took out.
I found an alley with a pile of ashes that contained identification documents that hadn't been fully burned. They were all professional elites. I suspect they are systematically infiltrating the upper echelons of New York."
He paused to catch his breath.
"I tracked them to this district last night and entered that police chief's house under the cover of darkness... but the evidence had already been taken by him.
I just ended up sleeping here. Since you live right across the street, if anything really happens, you'll definitely react faster than me."
"I think you just passed out." Green flicked his ash.
"Just stick to fighting your gangs. Why are you meddling so much?"
He pulled a few large bills from his pocket and tossed them through the window.
"You got a ticket, buddy. This isn't a parking spot."
"Ah, thanks." Matt didn't stand on ceremony, taking the money and stuffing it into his pocket. He really had been short on cash lately.
"By the way, how did you know I lived across the street?"
"The front of your car smells strongly of blood."
"Is that so?" Green glanced at the front of his own car; there really was a bit of blood.
"I'm off. Let me buy you a drink—a high-energy beverage." He patted Matt on the shoulder and handed over the opened can of beer.
Matt winced from the pat but took it anyway.
Green turned to leave but suddenly stopped, turning back as if he had finally remembered something.
"Right, you're a damn blind man. Why the hell are you driving?"
"I can have intermittent blindness, like when I'm taking my driving test," Matt said, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Was the examiner blind too? Not noticing that you're blind."
"I can wear colored contacts. Besides, I'm a lawyer. I can pull a few strings. I can't exactly run to crime scenes all the time."
"You're something else," Green scoffed, truly leaving this time.
Matt held the 'beverage' and took a sip, his eyebrows shooting up instantly.
"Wait! This is damn alcohol!"
That cheap friend Green used the sole of his shoe to rub off a few suspicious dark fragments from his front bumper, then pulled the door open and sat in the driver's seat.
He leaned over and familiarly pulled the seatbelt over Laura in the passenger seat. She was engrossed in a comic book.
"Open up." Green pried her mouth open and took a look.
She usually had a habit of chewing the wrapper along with the candy, but not this time. She only had half a nearly melted candy hidden in her cheek.
In the back seat, Gwen and Lorna poked their heads out from the left and right, looking at the car that was gradually receding in the distance.
"Mr. Green, who is he?" Gwen asked softly, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"A good person."
Green replied casually, pushing the potted cactus on the center console back a bit. He shifted gears, released the brake, and the car glided smoothly out, leaving the neighborhood that was half-awake in the morning light.
Over the next few hours, Green took them to Chinatownfor breakfast at a bustling Cantonese Teahouse and then to a furniture store to pick out some things.
They spent the time moving things back and forth and clearing away the remains from the previous night. By the time everything was mostly settled, it was nearly afternoon.
Now, the four of them sat side-by-side on the cushioned window seats of a cake shop, each with a cup of their chosen cake in front of them.
"Ah—mnh..." Green pinched the cake spoon, which was far too small for him, eating with some difficulty.
"How about you go to school with Laura?" He turned his head and looked at Lorna beside him.
"Okay." That tuft of dark green hair swayed gently with her nod.
Lorna looked up, her gaze falling on Green's rugged profile.
"So... are you our guardian now?" she asked awkwardly, her fingers unconsciously picking at the rim of the plastic cup.
"Yes."
"Oh..." Lorna lowered her head, staring at the wobbly strawberry on top of her cake, lost in thought.
"Will you keep taking us with you?"
"Yes."
"Don't feel like you owe me anything," Green said, scooping up a spoonful of cream.
"When I need you to do something, just be obedient."
"Then... what will you have me do?"
"Help me finish this thing." He pushed the almost untouched cake cup in front of her.
"...Okay." Lorna quietly looked up, glanced at him, the corners of her eyes curving into a very slight arc as she took the cup.
"Mmph! Mmph—!"
Beside them, Laura suddenly grabbed the hem of Green's shirt, her other hand pointing toward the convenience store across the street. Her cheeks were stuffed full, and she couldn't squeeze out a single word.
"Can you swallow what's in your mouth before you speak?"
Green said this, but he still stood up from his chair.
The chair beneath him, which had been compressed for a while, let out a soft wooden creak like a sigh as his weight was removed.
"Hey!" Laura grinned and was the first to dash out.
"Laura, wait for me!" Lorna followed closely behind, clutching her cake cup.
"Let me take those." Green casually took the pile of shopping bags from Gwen's hands.
"Mr. Green, they're not heavy..." Gwen tried to say.
"Obedient children don't get the sweetest piece of candy," Green said as he pulled out a few bills and set them on the counter.
"Go on with them."
He nudged the glass door open with his shoulder, and the wind chimes jingled in the morning breeze.
"Okay!" Gwen's eyes crinkled as she hurried after the other two.
Laura ran happily across the intersection.
A red Ferrari sped toward her, unable to brake in time. Laura leaped lightly, sliding across the hood and landing on the other side.
"Hey! You brat, do you know how much this car costs!"
The man in the driver's seat leaned out and shouted. Lauraflipped him two middle fingers over her shoulder.
"Watafa?"
The man angrily pushed the car door open. Just as one foot stepped out, he saw the tall figure not far behind the girl looking over coldly. A mysterious chill ran down the man's spine.
"...I won't lower myself to your level." He sheepishly pulled his leg back in.
But the back door was pushed open at that moment.
"Miss Fox, we haven't reached the reserved restaurant yet..." the man in the driver's seat hastily called out.
"No need," a long leg stepped out, high heels clicking on the ground.
"I've already seen the 'target'."
She tossed her flowing long hair, revealing a bright and confident face. Her gaze fixed on the tall back pushing open the convenience store door across the street, and her sexy full lips curled up slightly.
"Miss Fox..." the man tried again.
"That's enough, Jobs."
The woman leaned down, her hand on the car's edge, looking down at his forced smile. Her ample chest was squeezed into a seductive cleavage.
"You're great, but you're not my type. You're dumped. Bye~"
She patted the roof of the car and walked toward the convenience store without looking back.
"Wh... What?!" The man froze in the driver's seat, his face twisting like a bitter melon.
"Fa-fa-fa-fuck! Bitch! I spent so much money for nothing!" He grabbed the steering wheel and shook it violently, his previous air of a successful man completely gone.
He stepped on the gas, but the car couldn't immediately surge forward.
Several people in various outfits and with expressionless faces were slowly walking past the front of the car—a butcher, a carpenter, an accountant...
"Hey! You paupers, move it!" He honked the horn frantically, hysterical.
Those people only gave him a cold glance and ignored him, pushing open the convenience store door. The doorbell rang softly.
"What is wrong with these people..." he cursed as he finally drove away.
"Don't worry, everything is under control."
On the sidewalk, a man in a sharp suit with slicked-back hair closed his phone and tucked it into his coat's inner pocket.
He stopped at the convenience store entrance, turned his head, and lifted his gaze toward a distant direction.
Passing through the stationary streetlights and moving shadows of cars, the donut in a pedestrian's hand covered in frosting,
the steaming tomato soup being scooped in the shop, the male white-collar worker rubbing his brow while on a call inside the parking line, the fragmented daylight leaking through the rebar mesh in a construction site's stairwell,
his gaze extended all the way until it landed on an unremarkable window several kilometers away.
Behind the window, the reflection of a sniper scope flashed briefly.
An extremely long aiming point felt like retinal nerve endings being pricked by sharp pressure.
In this never-sleeping, noisy city, how can a person use their naked eye to look across a distance of several kilometers and see a crosshair aimed at themselves?
And who would know that they were being gently kissed by a reticle?
Vehicles continued to drive by, and pedestrians continued their journeys.
The convenience store door slowly closed. The man in the suit outside was nowhere to be seen, only the doorbell was still swaying.