The Art of Human Relations

"Chen Jiabin, are you all right?"

The others were baffled by Chen Jiabin's sudden decision to kneel.

Li Ran frowned slightly and glanced toward the old man in the security office.

Several lines of information immediately appeared.

(Security Guard: Grandpa Ge)

(B-Class Mental Infector)

(Mysterious Power: 160)

(Warning: Not long ago, he was scolded by his supervisor for losing the warehouse key. He's still furious, and even a passing dog would get smacked twice.)

(Hint: Grandpa Ge suspects a resident stole his key. Approaching him or handing over the key now could make you look like a thief.)

(Hint: Start with what he likes and take things slowly. Wait for him to cool down before showing him the key.)

"???"

The information in the prompts made Li Ran feel inexplicably uneasy.

A moment ago, he had been planning to walk up and hand over the key to complete the task.

Now it seemed that handing over the key directly wouldn't work. He might even be mistaken for a thief.

Thankfully, he had the prompts.

Li Ran looked at Chen Jiabin, who was kneeling on the ground, his face filled with despair.

"Chen Jiabin, are you okay? What happened?" Qiu Zhongji asked anxiously.

Chen Jiabin's face was ashen. He said in terror, "He... he said I was a thief."

"What the hell?"

Everyone except Li Ran was completely baffled.

In pain and despair, Chen Jiabin shook his head in a panic. "He said... said I stole something, and that he'd chop off my hand... What do I do? Help me..."

Grandpa Ge looked at Chen Jiabin with displeasure and said slowly, "I'll chop off your hand. Let's see if you dare steal again!"

The others' faces instantly fell, but apart from feeling sorry for Chen Jiabin, there was nothing they could do.

Only then did they realize that approaching the old man to talk would get them treated like thieves—and cost them a hand.

Chen Jiabin got up to flee, but the moment he turned around, Grandpa Ge's right hand unfurled like a flower, and a streak of Blood Shadow Thorn Blade shot out.

"Ah!!"

Chen Jiabin fell to the ground, clutching his left shoulder and screaming in agony.

In Grandpa Ge's hand was now a severed arm, dripping with blood.

He casually tossed the severed hand aside and returned to the security office in a huff.

The others hurried over and helped Chen Jiabin up.

Chen Jiabin's face was pale, and blood continued to pour from the stump.

Xiao Yi said to the others, "He'll die if we can't stop the bleeding. There's a supermarket by the entrance with bandages and hemostatic medicine. Can one of you go? I'm a little short on points."

Song Linjia frowned hesitantly and stayed silent, clearly unwilling to waste her points on Chen Jiabin.

"I'll go," Li Ran said.

"Okay."

Happiness Supermarket was just to the right of the residential complex's entrance.

It was visible as soon as you walked out.

There was no sales clerk or cashier inside the supermarket.

Everything was displayed on shelves.

Li Ran quickly walked around the store. It had just about every household item you could want, aside from weapons and equipment.

You only needed to pay with points.

Household goods were relatively cheap, well within Li Ran's budget.

He spent 10 points on medicine and bandages to treat the wound.

Li Ran spent 10 points on vegetables to cook for dinner.

He then spent another 20 points on a carton of cigarettes and a box of tea.

He also noticed that the display case at the back of the supermarket sold unusual meat.

A single heart cost only 10 points.

"Good, there's no danger to his life."

Qiu Zhongji seemed to have some experience with first aid and bandaging. He was clearly more practiced at treating injuries than the others.

He also picked up the severed hand and gave it to Chen Jiabin. "If you can find a doctor to reattach it within six hours, there's still a chance it can be saved."

Chen Jiabin's face was drained of color. "Okay."

Xiao Yi glanced at the security office. "Who else wants to give it a try?"

Qiu Zhongji and Song Linjia both shook their heads, their refusal firm.

"I'll go."

As the others watched in disbelief, Li Ran walked toward the security office.

Song Linjia tried to stop him. "Li Ran, don't be rash."

"I suggest we look somewhere else."

Li Ran paid no attention and walked straight into the security office.

"What the hell? Has he lost his mind?"

Xiao Yi pushed up his glasses, his expression darkening. "If he wants to get himself killed, that's his problem. I don't want to waste any more time here."

"I don't want to waste any more time either," Qiu Zhongji said.

Song Linjia watched the security office worriedly. "I'll wait a little longer. What if..."

"Then you can wait all you want."

Xiao Yi stood up and headed outside the residential complex. Qiu Zhongji followed him.

Chen Jiabin let out a sigh and followed them too.

Song Linjia didn't leave. She quietly stood at the door of the security office, watching Li Ran inside.

After entering, Li Ran took out a box of white tea and a carton of cigarettes and offered them to the fuming Grandpa Ge.

"Hey, this guy knows how to play his cards," Song Linjia thought.

Grandpa Ge, who was still angry, froze in surprise when Li Ran suddenly offered him gifts.

Grandpa Ge said, "What's this...?"

Li Ran said, "I'm a resident of Building One. I just moved in not long ago. Since we're neighbors, I figured there'd be plenty of times I'd need your help. So I brought some cigarettes and tea from home. I wasn't sure if you'd like them."

Grandpa Ge said, "You really didn't have to go to all this trouble."

As he spoke, he tried to push the gifts back toward Li Ran.

Li Ran pushed them back. "You're making this awkward, sir. It's a custom back in my hometown. If you don't accept them, my elders will scold me."

Grandpa Ge tucked the cigarettes and tea into his arms. When he saw that they were fine white tea and Zhonghua Cigarettes, his eyes immediately lit up. "All right... all right, I'll take them, then."

Once he had accepted the gifts, Grandpa Ge's expression softened considerably, and he immediately became more talkative.

Grandpa Ge boiled some water and brewed tea. The two of them chatted as they drank.

Song Linjia, watching from outside, was dumbfounded.

"Ah, when it comes to the art of human relations, we still need Li Ran. You really do keep learning as long as you live."

Li Ran and Grandpa Ge chatted happily.

Before long, Grandpa Ge unwittingly let his troubles slip.

"Old Ge, what did you lose?" Li Ran set down his teacup, looking concerned.

"Ah, it was the keys to the motor room and the warehouse—a whole bunch of them. I had them on me yesterday, but when I got back, they were gone. Those keys control the motors and warehouse for the whole complex. If someone stole them and used them for something illegal, I'd never be able to answer for it."

Grandpa Ge slapped his thigh and sighed noisily.

At that moment, Li Ran took out a set of keys.

"Old Ge, are these the ones?"

Grandpa Ge jumped to his feet and grabbed the keys to check them. "Yes, yes! Xiao Li, where did you find them?"

Li Ran said, "I picked them up in the sandy area under the horizontal bar in the fitness area. I didn't know whose they were. I happened to be coming by to pay you a visit, so I thought I'd ask. What a coincidence, huh?"

Grandpa Ge grasped Li Ran's hands, deeply moved. "Xiao Li, thank you so much. Without you, I wouldn't have known what to do."

Old Ge was so touched that he nearly cried.

"Good thing they turned up."

"Look at you, Xiao Li. You gave me a gift and brought my keys back. I don't know how to thank you."

"Come on, Old Ge. No need to be so polite with me."

"No, no. I have to."

As he spoke, Old Ge pulled a cloth bag from behind him and emptied the whole thing onto the table.

"I don't have much worth giving you. Take a couple of these, or I won't be able to live with myself."

Looking at the things Grandpa Ge had poured out, Song Linjia felt as if Li Ran had taught her a lesson.

"These..."

"They look like equipment."