Human Relationships and Social Graces

"Chen Jiabin, are you alright?"

The group was left completely bewildered by Chen Jiabin's sudden collapse to his knees.

Li Ran frowned slightly, his gaze shifting toward the old man in the security booth.

Several lines of prompt information appeared immediately.

(Security Guard: Grandpa Ge)

(B-Class Mental Infector)

(Mysterious Power: 160)

(Warning: He was scolded by his supervisor a short while ago for losing the warehouse keys. He is currently in such a foul mood that even a passing dog would get slapped twice.)

(Hint: Grandpa Ge suspects a resident stole his keys. Approaching him or handing over the keys right now will likely result in being branded a thief.)

(Hint: You could try appealing to his preferences and proceed gradually; wait for his anger to subside before producing the keys.)

"???"

The prompted information sent an inexplicable shiver down Li Ran's spine.

Just a moment ago, he had intended to walk up and hand over the keys to complete the task.

Now it seemed that handing them over directly was impossible; he might even be accused of being the thief.

He was thankful for the prompt.

Li Ran looked down at Chen Jiabin, who was kneeling on the ground with a face full of despair.

"Chen Jiabin, are you okay? What exactly is going on?" Qiu Zhongji asked uneasily.

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

"What the hell?"

Except for Li Ran, the others were completely confused.

Chen Jiabin shook his head in agonizing despair, breaking down: "He said... he said I stole something and wants to chop off my hand... what do I do? Save me..."

Grandpa Ge eyed Chen Jiabin with a look of intense displeasure and said slowly, "I'll chop off your hand so you'll never dare to steal again!"

The expressions of the group turned ugly in an instant, but beyond sympathy, there was nothing they could do.

Only now did they realize that approaching him to strike up a conversation would lead to being treated as a thief and having a hand severed.

Chen Jiabin scrambled to his feet to flee, but the moment he turned, Grandpa Ge's right hand opened like a blooming flower, and a streak of the Blood Shadow Thorn Blade lashed out.

"Ah!!"

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

In Grandpa Ge's hand, there was now a blood-drenched arm.

Grandpa Ge tossed the severed limb aside and huffed his way back into the security booth.

The group rushed forward to help Chen Jiabin up.

Chen Jiabin was pale, blood gushing incessantly from his stump.

Xiao Yi said to the others, "If the bleeding doesn't stop, he'll die. There are bandages and hemostatics at the Happiness Supermarket by the gate. Which one of you can go? I don't have enough points left."

Song Linjia frowned in hesitation and remained silent, clearly unwilling to waste her points on Chen Jiabin.

"I'll go," Li Ran said.

"Mm."

The Happiness Supermarket was located to the right of the residential complex gate.

It was visible as soon as one stepped outside.

There was no one inside the supermarket to sell goods or man the register.

All items were displayed on the shelves.

After a quick lap, he noted that apart from weapons and equipment, all daily necessities could be purchased here.

It only required the deduction of points.

Daily necessities were relatively cheap and well within Li Ran's budget.

He spent 10 points to purchase medicine and bandages for treating the wound.

Li Ran spent another 10 points to buy vegetables to cook for dinner when he got home.

He then spent 20 points on a pack of cigarettes and a box of tea leaves.

Additionally, he noticed that in the innermost display case of the supermarket, there was special meat for sale.

A single heart could be bought for 10 points.

"It's fine, there's no immediate danger to his life."

Qiu Zhongji seemed to have studied first aid, as he was clearly far more adept at treating injuries than the rest of them.

At the same time, he picked up the severed hand and handed it to Chen Jiabin, "If you can find a doctor to reattach it within six hours, there's a chance it can be saved."

Chen Jiabin's face was devoid of all color, "Okay."

Xiao Yi glanced toward the security office, "Who else wants to go and try?"

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

"I'll go."

Under the incredulous gazes of the group, Li Ran walked toward the security office.

Song Linjia urged, "Li Ran, don't be impulsive."

"I suggest we look elsewhere."

Li Ran ignored them and walked straight into the security office.

"Damn, has he lost his mind?"

Xiao Yi pushed up his glasses, his expression darkening, "If he wants to go throw his life away, he can't blame anyone else. I don't want to waste my time here."

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

Song Linjia looked at the security office, saying worriedly, "I'll wait a bit longer, just in case..."

"Then wait as long as you like."

Xiao Yi stood up and walked toward the exit of the residential complex, and Qiu Zhongji followed him.

Chen Jiabin let out a sigh and followed them out as well.

Song Linjia did not leave; she stood quietly at the entrance of the security office, watching Li Ran inside.

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

Heh, this guy knows how to handle people, Song Linjia thought to herself.

Grandpa Ge, still in the heat of his anger, was taken aback, looking with surprise at Li Ran, who had suddenly offered him gifts.

Grandpa Ge: "What is this..."

Li Ran: "I'm a resident of Building One. I just moved in recently, and I figured since we're neighbors, I'll likely be causing you trouble in the future. I brought some tea and cigarettes from my hometown; I wasn't sure if you'd like them."

Grandpa Ge: "You... you're being too polite."

As he spoke, he moved to push the items back toward Li Ran.

Li Ran pushed them back, "Grandpa, don't be like that. It's a custom from my hometown; if you don't accept them, my elders back home will scold me."

Grandpa Ge tucked the cigarettes and tea into his arms. Seeing that it was high-quality white tea and Zhonghua Cigarettes, his eyes lit up, "Well... alright then, I'll accept them."

Once the gifts were accepted, Grandpa Ge's expression softened significantly, and he suddenly opened up.

Grandpa Ge boiled water and brewed the tea, and the two began to chat while sipping it.

Song Linjia, standing outside, was dumbfounded.

Wow, when it comes to social graces, you really have to hand it to Li Ran. You're never too old to learn.

Li Ran and Grandpa Ge were chatting quite happily.

Before long, Grandpa Ge inadvertently let his troubles slip out.

"Old Ge, what did you lose?"

Li Ran set down his teacup, wearing a look of genuine concern.

"Sigh, it's the keys to the generator room and the warehouse. A whole bunch of them. They were on me yesterday, but after I got back, they were gone. Those are the keys to the entire complex's generator and storage! If they were stolen and used by criminals, I... I couldn't bear the responsibility."

Grandpa Ge slapped his thigh, sighing and groaning in a flustered state.

At this moment, Li Ran pulled out a set of keys.

"Old Ge, is it these?"

Grandpa Ge stood up immediately, grabbing the keys to confirm, "Yes, yes! Little Li, where did you find them?"

Li Ran: "I found them in the sand pit by the pull-up bars in the complex's fitness area. I didn't know whose they were, and since I happened to be coming to visit you, I thought I'd ask. What a coincidence."

Grandpa Ge gripped Li Ran's hands, moved, "Little Li, thank you so much! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known what to do."

Old Ge was deeply touched, nearly moved to tears.

"I'm just glad they were found."

"Look at you, Little Li. You brought me gifts and even returned the keys. I don't know how to thank you enough."

"Old Ge, there's no need for such formalities between us."

"No, no, it's absolutely necessary."

As he spoke, Old Ge pulled a cloth bag from behind him and dumped everything inside onto the table.

"I don't have anything particularly good here, but look at these. Take two items, or I won't be able to rest easy."

Looking at the items Grandpa Ge had dumped out, Song Linjia felt like she had just been given a lesson by Li Ran.

"This is..."

"It looks like equipment."