Slightly narrowing her eyes, Nora Scott retorted, "Or should we first address your recent unusual behavior?"
Michael Quinn was taken aback, ran a hand over his nose, and then replied nonchalantly, "How am I being unusual?"
"Who’s the one who said they’d never close their store in a decade when they opened it?"
"Things you say when you’re young don’t count,"
Michael Quinn said confidently, raising an eyebrow.
"What about Laura Collins? Is being a jerk fun?"
"..." Michael Quinn’s eyelids lowered slightly, then he lifted them, smiling lightly, "I didn’t an to, but I’m just afraid I’m unreliable. It’s not good to waste soone’s ti."
Nora Scott sneered, "You have plenty of reasons, not one of them reliable."
Since he had her "help break up," Michael Quinn’s reasons ca one after another, each seemingly credible, all convincing reasons. But when you really think about it, none of them hold up to scrutiny.
Michael Quinn didn’t argue, just smiled, "I’m unreliable, to begin with."
Nora Scott shrugged.
"Hey," Michael Quinn pulled an envelope out of his pocket, "I have a few autographs here. Can you give them to her?"
"Hm?"
Nora Scott glanced at him, then realized, "Henry Chapman’s?"
"Yeah."
Michael Quinn extended his arm, tossing the envelope toward Nora Scott, who was seated on a single-seater sofa.
Nora Scott raised a hand and caught it.
Opening it up, inside was a stack of autographed photos of Henry Chapman.
"Why are you giving this to her?"
"..." You two are still friends.
Michael Quinn pouted, a bit displeased, but didn’t explain.
Laura Collins had left on the second day of the Lunar New Year. That day, she posted on her social dia about eting Henry Chapman, but was so overwheld that she forgot to ask for his autograph, regretting it imnsely.
Nora Scott, who doesn’t browse social dia often, certainly didn’t see it.
"I’ll deliver it."
Seeing Michael Quinn remain silent, Nora Scott didn’t probe, just gave a promise.
Michael Quinn gave her a bright smile, "Thanks."
While the two chatted idly, Nora Scott’s phone suddenly rang; it was Laura Collins.
Nora Scott answered.
Before she could speak, she heard Laura Collins’s complaint—
"Damn it, Sophia Collins broke up with her boyfriend and blad it all on . She even got soone to graffiti my rental door and walls."
When she spoke, the room was quiet, with not a sound.
Without using the speakerphone, her displeased voice clearly reached Michael Quinn’s ears.
Michael Quinn’s face subtly darkened.
Nora Scott glanced at him.
After a slight pause, Nora Scott turned on the speakerphone, placing the phone on the coffee table, "Where are you now?"
"At ho, just got back."
Laura Collins’s voice carried a hint of weariness.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, after leaving Nora Scott’s house, Laura Collins hadn’t returned to her rental but had gone out to travel.
Nora Scott knew her temperant; after a breakup with Michael Quinn, she wouldn’t be able to stand being ho alone. She had to find sothing to do, so she only asked about her travel route and had soone nearby look after her along the way.
"I just asked the property managent to check the surveillance," Laura Collins said, "The graffiti’s been there for a few days. I wasn’t around, and they couldn’t find anyone."
"Okay."
Responding indifferently, Nora Scott gave Michael Quinn a look.
Michael Quinn said nothing, but his eyes were full of "I’ll handle it."
Receiving his affirmative response, Nora Scott casually changed the subject, "Didn’t you say you were coming back in a few days?"
After pondering for a mont, Laura Collins suddenly said, "I got a call from my dad yesterday. Grandpa might not have much ti left."
Nora Scott’s brows furrowed slightly.
Laura Collins was in a similar situation to Nora Scott.
—One grandfather was hospitalized, the other grandfather was hospitalized.
Of course, there were differences too.
Sir Collins was an old-generation comic artist. His comics were once all the rage, making him a highly respected figure in the comic industry. Influenced by Sir Collins, Laura Collins loved comics from a young age, always pestering him for comics to read, having a great relationship with him.
Sir Collins lived a frugal life in a simple, old neighborhood, without a car, always saving when he could, often wandering the community, collecting and selling scrap.
The younger generation all looked down on him, disrespecting him, and their visits were usually perfunctory.
Only Laura Collins cared about him. After her grandmother passed away, she visited him every now and then, chatting and keeping him company.
The turning point ca when Sir Collins got sick and was hospitalized half a year ago—
After being hospitalized, the family discovered that Sir Collins owned several properties and had savings, possessing a fortune beyond their imagination.
From then on, attitudes changed dramatically. The younger generation gathered around his sickbed, showing great filial piety and asking about his well-being.
Laura Collins was disheartened by them, had a big argunt with them, but ended up being opposed by them entirely. Later, she was even made to feel unwelco when she tried to see her grandfather. So, she let them do what they wanted. As long as her grandpa could peacefully enjoy his final days, she would occasionally visit him.
Now, with the end near, she had no choice but to co back.
"Isn’t it funny? Yesterday on the phone, I heard them fighting over the inheritance in the ward. Grandpa hasn’t even passed yet, and they’re already bickering."
Laura Collins’s voice was cold, full of ironic mockery and a tinge of imperceptible disappointnt.
Normally they would avoid Sir Collins like the plague, but when it ca to fighting over inheritance, they were faster than anyone. The fake, hypocritical faces at the sickbed were nauseating to witness.
"When are you going to the hospital?"
Placing a portrait aside, Nora Scott suddenly asked.
After a mont of silence, Laura Collins slowly said, "I’ll head out after I pack up."
"I’ll go with you."
Laura Collins chuckled, "No need, they won’t go as far as to eat alive."
"Okay. Fair’s fair. You’ve accompanied Easton for so long, I should go check on your grandfather," Nora Scott replied calmly, with sufficient reason.
"...Alright then."
Laura Collins was successfully persuaded by her.
They set a ti, and Nora Scott hung up the phone.
At the sa ti, she languidly spoke up, "Where are you heading to?"
Without eyes on the back of her head, she still heard the sound of Michael Quinn getting up.
Seeing that she caught on, Michael Quinn didn’t bother being discreet, pushing his chair back and casually stretching his limbs, saying, "Heading ho."
Turning back, Nora Scott gave him a once-over, "Can you handle it?"
With a cocky grin, Michael Quinn stuffed a hand in his pocket, eyebrows lifted arrogantly, "Don’t you trust to get things done?"
"Get lost."
Nora Scott threw him a sideways glance.
"Alright."
Michael Quinn chuckled and headed out.
As he stepped out the door, a cold breeze swept through, ruffling Nora Scott’s hair.
Her gaze crossed the transparent glass window, watching Michael Quinn’s leisurely departing figure, and Nora Scott furrowed her brows slightly.
*
Castle River Hospital.
The weather had improved today, the early spring wind still chilly, but there was more sunshine and less cold.
Familiar with the hospital layout, Nora Scott made her way to the inpatient departnt, following the room number to the third floor.
"Laura Collins, don’t pretend you don’t know! I just t you the day before, and the next day he broke up with . How could that be a coincidence? Do you dare say it wasn’t your doing?"
Sophia Collins’s sharp, angry voice pierced the cool air of the corridor, ringing clear.
Nora Scott looked towards the noise.
There, in front of a hospital room, stood several people, including Laura Collins, Sophia Collins, and a few middle-aged individuals.
A little further away, patients and relatives paused, clearly displeased by the row but hesitant to approach due to the larger group.
Laura Collins’s expression was ice-cold, her gaze icy as she stared at the people in front of her, void of any emotion.
Neither angered nor wronged by the accusations, only an endless indifference remained.
A middle-aged man stepped forward, staring intently at Laura Collins, and after a few seconds, he questioned, "Laura, be honest, is there a reason your sister’s boyfriend insisted on breaking up with her?"
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