"When I look back at my life, I will not regret anything. I gave all my energy to the most important cause in the world—fighting for justice!"
In the white hospital room, Rei sat up in bed and talked with reporter Charlotte.
Charlotte felt inspired by him. Her cheeks turned a little red as she quickly wrote down his words.
After finishing the record, she raised her head to look at Rei and asked, "Captain Rei, who do you think is the mastermind behind this assassination?"
Rei answered seriously, "Before I find more evidence, I won't judge anyone. But I want to say to those people: even if I am suspended, treated unfairly, or attacked, I will not stop fighting for justice."
Although he did not say it explicitly, anyone with a little inside knowledge could guess who he was referring to.
Next, Charlotte asked him a few more questions.
Rei answered them one by one.
Through these answers, he kept showing himself as a brave fighter who was not afraid of anyone and stayed true to his fight for justice.
Just as the interview ended, the door to the ward was gently pushed open.
Emilie walked in carrying a nice food box. Her eyes were full of concern. "Rei, are you feeling any better?"
Rei responded with a smile, "Much better. I estimate I'll be able to be discharged in another few days."
Hearing this, Emilie felt completely relieved.
She opened the food box, and a strong smell of food filled the room.
"This is pigeon soup I made myself. It's very good for your health." She said in a shy voice.
"Thank you!" Rei took the food box, picked up the spoon, and drank large mouthfuls.
Emilie sat next to him and watched him drink the soup. She smiled, looking very happy.
Rei finished the pigeon soup all at once and couldn't help but burp loudly.
The soup tasted great, but there was just too much of it.
After Emilie packed away the food box, she hesitated for a moment but still said, "Rei, I was the one who cleaned the scene yesterday."
Hearing this, Rei's movements stagnated, and he immediately fell into silence.
After a moment, he spoke slowly. "Emilie, I don't want to lie to you. It is true that I intentionally gave that assassin the chance to shoot. I..."
Emilie interrupted him. "No need to explain. I believe in you."
Rei raised his eyes, his gaze landing on her face. A trace of special sentiment surged in his heart.
At the same time, Emilie was also gazing at him.
Their eyes met, and the mood in the room slowly became unclear.
Suddenly, the door to the ward was gently pushed open again, and Chiori walked in carrying a Japanese-style food box.
As soon as she entered, her gaze landed on Emilie's food box.
"Miss Emilie, you arrived quite early," Chiori said with a calm expression.
Hearing this, Emilie gave a gentle smile. "I went back early last night, so naturally, I could come a bit earlier today."
"You are so busy with work; you won't need to come specifically to take care of Rei in the future. I will take good care of him."
"I am a freelancer; my working hours are as I please. On the other hand, Shopkeeper Chiori, you should still have some orders to complete, right?"
"My orders can be completed at any time, but your perfume orders... that's not necessarily the case."
"..."
The two talked back and forth. They sounded polite, but it felt like sparks were flying; neither wanted to back down.
Rei tentatively proposed, "I think... both of you can come to take care of me."
As soon as his voice fell, Chiori and Emilie turned their heads simultaneously and shouted in unison, "Shut up!"
Rei shrank his neck and shut his mouth, saying no more.
The two women did not engage in any further verbal sparring.
Emilie smiled and said, "Rei drank all of my soup. It seems the taste wasn't bad."
After that, she waved goodbye and left.
Chiori opened her own food box expressionlessly, and another burst of rich fragrance filled the ward.
"This is a Liyue dish I learned to make: Chicken and Mushroom Stew."
She brought the food box to Rei.
Rei looked down at the bowl filled to the brim with chicken soup and felt only that his stomach and bladder were swelling terribly.
But he forced himself, picked up the food box, and drank all the chicken soup in one go.
After finishing, Rei tried to smile. He gave a thumbs-up and said, "Chiori, this chicken soup is really good! It tastes like something my mom would make!"
"Then whose soup was better? Mine or Emilie's?" Chiori asked calmly.
Rei replied without hesitation, "Of course your chicken soup was better."
Hearing this, a trace of a triumphant smile appeared at the corners of Chiori's mouth. "At least you have a little conscience."
After speaking, she began to pack up the food box.
Just then, the ward door was pushed open once again.
Furina walked to the hospital bed, carrying a fancy food box in her hand.
"Rei, this is Duck Liver Soup I specifically ran to Hotel Debord to order for takeout. I heard it's especially good for physical recovery. Hurry up and taste it!"
When Rei heard that Furina did not make the Duck Liver Soup herself, he instantly felt relieved.
He refused tactfully, "Lady Furina, I am truly embarrassed. I just finished drinking Shopkeeper Chiori's chicken soup, and my stomach really can't fit anything else right now."
When Furina heard this, her hair drooped and she looked sad. "Alright then, I'll just take it back."
Seeing her look so sad, Rei couldn't stand it. He made up his mind. "I can still drink a little."
Furina immediately smiled happily.
Seeing this, Chiori couldn't help but glare at Rei. This man was really too greedy.
"I'm leaving first."
She packed up her food box and turned to leave without looking back, leaving the space to him and Furina.
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