Chapter 41: Nika’s plan 1
Is Ansel indulging in negative thinking and being overly pessimistic? If so, it’s not beneficial at all. A decline in spirits can affect Ansel’s ability to recover his health. Nika noticed this and decided to help Ansel.
“By the way, Ansel, what is Erica doing here?” Nika curiously asked, “Do you know?”
Nika observed Ansel’s sad expression and swiftly changed the topic. Nika wanted to uplift Ansel’s mood. Having a relaxed and cheerful mindset is essential to developing effective solutions to resolve the issue.
“From what I’ve been told, she is a volunteer, taking care of patients and assisting the hospital.” Ansel repeated what the treating doctor had told him about Erica.
“A volunteer, huh? Are you sure?” Nika had different thoughts and wanted to confirm them to be certain.
“The doctor told me so. Why do you ask? Did you discover something strange?” Ansel inquired curiously. He himself felt that there was something off about this, but he didn’t know what it could be.
“If Erica is just a volunteer,” Nika began analyzing, “then her tasks wouldn’t typically involve administering medication to patients like a nurse or doctor would. Usually, volunteers read books to children and assist patients, staff, and visitors. They are not trained professionals who can administer medication to patients. Unless…”
“What do you mean?” Ansel eagerly sought clarification, sensing something peculiar about Nika’s discovery.
“Erica must be a new intern,” Nika shared his inference, “or there’s something suspicious going on. It could also be a case of mistaken identity.”
“So you’re saying Erica is a medical student?” Ansel expressed his speculation.
“It’s very likely,” Nika agreed. “Think about it; she would need specialized knowledge to accurately diagnose your condition, right?”
“But the attending physician specifically told me that Erica is a volunteer,” Ansel emphasized, then hesitated before asking, “What does that mean?”
“There’s definitely something mysterious behind it. It can’t be a coincidence,” Nika pondered, reaching a conclusion.
“I agree with you,” Ansel concurred, “but what could it be? Honestly, I can’t think of anything.”
“I can’t speculate on any possibilities either. The only thing we can do is thoroughly investigate it,” Nika suggested. “I’ll do it quickly.”
“I agree.” Ansel encouraged Nika, making the request, “Please do it as quickly as possible.”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
“I’ve got it.” Nika took on the task entrusted to her by Ansel. Suddenly, an idea popped into Nika’s head, and he exclaimed with confidence, “I have a way to get Erica to agree to talk to you.”
“Really? What’s the plan?” Ansel’s excitement grew as he eagerly asked.
“Listen, Ansel. All we need to do is uncover the suspicious aspects of Erica’s true identity. Once we do that, I’m confident that Erica will agree to talk to you,” Nika revealed with a dangerous look on her face. No one knew what plan was brewing in his mind.
“That approach isn’t manipulative, is it? Why should we resort to such cunning tactics?” Ansel disagreed, as his conscience wouldn’t allow him to do so.
“You’re mistaken, Ansel.” Nika gently explained, “There’s nothing manipulative or degrading about it. We will not use Erica’s secret to blackmail, threaten, or coerce her. We will simply propose that Erica listen to us and persuasively present your gratitude. We have no ill intentions, so it’s not unlawful.”
Seeing Nika speak with reason, Ansel’s worries diminished. Nika being a lawyer, after a moment of contemplation and hesitation, Ansel chose to trust Nika.
“All right, I’ll entrust this task to you, Nika,” Ansel said sternly. “Please investigate swiftly. I want to have results as soon as possible.”
“Rest assured,” Nika confidently replied. “I know what needs to be done.”
The conversation between the two young men came to an end. Nika promptly set off to fulfill the task at hand. Meanwhile, Ansel, following Nika’s advice, took the time to rest and recuperate. Nika promised to deliver good news to Ansel as soon as possible.
…
The sky had turned dark by now, and the hospital scene was quiet and mundane. The atmosphere made Ansel feel restless and uncomfortable. He wanted to go outside for a walk but felt too lazy to move. On the other hand, Ansel didn’t want to bother Erica, fearing that she might discover that he had instructed Nika to investigate her.
Honestly, after Nika departed, Ansel contemplated the idea of trying to get to know Erica. Ansel’s intention was to befriend Erica. If they became friends, what interesting things might Ansel discover about Erica? However, Ansel was genuinely surprised to find that Erica was an extremely determined girl who was not easily swayed. Ansel was certain that he would encounter numerous difficulties and challenges in building a relationship with Erica. Ansel had assumed Erica would be like everyone else, wanting to become friends with him. But no, Erica did not seek friendship with Ansel, and she even kept her distance. Ansel couldn’t determine if this was Erica’s true nature or if she had a different strategy to fool Ansel. It was possible that Erica also wanted to make a good impression in Ansel’s eyes. Then, when Erica successfully gains Ansel’s trust, she will suddenly reveal her true nature, much to Ansel’s shock. The inferences gave Ansel a headache; he had better stop.
“Have you finished your dinner?” A sudden question shattered Ansel’s thoughts. He looked toward the person entering his room. It was none other than Erica. For some reason, Ansel felt a slight sense of joy upon seeing her.
In a moment of confusion, Ansel didn’t know how to respond. Forcing Erica to roll her eyes to find the answer herself. Letting out a sigh, Erica approached Ansel, specifically moving closer to the table next to his bed. She stared at the half-eaten meal on the table, then turned back to reprimand Ansel.
“Why didn’t you finish it? Do you know that starving yourself is not good for your health?”
“The taste was awful.” Ansel bluntly stated, “It didn’t suit my palate.”
“These are light and nutritious dishes, most suitable for your recovery process at this time. The doctor has personally designed a special menu for you.” Erica tried to maintain her calmness and gently advised Ansel, “You should make an effort; that’s the only way to recover quickly.”
Knowing that Erica is right, Ansel has his own reasoning. Part of it is because Ansel doesn’t like the taste of the food. Another part is that Ansel wants to see how Erica will react if he skips a meal.
“Even if I eat everything that the doctor advises, it doesn’t guarantee that I will recover,” Ansel said frustratedly. “So, I don’t need to force myself to stuff food into my stomach, do I?”
“Why do you say that?” Erica raised an eyebrow and asked, “The doctor’s instructions are not wrong. They are completely beneficial for you. Don’t tell me you doubt the doctor.”
“Because my mental state is not comfortable or healthy,” Ansel emphasized in a raised voice. “If the mind is not healthy, then no matter how many good things I eat, it won’t contribute to my physical well-being.”
Ansel deliberately spoke in that manner, implicitly reminding Erica of the situation between them. He wanted to resolve it definitively and end it on a peaceful note. However, Erica coldly refused. This made Ansel ponder a lot, and it had a negative impact on his recovery process.
“Tell me, am I right?” Ansel asked with a hint of sarcasm when he noticed Erica’s silence.
“That…” Erica suddenly became flustered: “It’s a matter of individual perspective. You tend to have a negative mindset, so that’s why you think that way.”
Once again, Ansel felt disappointed as Erica avoided addressing the main issue.
“Alright, please help me clean them up,” Ansel reluctantly requested. “I’m fed up with them. I have no appetite. Maybe I should resolve the issue that’s been draining my spirits before I can eat them.”
“Up to you,” Erica responded indifferently. She intentionally showed no interest in Ansel anymore and began tidying up the items on the table.
Ansel remained silent, observing Erica’s swift movements. His heart felt heavy once again. When will everything be resolved? Ansel hoped Nika would complete the mission soon.
The atmosphere was calm, but suddenly the door swung wide open, capturing the attention of both Ansel and Erica. The person entering was Nika. He walked in slowly, appearing somewhat weary.