Chapter 144 “Vanna’s Vigilance”
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I don’t know how...” Heidi apologized with embarrassment. As a senior psychiatrist and a professional who could complete all her studies under the strict standards of the Truth Academy, her embarrassment at the moment was indescribable. Seriously, when Vanna woke her up, Heidi almost fell over backwards, believing her professional life was over...
However, at this time, Nina, who was sitting on the bed and had just woken up, was also confused. She didn’t know what happened at all, only looking at the doc in confusion due to all the apologizing. “Uncle, what happened? Why is Miss Heidi...”
“The psychiatrist hypnotized not just you but herself as well and fell asleep.” Duncan sighed with a helpless note and pointed to the bed corner that was still imprinted with the shape of a certain lady in the room, “Her drool ran down to the floorboard.”
Despite saying it with a straight face, the comment literally sent Heidi into a spiral of shame. Poor her. She couldn’t even lift her head anymore.
Under this awkward and chaotic atmosphere, only Vanna managed to maintain a serious face. She glanced around the room for the first time, looking for and sensing something. Eventually, she sets her eyes on Heidi: “Are you really okay? How did you end up falling asleep yourself during a therapy session?”
Listening to her friend’s serious tone, Heidi gradually returned to her senses and picked up on the hidden meaning. Immediately frowning, she tries to recall the last moment: “I.... I don’t believe I have a problem. It should be due to all the workload recently. Perhaps the relaxing atmosphere affected me more than I thought just now.”
“But the treatment is complete, right?” Vanna still seemed a little uneasy and asked again.
“Oh of course,” Heidi nodded without hesitation, confident in her own work. “I asked Miss Nina some questions, and it was after she answered that I fell asleep.”
Duncan noticed Vanna’s solemn expression and couldn’t help but ask, “Is there something wrong?”
“...... No, just a little worry from me about Heidi’s condition. She’s never done something like this before.” Vanna shook her head, “But I suspect it’s like she says, she’s too tired due to the recent extra workload. Her day off did get ruined by the museum fire after all.”
When Nina heard this, she immediately apologized to Heidi out of reflex: “I’m sorry, it seems that I took up your precious resting period...”
“No, no, there’s no need to apologize,” Heidi quickly waved her hand, “and if we think about it differently, I did get a good night’s sleep here. I haven’t slept so soundly in a long time.”
Vanna confirmed this by eyeing her friend up and down. Then turning to peer out the window for the color of the sky, “It’s getting late, I believe we should also take our leave before night arrives.”
“Don’t you need a break?” Duncan expressed concern as the owner of the place, “Miss Heidi still looks a little tired.”
“I’m much better,” Heidi corked a flushed smile when she heard this, “it’s not safe to stay outside at night. I have to get home before the sun goes down, otherwise my father will be worried about me.”
Hearing this reason, Duncan didn’t try to keep the ladies around. He first helped Nina out of bed, then turned to face the two guests: “Then I’ll see you two out.”
Duncan nodded slightly and did not say anything else. Walking towards the stairs, he only then noticed Shirley, who seemed to react suddenly by glancing out the window.
“Ah, I had wanted to go home today...” She cries with a sad note.
“Keep that idea as a thought only,” Duncan didn’t look back, “do you really plan to fight with the guardians of the church at night?”
Nina also chuckled and stepped forward to pat Shirley on the shoulder: “Just stay here for another night. We can even take this chance to chat at night!”
......
On the way back to the upper city, Vanna held the steering wheel firmly while Heidi yawned in the passenger seat.
“Uoomph... that nap was so good...” Heidi yawned again and said casually, “So, how did things go on your end? Did the store owner show anything wrong with him?”
“...... There is nothing out of the ordinary,” Vanna replied while keeping an eye on the road ahead. “The store owner is just an ordinary person. The same goes for that little girl named Shirley. I couldn’t sense anything from the shop or the presence of supernatural power or will. They should be fine, and it’s you I’m worried about. Did you discover anything while talking to Nina?”
“Everything is normal on my end too,” Heidi nodded as well. She then raised her hand to stroke the crystal pendant that was hanging around her neck and noticed that one of the beads around her bracelet had gone missing, “But Nina mentioned something when she was under my hypnosis. It’s a little weird.”
“Weird? What do you mean?”
“She mentioned a fire when she was a child, a fire related to the factory leak eleven years ago,” Heidi said casually. “But you know it too, there wasn’t anything eleven years ago...”
As soon as she was halfway through speaking, a sharp braking screech accompanied by the vibration of the body interrupted her words. Vanna had stomped on the brake and turned to face her friend with wide eyes: “Fire?! Nina said she remembered a fire eleven years ago?”
“...... Yes,” Heidi was a little stunned by the strong response, “why are you making such a huge reaction?”
Vanna didn’t speak for a while, only her face showing the swirling emotions running inside. Heidi naturally sensed the change and got worried: “Do you want to turn around and go back now? We can ask...”
“No.” Vanna shook her head abruptly after pondering the idea.
The car started again, and in the darkening sky, the scenery on both sides of the neighborhood gradually accelerated and receded away.
“I know you’re confused and curious, but until I say more, don’t mention this to anyone. I need to confirm something first.” Vanna paused for a moment and then murmured as if she were talking to herself: “Perhaps... we came in a bit of a hurry today.”