[Friendly reminder: Complete 10 missions to upgrade the store and unlock the Tier 2 Life-Extension Pill.]
A Tier 2 Life-Extension Pill cost 15 points, and the lifespan it granted increased from 3 days to 10 days.
Seeing that the task rewards could be upgraded, Lu Ruo was pleasantly surprised and didn't even notice when Gu Qi had left.
Meanwhile, standing outside the ward, Gu Qi closed the door and casually fished a White Rabbit creamy candy from his pocket, popping it into his mouth.
"Such a pity. Back then, because of a single word from a little girl, our Captain Gu quit smoking and switched to candy. Now that you've met again, she doesn't remember who you are at all."
The speaker was Gu Qi's partner, Zhao Kuo. Standing six feet tall, he somehow possessed a youthful baby face.
Gu Qi knew what Zhao Kuo was teasing him about, and a helpless look crossed his eyes. "Zhao Kuo, we're working a case here, not filming a reunion drama."
"We're working a case here, not filming a reunion drama~" Zhao Kuo chuckled as he mimicked Gu Qi, but then he let out a sigh. "Sigh, such a young girl, how did she end up with an illness like this? She'll probably have to spend the rest of her life in the hospital."
At the mention of Lu Ruo's illness, Gu Qi pressed his lips into a tight line. His well-shaped, striking brows furrowed as he said coldly, "That family is truly heartless."
Inside the ward, faintly hearing Gu Qi cursing someone as heartless, Lu Ruo instinctively glanced toward the door.
This Captain Gu... surely he wasn't cursing her, was he?
Never mind. Her original intention was simply to repay the kindness Grandma Gu had shown her.
Gathering her thoughts, Lu Ruo asked the Little Calico in her arms in a very low voice, "Huahua, earlier I asked if you saw who hid the treasure in the trash. Have you remembered yet?"
Huahua loved staying close to Lu Ruo.
It shifted into a more comfortable position and meowed coquettishly, "I didn't remember at first, but before the cat came to see you, some other people grabbed me and gave me a bath."
"On that person's paw right here, right here."
A soft little paw pad suddenly rested against Lu Ruo's inner wrist.
Huahua leaned its little head closer, making sure it was pressing the right spot before continuing, "There's a thingy just like the one on the cat, right here."
The little white paw pad extended out in front of Lu Ruo and turned over, revealing the degenerated black toe beans that every kitty had.
These black bumps would be black moles if they grew on a person. They might be raised or flat; the little kitty didn't understand, having only seen it in secret and unable to tell the difference.
"Thank you, Huahua." Lu Ruo stroked Huahua's head, then suddenly added, "When other people are around, I can't always talk to you. If I do, people will find out that I'm different."
"What happens if they find out?" Huahua tilted its little head, its eyes wide and round, not quite understanding what Lu Ruo meant. "You were already a different kind of person to begin with. You're the only one who's always known what the cat is saying; those other people haven't a clue."
From Huahua's perspective, Lu Ruo had always understood its meaning very well.
When it had kittens and asked Lu Ruo for help to get lots of meat and fish, Lu Ruo quickly brought those things over for it.
When it told Lu Ruo the kittens were born and were cold, Lu Ruo immediately sent soft, warm clothes.
Lu Ruo inherently understood cats very well. Those people who thought Lu Ruo was different were definitely just jealous!
Thinking of this, Huahua rubbed its little head against Lu Ruo's chest over and over again, sweet as honey as it promised, "Human, if you want it that way, when other people are around, the cat won't talk to you anymore! When it's just the two of us, we'll talk in secret!"
Getting Huahua's guarantee filled Lu Ruo with emotion.
She called out loudly for Gu Qi to come back inside, but this time, Gu Qi didn't enter the room alone.