Yan Chuan didn’t know how to respond.
If Mrs. Lan had been a bit more assertive, he could have taken the matter of treating the wound to speak about, but now the slightly older woman showed an expression that was almost pleading… He didn’t know what to do anymore.
Amid his uncertainty, Yan Chuan felt a strange sensation. If he remembered correctly, had Mrs. Lan mentioned that the child accidentally bumped into the stairs?
Had this little boy come out of the room at night? Was that what she had said when she responded to Brandon?
Yan Chuan wasn’t quite sure.
However, Mrs. Lan’s evasive attitude was suspicious.
He pondered for a moment and decided to speak up, “If it was an accidental bump, it still needs to be treated, right?”
“What if the weather is bad, and the wound gets infected because it’s left covered?” The young Asian shopkeeper said seriously, “The rain might not stop for a while, and it would take hours to drive into town to find a doctor.”
“So, ” the Asian shopkeeper tentatively asked, “should we take care of it now? It’s normal for kids to be a bit naughty and get bumps and bruises; there’s no need to blame him.”
Berkeley chimed in after Yan Chuan.
“Yes,” the dark-haired botanist pushed his glasses up and said earnestly, “it’s quite normal for children that age to get hurt; if it leaves a scar, it wouldn’t be good.”
“That could be a lifelong issue.”
【Just saying, it feels like there’s something off about everyone we see. 】
【Old people and children, two major weapons to escape reality.】
【This man is quite skilled at going along with our baby… let’s allow him to join the team to snatch wives.】
【Why do I feel like this botanist is also a bit suspicious?】
Yan Chuan and Berkeley played off of each other, twisting Mrs. Lan’s earlier mention of “bumps and bruises” into a serious injury that would lead to severe consequences if not addressed promptly, causing Mrs. Lan, who had originally looked tense, to freeze in surprise.
“Alright…” Naturally indecisive, Mrs. Lan was still very concerned about her child; upon hearing that not treating it now could lead to complications, she hurriedly released her grip on the child’s clothing.
She patted the little boy who was resting against her, folding up the pant legs of his lantern pants.
“Thank you so much,” Mrs. Lan said hesitantly, continuously apologizing, “He’s just too naughty…”
Yan Chuan shook his head.
The little boy seemed a bit dissatisfied while being held down by Mrs. Lan; he didn’t want to show his wound, growling softly like a little dog and nipping at his mother’s shoulder.
His throat emitted a noise reminiscent of a warning bark, mixed with some unclear phrases.
Then, Mrs. Lan quickly stopped the boy’s strange behavior.
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry…” Mrs. Lan clasped her hands together and kept apologizing to Yan Chuan and Berkeley.
Yan Chuan raised an eyebrow, quickly realizing something.
Had the little boy not spoken a complete sentence since he entered the script?
Yan Chuan tried to recall, but he hadn’t even heard this child call Mrs. Lan or the middle-aged man “mom” or “dad”.
Did he not speak?
The thought spun around in Yan Chuan’s mind, quickly affirming itself.
Generally, a child that age would say a few words to familiar people, but he truly had not heard this child speak.
Moreover, the reactions were very strange… Yan Chuan silently added.
Yan Chuan’s suspicions lingered in his mind, making a mental note.
Meanwhile, Berkeley continued to clean the scrape on the boy’s knee.
It was a significant abrasion, quite serious, appearing red and swollen, as if it had been washed but was now infected.
Yan Chuan took out the bandages from the small medical kit and handed them to Berkeley, who nodded slightly in gratitude.
It looked like a scrape.
From the location of the wound, Mrs. Lan’s description of the child “being naughty and playing” and “getting hurt on the stairs” seemed plausible.
However, Yan Chuan remembered that Mrs. Lan had taken the little boy upstairs quite early.
It was right after Duncan had fired the gun, hastily rushing upstairs.
At that time, Yan Chuan hadn’t heard any sound of someone falling on the stairs.
Which means… the boy had come down again after they all went upstairs?
With that thought, Yan Chuan also felt some confusion.
Last night, Duncan’s actions had frightened many guests; how could Mrs. Lan allow the little boy to run out of the room?
Once he ran out, what had he done?
Yan Chuan frowned thoughtfully.
He had gone to bed early last night, not even hearing the thunder and rain, let alone knowing what the little boy did after going downstairs.
But Hans had been shot last night; based on Brandon’s revelation that “no one heard any strange noises,” Hans likely left on his own or had gone out with someone voluntarily before encountering an accident.
Soft crackling noises came from the fireplace, and noticing the flames had died down a bit, Yan Chuan added a couple of pieces of charcoal inside.
If Hans had met with an accident in his room, the struggle before dying wouldn’t have gone unheard by anyone.
If he had died outside or had been dragged back in and placed in the room… Yan Chuan reasoned that made a lot more sense.
But who could have killed Hans and stealthily returned him to his room without anyone knowing?
Was this killer so cunning that even Lina, who shared the same room with Hans, had heard nothing?
Yan Chuan recalled Lina’s words, chewing his lips thoughtfully.
Before considering anything else, he needed to think about one more point.
Who had a grudge against this passersby traveling through the Fog Mountain Forest, expending effort to gun him down?
Yan Chuan had seen few crime dramas and understood very basic deductive reasoning.
He just didn’t grasp why Hans, a former pickpocket and gambler drawn to the “treasure mining” in Fog Mountain Forest, had such a deep-felt enmity with someone?