Mr. Rat of the Steam World

Chapter 91 Lu Ran: You beast!
Warm-colored wall lamps cast a soft glow on the corridor carpet. A waiter quietly led the way, while Mattia followed slowly behind, accompanied by Perez.

“Please come in, Miss Mattia,” Perez said gentlemanly, opening the door for her and soothingly in a gentle tone. “That was quite an unpleasant incident, and I'm sorry to have startled you.”

This is an elegantly decorated little guest room, with a faint lavender scent in the air.

Mattia's steps were still a little unsteady. She walked into the room, leaned back in the chair by the door, let out a long sigh, and her tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

“Thank you, Mr. Perez,” she replied softly, somewhat embarrassed. “It’s nothing really… that person looked to be in a lot of pain.”

“Yes, grief and obsession can sometimes cloud a person’s judgment.” Perez gently closed the door and followed her in slowly, considerately maintaining a suitable distance. “I hope I haven’t spoiled your slightly improved mood. To be honest, I’m glad to see that you were willing to come today and try to participate in the discussion.”

His gaze fell on Mattia's pale face, filled with genuine concern.

Mattia paused slightly, her fingers unconsciously tugging at the simple ivory lace hem of her skirt.

In the long shadow cast by her sister Auriel's disappearance, the brief sharing of knowledge she had just experienced did indeed help her forget the agonizing pain.

“You…you’re right, Mr. Perez.” She raised her head slightly, a hint of relief in her eyes. “The salon itself today, the discussions were indeed very engaging.”

She paused, her voice lowering, "Even if it was only for a short while, it really did keep me from thinking about anything else for a while."

Perez's lips curved into a satisfied, gentle smile. He took a few steps closer to the small round table beside the armchair where Mattia was sitting, where a small porcelain tea set had already been placed by a waiter.

"I am very pleased to hear you say that. That's why it's so important to get out and get some fresh air from time to time."

He naturally picked up the teapot and skillfully poured Mattia a cup of calming tea at just the right temperature, his movements fluid and elegant.

“Here, have some tea to calm your nerves. This has honey and soothing herbs in it; it should help you relax.” Perez smiled and pushed the teacup toward Mattia, the porcelain cup making a soft, crisp sound as it touched the table.

At this moment——

"Ouch!" Perez suddenly exclaimed! His foot seemed to have tripped over something barely noticeable protrusion at the edge of the carpet, and his body stumbled forward!
The sudden turn of events was incredibly unexpected! The small teapot, which he had just filled and hadn't yet placed steadily, was flung forward uncontrollably as he tilted the pot!

Accompanied by the ear-piercing sound of the porcelain teapot shattering—

"Ah!" Mattia screamed sharply in surprise at the sudden accident, instinctively reaching out to support Perez.

However, the next moment, the broken porcelain pot sent shards flying, one of which, a sharp piece, grazed her outstretched arm.

"hiss……"

A sharper pain shot through her! A wound, about half an inch long and not very deep, but already oozing blood, appeared clearly on her delicate skin. The bright red blood quickly welled up, starkly contrasting against her pale wrist.

"Oh my god! Mattia! How are you?!" Perez looked annoyed. He steadied himself instantly, his face almost overflowing with concern and apology. "Damn it! I was so... clumsy! I'm so sorry!" He spoke quickly, clearly flustered.

Lu Ran inside the handbag: "..."

"Beast!"

Having witnessed the entire process, he couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Clumsy, this acting is just too clumsy.

Is it really necessary to use this method to pick up girls?
Despite his complaints, Lu Ran maintained his shadow spell, cautiously observing with only half his head showing.

Before Mattia could fully recover from the double shock and pain, Perez had already swiftly pulled a fine, snow-white silk handkerchief from his suit pocket. The movement was as fast as if it had been practiced countless times.

He grabbed Mattia's injured and bleeding wrist!
"Don't move! Let me see!" His voice was anxious, his gaze fixed on the bleeding cut. "This is terrible, the wound needs immediate attention!" He tightened his fingers, applying pressure precisely to both restrain her movements and try to stop the bleeding. Mattia gasped in pain, instinctively trying to pull her hand away, but her wrist was firmly gripped.

Perez didn't give her much time to think or refuse. He quickly wrapped the wound with the clean white silk handkerchief and pressed it tightly.

"I need to call a doctor immediately; I was too careless!"

As he spoke, he suddenly loosened his grip on the handkerchief, then clutched it in his hand and called out to the waiter.

Mattia wanted to offer some words of comfort: "You really don't need to blame yourself too much, Mr. Perez... it was just an accident..."

"No! This is my responsibility! You sit still, I'll go call the doctor right now!" Perez said firmly, then quickly opened the door and left, his footsteps disappearing into the corridor.

Mattia let out a long sigh, gently stroking her injured right wrist with her left hand. A complex mix of emotions welled up inside her—shock, pain, embarrassment, and a slight sense of bewilderment and inexplicable unease from the excessive concern she received.

Although the handkerchief was taken away, blood was still flowing from her arm, so Mattia could only get up and rummage through her handbag to see if she had any handkerchief to stop the bleeding.

My fingertips had just touched the cool clasp of the handbag, before I could even apply any force—

A small head covered in gray fuzz popped out unexpectedly from the gap at the top of the handbag.

A pair of black bean-like eyes, clear and innocent, were staring at her without blinking.

Mattia instantly forgot the stinging pain in her wrist and the turmoil in her mind, her eyes widening in astonishment: "Ah! You...you're Afra's cute little gray mouse? How did you...get here with me?"

Her gaze was fixed on Lu Ran, ignoring the pain in her hand, filled only with curiosity.

After all, she was sitting right next to Afra and had naturally seen Afra hand food to Lu Ran in her handbag. She thought it was cute at the time, but she didn't interrupt the atmosphere because of the salon discussion.

"Did you go to the wrong place? Do you want me to take you back?"

Lu Ran tilted his head, didn't respond, but jumped out of his handbag, then leaped from the table to the stool, and then to the floor.

In a flash, they followed the open door out.

He realized he seemed to have misunderstood something.

Perez wasn't going to all this trouble to woo a girl at all; this inexplicable behavior seemed to serve only one purpose from beginning to end.

Potions, promotion.

Mattia wouldn't think that much, but Lu Ran would.

From deliberately falling down to causing injury and bleeding, all of these can be explained as an attempt to take the opportunity to make physical contact and get closer.

But even though he could have called for a waiter and taken the opportunity to get closer to Mattia, he insisted on leaving.

Even when she left, she took the handkerchief covering her wound with her, which all of this together is quite inexplicable.

The younger daughter is missing, and the older daughter is being targeted by supernatural beings...

Is it just a coincidence that it happened once or twice?
As Lu Ran ran, he subconsciously turned his head to look at the doctor who was rushing in behind him, and a strange thought came to mind.

"Could it be that their family is hiding some secret?"

(End of this chapter)