Rhodes Island's Psychologist

Ch 84: Dream Of Cleaning

Sometimes, Lin Yie thinks he is just too softhearted, and that keeps causing him troubles. In his previous life, when a stray cat meowed at him or followed him, he would adopt it. He would go against his parents' wishes and keep the cat, even when he already had several. He kept telling himself that it would be the last cat, definitely the last, and without a doubt, the last.

But, there would be another one. His legs wouldn't budge until he picked up the next cat that meowed at him.

He knew he would face a lot of problems if he took the fourth floor's keycard. He knew the third floor was the better choice. But he still took the card. And again, Amiya said there are drones for cleaning, but he still borrowed cleaning supplies to do it manually.

Aye, I'm fated to toil and seek death.

Lin Yie sighs.

He feels he forgot something, but he can't remember until a devil comes into his office.

"Pineapple Bun?" Nightingale watches Lin Yie mop the floor, "Didn't you tell me to get up early to eat pineapple buns?"

"Oh." Lin Yie says lightly, "You were still sleeping, so I didn't wake you up. Just sleep early tonight. We can go tomorrow."

"Alright." Nightingale nods, "But you have to wake me up tomorrow."

Lin Yie breaths out in relief.

This little devil is still naive.

"Did you walk here yourself?"

"I didn't get lost." Nightingale says, "But it was Hibiscus who brought me here."

Lin Yie sighs. She couldn't even find her way back from the training room, which is only about fifty meters away from her dorm. His office is way farther by comparison. It would be strange if she doesn't get lost on her own.

"Pineapple Bun." Nightingale walks up to him, "What are you doing?"

"I'm cleaning."

"You look really happy."

"Really?" Lin Yie smiles, "I guess my dream finally came true."

I finally have my own office!

Nightingale misunderstood him, "Dream? Is your dream cleaning?"

"What?"

"If that's the case." Nightingale thinks for a moment, "I'll let you clean my room too. Your dream will come true again."

"..."

"No need to thank me." Nightingale continues, "You just need to give me pineapple buns."

"Your dark side is showing."

"Dark side?" Nightingale lowers her head to check her white sweater, "Where?"

"Nevermind." Lin Yie shakes his head, "I'm going to work here from now on. If you want to find me, just come here."

"Are you going to clean this place every day?"

"Of course not." Lin Yie takes out a name plaque he prepared in advance and writes "Psychological Clinic" to put it above the door.

Nightingale sits on a cardboard box and watches Lin Yie clean the room.

When night falls, Lin Yie feels his stomach growling. He realizes that Nightingale and he haven't eaten all day.

"Liz?" Lin Yie turns to the little devil, "Let's go eat..."

Nightingale is sleeping on the cardboard box.

"Uh. What the heck have I been doing?"

He wakes her up.

"Hmmm, Pineapple Bun?" Nightingale sits up groggily, "Did you finish?"

"For now."

"Are you going to clean my room next?"

"No. I am bringing you to eat."

Nightingale yawns.

Lin Yie picks up the three large bags of trash, "Let's go."

"Will there be pineapple buns?"

"I think so."

"Uhm." Nightingale follows Lin Yie out of his office.

Lin Yie thought about locking the door, but when he realized there is really nothing in his office, he just left the door half-closed. When he turns the light off, the entire floor is dark again.

"Why is this floor so dark?"

"The lights should work, but I don't know where the switch is." Lin Yie takes his phone out to use as a flashlight, "I'll find it later. Amiya told me there is power on this floor. Anyway, I already cleaned my office. I can start working tomorrow."

"You also need to recruit assistants."

"You still remember? That's surprising."

"Uhm, I want to join."

"I can say yes to other things, but not this."

"I want to join." Nightingale is stubborn.

"I will buy you two more pineapple buns if you stop asking."

"Alright."

Lin Yie nods.

Three pineapple buns are enough to bribe a devil these days. If he was a baker instead at Chernobog, could he conquer the world by hiring devils with sweets? He even has a name for that story, The Days I Worked As A Baker In Arknights.

Lin Yie lets his imagination run wild and chats with Nightingale while waiting for the elevator. When the elevator arrives, he follows Nightingale inside, but before the door closes, he notices that there is someone at the end of the corridor. He pauses, not sure if he was imagining things, but before he can look closer, the elevator door is closed.

Lin Yie frowns as the elevator goes downward.

...

A white-haired woman carrying a huge sword on her back stands inside the office. She looks at the plaque in her hand and puts it down.

....

Translator's Notes:

Did I mention the nickname Nightingale made for Hibiscus? If I did, I will just repeat it, since I skipped the translation for convenience. Nightingale calls Hibiscus "莲蓉," which is like a very thick, sweet paste. "Hibiscus" in Chinese is "芙蓉." The two words are similar, but the pronunciations are noticeably different. I guess Nightingale really has a sweet tooth.