The closed door opened, and inside the bright room, the young girl on the bed gazed out the window.
Her eyes were dazed, as if waking from a dream, or sinking into one.
As her gaze returned, Madam Harveys could no longer hold back her tears and rushed in, embracing her tightly:
"Molly!"
The young girl's eyes shifted slightly, and the strange heart within her chest beat softly.
She seemed not to recognize the woman in front of her, but for some reason, the woman's scent made her feel inexplicably at ease.
"Mo...Mom?"
This word must be used to describe the person in front of her, right?
She thought to herself.
"Mom is here! Mom will always be here from now on!" Madam Harveys held Molly, tears streaming down her face as she spoke of her longing.
Beside her, Sophia also couldn't help but sniffle, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Sophia, you stay with Madam and Molly. Harveys and I will go, go talk outside first."
Li Andy dragged the wailing Mr. Harveys out of the room.
In the reception room.
Li Andy pushed the donation agreement back in front of Mr. Harveys.
"Andy, what is this?"
Mr. Harveys sniffled, his face covered in snot and tears, making him look a bit simple and comical.
Li Andy handed him a handkerchief:
"Since Miss Molly is back, there's no need for you to be stuck in the past. The donation is too large; we would also be investigated by the General Church."
Mr. Harveys took the handkerchief, wiped the grime from his face, "Andy, you... just call me Uncle. I had planned, if Molly didn't wake up, to give up everything here and take her and Madam back to our hometown, to spend our final years in Jasmine Town."
Li Andy nodded, happily accepting the closer relationship:
"Then, Uncle Harveys, you don't need to do that now. Miss Molly's condition isn't stable yet, and she needs your care. While money isn't everything, without it, many hopes will become dim."
Harveys was silent for a moment, gradually calming down, and took back the donation agreement:
"You're right, without money, nothing is possible. I've been in business for many years and have seen plenty of deceit. It's only through a bit of luck that I've achieved what I have today. Molly's misfortune now might be my punishment and price. If you... need any help, just say so."
Li Andy nodded.
He was indeed an old businessman; he knew that nothing was truly free, and that free was often the most expensive. Of course, Li Andy wasn't that kind-hearted.
There are many things where, if you don't have some resources and connections, it's truly difficult to get involved.
Now he needed a stable financial backing.
Although the Harveys family wasn't top-tier wealthy, they could still open many different circles for him.
If he only mixed in the bottom-tier occult circles like Black Alley, he might not even be able to pay for water and rent. (Well, Yuquan Youxi, who doesn't care about money in the game, is like that.)
"Then, Uncle Harveys,"
Li Andy spoke frankly, "Can I invest in your industry? Although the clothing industry isn't comparable to heavy industry, I think it still has great prospects. Clothing from different regions carries the changes of time in those places; even if it's not for money, it's a very meaningful endeavor."
"Clothing carries the changes of time in different regions...."
Mr. Harveys repeated these words, recalling the past, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, his voice full of vicissitudes:
"I... I used to be a farmer. After escaping to New Continent, I became a tailor. I remember back then, I wore whatever clothes I could find. Clothes to cover the body, warm food to fill the stomach, were my initial wishes at that time.
"But with the favor of luck, I gradually forgot many things and began to yearn for those decadent and uninteresting things.
"I once indulged myself and ruined my body with drugs. Molly was my only child. Madam and I argued a lot, but she never left my side.
"I understand now; I should indeed continue my business. For Molly and Madam, and also... to provide the world with more warmth to cover their bodies.
"Thank you, thank you, Andy."
Li Andy nodded, neither flattering nor lecturing.
Having ideals and beliefs is a good thing; it can prevent one from falling into the abyss in the vortex of desire. It can also help one maintain sanity in this world full of hidden madness.
"Uncle Harveys, do you remember this item?"
Li Andy took out a small music box. When opened, a dancer with a broken leg slowly rotated to the music.
Mr. Harveys gradually frowned:
"This was Molly's twelfth birthday present from me, given to me by a master mechanic. But Molly said she lost it a long time ago and cried for a long time because of it. Andy, where did you find this?"
Now it was Li Andy's turn to frown:
"I found it at the academy. Who was that master mechanic?"
Mr. Harveys said:
"He was a ship designer. Many famous cargo ships in Victoria Harbor had his guidance or involvement. But later, I heard he went mad and blew himself up at sea in his own small boat."
"Mad? What was his name?"
"Henry Bessel."
Li Andy nodded, noting down the name.
He rubbed his temples; the consumption of forging fakes was more than he had imagined.
"Uncle, you should go reunite with Miss Molly first. I... I'm a bit tired."
Mr. Harveys looked at him worriedly:
"Then you rest first. I've always kept those guest rooms ready for you."
Li Andy nodded, signaling him to leave.
Mr. Harveys didn't linger, eagerly rushing to see his daughter.
Li Andy refused the little maid's assistance, stumbled into the room, and collapsed onto the bed.
In the ethereal realm, he saw Molly's thread.
Compared to its previous obscurity, it was now faintly glowing.
Li Andy instinctively reached out and touched it.
