After the three of them drove back to The Metropolis Residences, Sophie Thorne and Melody Summers agreed to visit Brianna White in the hospital again in a couple of days.

Hearing this, Officer Tristan Tanner said with some disapproval, "You two should go out less these days. More and more people are disappearing in the city, and women your age have always been the kidnappers’ prime targets."

The long, deep night now ruled the world, and all the evil that once dared not show itself in the light of day was now eagerly bubbling to the surface.

With darkness providing round-the-clock cover, criminals were always ready to strike, and the pressure on the police to maintain public order had skyrocketed. If not for military support, the city would be on the brink of total chaos.

Kidnapping cases had become frequent in the city recently. Some people would just go downstairs for a moment to take out the trash, only to be ambushed by someone lunging from the shadows. Their mouths and noses would be covered, and they’d be dragged away, disappearing without a trace.

Many people were too afraid to go out anymore. If they absolutely had to leave their homes, they did so in large groups, never daring to be caught alone.

Melody Summers thought about the kidnapping Grace Sutton and Joanna Dunn had experienced. ’Officer Roman Rhodes said that group of kidnappers had been completely apprehended, but new cases are still popping up endlessly.’

’It looks like these kidnappers are part of a massive organization...’

Sophie Thorne, however, replied reassuringly, "I always have at least six bodyguards with me when I go out. You can rest assured."

Hearing this, Officer Tristan Tanner could only offer a helpless smile. He reminded them one last time to be careful, then hurried back to the emergency response office.

After saying goodbye to Sophie Thorne, Melody Summers returned home.

The moment she stepped into the living room, she gave her grandmother and Miss Lowell, who were watching TV on the sofa, a fright.

Her grandmother shot up from the sofa and rushed over to Melody, asking in a panic, "What happened to you! Why are you covered in blood?!"

Miss Lowell also grabbed Melody worriedly, looking her over from head to toe to check for any injuries.

Melody looked down and cursed inwardly. ’Oh, no—’

She had forgotten she was still spattered with the blood Brianna White had coughed up, which had now dried to a dark, blackish color.

Not wanting to frighten her grandmother and Miss Lowell, Melody quickly recounted everything that had just happened.

Her grandmother was a naturally tender-hearted woman. She was in tears after hearing about Brianna White’s ordeal. "Oh, dear, that poor girl. How could she go through something like that? People these days have such wicked hearts! They’ll drive someone to their death without a second thought!"

Miss Lowell could relate to Brianna White’s situation. She’d had a similar experience herself, and it was disheartening to think that after so many years, people were still being trapped in the same kind of predicament.

Miss Lowell sighed, pushing aside her thoughts. She said to Melody, "Quick, go take a shower and change your clothes. I made your favorite fried lotus root and pork patties today. There are also fresh lotus seeds, with the bitter pith already removed. They’re tender and sweet."

Melody was taken aback. ’Lotus root patties? Lotus seeds?’

She asked, puzzled, "Where did we get lotus root and lotus seeds?"

’To avoid making her family suspicious, I haven’t dared to take out the lotus roots and seed pods from my space,’ Melody thought. ’I’m starting to regret not planting some lotuses in our backyard pond back then.’

Her grandmother smiled and replied, "Officer Roman Rhodes brought them over. He brought lots of lotus roots and seed pods, and even a huge lobster as long as your arm! We’ll grill it for you tomorrow."

Melody was stunned. ’The lotus roots and seed pods from Officer Rhodes must have been from the lotus gift set he bought at The Arcadia Store.’

She couldn’t help but marvel at his generosity. ’A gift set worth tens of thousands, and he just gives it away. Not to mention, ever since the New Year, he’s been bringing food over every so often. He’s truly treating Miss Lowell like his own elder.’

’I was just worrying about how to get the lotus roots and seed pods out of my space,’ Melody thought. ’Thank goodness Officer Rhodes is so generous. Now the family can eat the lotus roots and seeds from my space too.’

Melody hurried upstairs to change out of her blood-stained clothes.

She took a hot shower and changed into a soft set of pajamas.

By the time she came back downstairs, Winnie Summers and Colin Summers were already home. The entire family was waiting for Melody to join them for dinner. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Grace Sutton had returned to work after her recovery, but she was now living on-site. From now on, she would live and eat at the clothing factory.

There had been far too many kidnappings and robberies in the city lately. For safety, many factories were having their employees live on-site.

The factories were protected by government-assigned soldiers, and food and water were also provided by the government.

The Summers Family was finally able to rest easy, since commuting back and forth every day had become far too dangerous.

At the dinner table, the family spent a long time discussing the suicide attempt in their community that was triggered by online bullying. Her grandmother kept sighing, "Thank goodness she was saved. Otherwise, she would have died a terrible, unjust death!"

Winnie Summers also sighed. "With the sun gone for so long, many residents have been affected psychologically to some degree. The emergency response office is going to start sending people door-to-door to conduct wellness checks."

’But the emergency response office is short-staffed,’ she thought. ’With so many residents, it’s impossible to get to everyone right away...’

Unlike physical ailments like injuries, the most frightening aspect of mental health issues is that many sufferers don’t actively seek help. They often don’t even realize they are ill.

It starts with just feeling down and losing interest in the world around them. Gradually, it evolves into excessive tension and anxiety, making it impossible to sleep properly, until finally, thoughts of self-harm or suicide begin to surface.

Unfortunately, the country hadn’t paid much attention to mental health in the past. According to the older generation, as long as you had a full stomach, that was all that mattered. Any other "psychological problems" were just people being overly dramatic.

Many from the older generation would say things like: "Depression? Anxiety? That’s just from being overfed. How come no one in our generation was depressed?"

But in reality, in the forgotten corners of the countryside, suicides due to mental health issues were not at all uncommon. Many rural women, feeling they could no longer go on, would simply drink pesticides to end their lives.

How was that not a mental health issue? It was simply that nobody cared.

Melody recalled a story that had left a deep impression on her. It was about a rural woman who, unable to bear the abuse from her in-laws and the indifference of her own family, chose to end her life by drinking pesticide.

Because the pesticide was so bitter, she had added a lot of sugar to it. But the sugar wouldn’t dissolve and simply settled at the bottom of the cup.

She had lived a bitter life, and even in death, she never got a single taste of sweetness.

Melody sighed inwardly. ’Hopefully, the emergency response office’s proactive counseling visits will help the current situation.’

Seeing her grandmother was still worried about Brianna White, Melody offered some comfort. "Sophie Thorne and I arranged to go visit her in a couple of days. Don’t worry, Grandma."

But Colin Summers frowned at her words. "I heard from Ford at the property management center that kidnappings under the cover of darkness are on the rise. His sister, who lives in the Garden Community, was just taking out the trash when two men lying in ambush grabbed her. They still haven’t found her. You should stay home!"

Miss Lowell also frowned and nodded. "That’s right. When Roman Rhodes was here today, he also warned us to stay inside as much as possible. There are so many kidnappings right now. It’s not just girls—men and women, young and old, lots of people are being kidnapped or just disappearing without a trace."

Melody could only try to reassure them. "Don’t worry, I’ll be with Sophie Thorne. She always has at least six bodyguards with her. They can definitely handle a few common kidnappers."

Her family was still worried and continued to try and persuade her. Melody had to keep promising that she absolutely would not go out unless she was with Sophie, and only then did they finally relax.