Chapter 22 Part 2

One could say he was focused, but his eyes darted around. One could say he was distracted, but his movements were precise, even absorbed as his head lowered further.

“Your face is about to touch my foot.” Unable to watch, Zhong Nian reached out, hooked Ke Zhengchu’s chin to lift it, and smiled. “Do you need to get that close to see clearly?”

Ke Zhengchu lowered his eyes, avoiding his smiling face, his earlobes turning red beneath the black strands.

“Continue.” Zhong Nian nudged his knee with his foot.

“Mm.”

Fifteen minutes later.

Zhong Nian had gone from sitting to lying on the bed. He casually pulled the blanket over his stomach, let out a big yawn, rubbed the physiological tears from the corner of his eye, and said, “Zhengchu, if you go any slower, it’ll be dawn.”

“It’ll be done soon.” Reminded, Ke Zhengchu obediently sped up and finished quickly.

Zhong Nian did not rush to sleep. He told Ke Zhengchu not to leave, clung to his shoulders to sit up. He did not notice the youth’s shoulders stiffen like stone as he pulled his hand. “Let me see your injury.”

The gauze he had wrapped the night before was still on. When unwrapped, the cut inside had scabbed nicely, with no inflammation or bleeding.

His brows relaxed. “Why didn’t you change it yourself while I was gone? Luckily, it’s almost healed. No need to wrap it tonight—keeping it covered too long isn’t good for recovery.”

“No more ointment?” Ke Zhengchu asked.

“Just this last night.”

“Oh…” Ke Zhengchu lowered his head, his eyes shadowed by his hair.

“Here, eat this.”

At that moment, Ke Zhengchu suddenly had something stuffed into his hand.

Looking closely, it was a… doughnut?

Zhong Nian curved his eyes in a smile. “Zhan Lu gave it to me. Eat it secretly. Don’t tell him.”

Ke Zhengchu held the doughnut warm from the boy’s body heat and slowly curved his lips.

–

The cruise ship had changed “masters,” and the situation had reversed.

Zhong Nian returned to his kitchen post and saw the thin, watery porridge and dry white steamed buns allocated to the Rich Second Generations in the casino. He felt a bit emotional.

This time, Zhan Lu had not lied to him. He only needed to serve meals to more than thirty members of the Kidnapper Gang. Most came on time to pick up their food, and this workload was very manageable.

Moreover, these people were orderly and obedient. When he said to line up, the crowding crowd immediately formed lines and waited with trays for him to serve.

No complaints about portions, no demands.

The only annoying thing was that while serving, they always wanted to chat with him, asking his name, age, if he was married. Even after serving, they lingered.

[A starving wolf-like one, not even looking at the food, just staring at my wife.]

[So appetizing, little chef~ Double the deliciousness!]

[Anyone know what they’re really hungry for? (Smile)]

[Hey, the one in front, your drool’s about to hit the floor.]

[Aaaah, I want to eat too. Wife, let me have a bite. I’ve never tasted your flavor in my life, wuwu.]

The live stream viewers, locked up by Zhong Nian for a night, were also starving and sent barrages particularly diligently.

Zhong Nian glanced over quickly and did not want to look anymore.

After serving the line, he still had to deliver individually to some others.

These were the heads of the Kidnapper Gang. According to colleagues, they were very busy during the day and could hardly leave their “posts.”

Zhong Nian did not understand at first what “post” could not be covered by someone else for a bit. But when he arrived at the casino, he understood.

“Please! Give me one more chance. This time, I’ll talk properly to my family. They must be delayed by something! My family has money. They won’t abandon me over a few million!”

Before entering the door, Zhong Nian heard the heart-wrenching pleas from inside.

Then came an inhumanely indifferent, utterly cold response: “Twenty million. If it’s not in the account by ten tomorrow morning, you’ll end up like him.”

“Tw-Twenty million? Wasn’t it eight million…”

“You dare talk back?! You should be grateful for the chance!”

“Ah!! Don’t hit! Don’t hit!!”

Amid the sounds of fists hitting flesh, Zhong Nian gripped the meal cart handle tightly, took a deep breath, passed the doorway check, and pushed it inside.

The cart wheels rolled over the casino’s cashmere carpet, making almost no sound.

But as soon as Zhong Nian entered, he instantly drew numerous gazes.

Zhong Nian kept his eyes down, looking only at the path ahead, pushing straight to the front of the casino without glancing sideways.

“Breakfast delivery’s here. No wonder I smelled something from afar.” The youth who had just been disciplining someone switched to a playful tone, grinning as he approached Zhong Nian.

Zhong Nian recognized him—he had seen him last night, when he had teased Zhan Lu about the wound on his face.

The youth added, “Starving* to death, starving to death. So hungry I can’t lift my hand. It’s your fault for being late, so you have to feed me.”

“Old Five.” A low voice rang out, and the grinning youth shrank back like a cat caught in the act.

Zhong Nian looked toward the man seated in the high-backed chair who had spoken.

The leader of this lawless Kidnapper Gang still wore black clothes, casually leaning back with a powerful aura. Especially when his dark, cold eyes swept over, it sent chills down one’s spine. The oppressive presence commanded obedience without anger, leaving no doubt about his capability as boss.

And at his feet lay an unnamed person with one leg bent in a twisted shape, barely breathing, unknown if alive or dead.

Zhong Nian thought of how he had cursed him yesterday and could not help shivering.

He had originally planned to find a chance to settle accounts with him… but on second thought, better forget it.

A good rabbit could bend and stretch.