Chapter 28 Part 1

In the man’s strong and sturdy arms, Zhong Nian was like a helpless little chick, clamped under the man’s armpit.

Everyone watched, but no one stopped him.

As soon as they left the Casino, Zhong Nian, who felt dizzy from the position, saw the vast blue sea outside. Terror overwhelmed him, and his little face instantly drained of color, turning deathly pale.

“I can’t swim!” He grabbed the man’s clothes and begged pitifully, “I was wrong, please don’t throw me into the sea.”

The man paused slightly, glanced down at him without a word, and continued forward without releasing him.

Zhong Nian tried to struggle, but the man gripped him tightly and hoisted him onto his shoulder. His two flailing legs were bound firmly.

His heart sank to despair: “It’s over, System, I’m going to die. Won’t you save me?”

“…”

The System didn’t respond, probably having given up on him too.

Zhong Nian closed his eyes, feeling that the man had been walking for a while, perhaps choosing the best spot to toss him overboard.

In this torment akin to death by a thousand cuts, Zhong Nian finally felt the sensation of being thrown—the falling drop. But he didn’t land in the icy, deep sea water, nor did he suffocate. Instead, he landed on a soft bed.

Trembling, Zhong Nian cautiously opened his eyes and saw a clean, beautiful room.

“?”

Reborn, he looked at the man by the bed with lingering fear.

“Why did you bring me here?”

The man said, “Change clothes.”

Zhong Nian: “…”

Zhong Nian didn’t understand why the man had to carry him over just to change clothes without saying a word, making him worry for nothing.

Rabbits weren’t built for scares, you know?

Soon, Zhong Nian realized he’d relaxed too early.

He heard the Black-Clothed Man say, “You should take responsibility.”

“What?” Zhong Nian was stunned for a moment, then glanced at the mess on the man’s waist and realized, “S-Sorry, at the time… I zoned out.”

“Help me change it out. The clothes too,” the man said.

Zhong Nian got off the bed and opened the wardrobe directly. There were very few clothes hanging inside, all in uniform black, simple and plain styles.

He picked a set at random; there wasn’t much difference anyway.

As he moved, he scanned the room, feeling a bit puzzled.

“I’ve moved here,” the man suddenly explained. “The bed is bigger and softer, there’s a window, sunlight every day. It’s comfortable to live here.”

Zhong Nian nodded slowly after a beat. “Mm… it does look pretty good.”

“If it were you, would you want to move in?” the man asked again, his dark eyes fixed on him, seemingly very concerned about the answer.

Unsure what he meant, Zhong Nian answered honestly. “It’s better than the employee dormitory. Anyone would prefer the better one… right?”

He saw the man’s lips curve into a faint, almost imperceptible arc, like a smile.

A bad premonition hit him immediately. He quickly wrapped up the topic, holding the clothes and saying, “Sir, is this outfit okay?”

The man nodded and stepped closer, stopping right in front of him.

Zhong Nian raised the clothes a bit higher, maintaining a standard smile as he waited.

But for some reason, the man didn’t take them, just looked at him silently.

“Sir?” he asked, puzzled.

The Black-Clothed Man kept staring. In the prolonged silence, Zhong Nian gradually understood.

Fine, the training did cover how to help guests change clothes.

Zhong Nian set the clothes on the bed, stepped forward, and reached out. But before he could touch the man’s buttons, the man leaned back, dodging his hand.

“I’ll do it myself.” The man turned his head, his neck slightly flushed.

Thinking he’d misunderstood and embarrassed the man, Zhong Nian planned to leave the room.

“Stay here,” the man called after him.

“…Okay.” Zhong Nian retracted his foot that had already stepped out and stood holding the clothes, head lowered.

To avoid making him uncomfortable, Zhong Nian never looked up the whole time, unaware that the man’s gaze never left him.

After the man finished changing, Zhong Nian picked up the clothes. “I’ll clean these for you.”

“Mm.” The man paused. “Sit for a bit.”

Zhong Nian, who thought he could finally leave: “…”

Not eating breakfast?

The man seemed to have no immediate plans to return to the Casino. He grabbed the hesitant Zhong Nian and sat him on the sofa.

The room’s loveseat wasn’t large, and with the man’s build, they inevitably brushed against each other.

Suddenly treated like a guest, and with the man being so quiet, Zhong Nian felt very awkward.

“Drink water.” A glass was placed in front of Zhong Nian.

“Thank you.” Zhong Nian held the cup and sipped to ease the awkwardness.

The man watched him take two sips, moistening his dry lips, then suddenly asked, “Is work hard?”

“…It’s okay?” Unsure of the man’s intent, Zhong Nian gave a standard answer.

The man asked again, “How are the employee dormitory conditions? Do you get along well with… your roommate?”

Zhong Nian replied, “It’s fine, pretty good.”

“Are you satisfied with the three meals a day?”

“…Satisfied.”

Zhong Nian was baffled. It felt like a leadership survey. Did the Kidnapper Boss care this much about hostages?

It was the first time the man talked so much, questions piling up one after another—whether this was satisfactory, that was good—getting only Zhong Nian’s flawless responses.

“What do you think of Second Brother and Old Three?”

Zhong Nian answered on reflex, “Pretty good… Huh?”

Why suddenly ask about Zhan Lu and Charles?

Zhong Nian observed his expression. The man’s face remained unchanged, as if it was just a casual question. But those two were different—not colleagues or roommates, but key members of the Kidnapper Gang.