Already wrinkled and shapeless, now it looked even worse.
If not for a Rabbit’s acute sensitivity to scents, Zhong Nian might not have recognized it as his own.
【Huh, kinda confused. Why doesn’t the Streamer return the bow tie?】
【This seems like Wife’s original one…】
【Wait, didn’t the Boss specially call Wife over to give it back earlier?】
【Gave it back then immediately stole it when no one noticed. Wife thought he’d dropped it.】
【Tch—looks all proper but yellow-bellied inside.】 (TL: “Black-hearted and lecherous” slang)
【So scheming, never planned to return it, just wanted to rub up on my Wife.】
【I refuse to believe Dog Boss didn’t use it for shady stuff (smirk)】
Zhong Nian truly didn’t understand why the Black-Clothed Man was so fixated on his bow tie.
He’d even told him to get a dozen or a hundred from the manager. Why steal his?
And pretend to return it… just for fun?
Especially since the mature man’s scent on it was so overpowering it nearly masked his own.
Zhong Nian held it disdainfully in his palm.
Since it was dirtied by someone else, he didn’t want it. With a clean toss, he threw it in the trash.
–
Noon.
Zhan Lu came looking for Zhong Nian with freshly made doughnuts.
Lately, with Charles and Zhan Lu showing up often, everyone else stayed quiet, not daring to talk much to Zhong Nian.
Work efficiency improved, and Zhong Nian’s mood lightened a bit. At the end, he finally noticed Zhan Lu standing off in the distance without approaching and gave him a couple extra glances.
Anyone could see Zhan Lu was off—shoulders slumped, brows furrowed, holding a Kraft Paper Bag, looking lost in thought.
When Zhong Nian looked his way, he reacted slightly. His expression shifted repeatedly, like internal struggle. He took a step forward then stopped.
Zhong Nian hadn’t planned to bother, but seeing how strange he was, he walked over and asked, “Not eating?”
Zhan Lu stared deeply at him, eyes gradually filling with resentment. “You hate me, wish I’d disappear forever?”
Zhong Nian was taken aback.
Zhan Lu had tricked him several times; he didn’t like him anymore, but not to that extent.
Zhong Nian didn’t answer directly, countering, “Is that what you think?”
“Someone relayed a message that you said exactly that.” Zhan Lu’s voice lowered, his initial aggressive anger turning to deep dejection as he awkwardly sought confirmation. “Is it true?”
Zhong Nian gave two words: “No.”
“I knew it was some bastard messing with me.” Zhan Lu’s mood visibly brightened, the gloom lifting entirely.
Zhong Nian asked curiously, “Who told you?”
“Old Three.” Zhan Lu sneered. “Pretending it was from Boss, not afraid I’ll rat him out.”
“…” Zhong Nian stayed quiet.
He had mentioned something about Zhan Lu to the Kidnapper Boss, but hadn’t expected it distorted like this in Zhan Lu’s ears.
He had no doubt Charles had embellished it; the Boss didn’t seem the type.
“Doughnuts.” Zhan Lu shoved the Kraft Paper Bag into his hands insistently, saying sourly, “I don’t care who you give them to, but remember I made them specially for you.”
Zhong Nian acknowledged faintly.
With the item handed off, Zhan Lu still didn’t leave. “Want me to deliver the meals to the Casino for you?”
Happy for someone to take the chore, Zhong Nian handed it off without politeness.
He didn’t want to see anyone from the Casino.
Suddenly freer with less work, he watched the bustling kitchen and offered to help Jie Wen.
Jie Wen waved him off. “No need, go sit and rest. I can handle it.”
“You and everyone help me out so much usually. Let me help you too.”
Zhong Nian insisted, and Jie Wen, blushing, let him handle ingredients.
Zhong Nian glanced at the boiling cabbage and potatoes nearby. “That’s for the passengers?”
“Yeah, they’re eating worse than us now, not even a scrap of meat.” Jie Wen lowered his voice, avoiding the Kidnapper Gang watching them. “Heard a few more were sent back to cabins this morning. They got bigger portions; what’s left is for the Casino.”
So, barely anyone remained in the Casino.
“Once everyone’s ransom is paid, the Kidnapper Gang should let us go, right?” Jie Wen sighed.
Zhong Nian pursed his lips, saying nothing.
During that time, someone in the kitchen made a mistake amid the busyness and slipped hard on the slippery floor, their foot swelling up immediately. After receiving permission, they were carried straight to the ship doctor.
However, no one was available to handle their tasks for the moment. Zhong Nian noticed it was for the casino and said to the troubled team leader, “Let me deliver it for the next couple of days. I was heading there anyway.”
After checking with the supervisor and finding no issues, Zhong Nian pushed the meal cart back to the casino.
As soon as he entered, the first thing he noticed was how much emptier the casino had become. Jie Wen’s information was accurate; half of the remaining people had been taken away.
Zhong Nian didn’t pay attention to much else, but the familiar trio of Sheng Chu was still there.
“Why are you back again?” Zhan Lu, who had been eating with his own people in the casino, walked over first to ask.
“Helping a colleague deliver food,” Zhong Nian said, sneaking a glance toward the tables.
There weren’t many leaders present today; neither the Kidnapper Boss nor Charles was around.
Zhan Lu nagged at his side, “We deliberately assigned you lighter work, and I even helped you with it this time. But you went and took on more yourself.”
“Isn’t it normal for colleagues to help each other?” Zhong Nian replied.
![Bunny is Delicate, But He’s Everyone’s Crush! [Infinite]](https://i3.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bunn.jpg?resize=151,215 "Bunny is Delicate, But He’s Everyone’s Crush! [Infinite]")
