Chapter Twenty-One: The Ocean Cruise, Part 20
Chapter 21
The system's voice echoed in the minds of the eight workers:
“Ding dong, the mermaids’ revenge has begun.”
“Please protect yourselves, workers. The Infinite Workers Corporation stands with all its employees.”
At critical moments, the system’s words were more comforting than any song.
Tap, tap.
On the windows outside the room and along the corridor, one, then two... a total of four mermaids crawled ashore.
After all, the ship was not the sea; their crawling was slow, hands grasping the ground like lizards.
They could open the doors of the entire two-story cabin with ease.
They moved as if they were back in their own territory.
In the silent night, a scream pierced the air, followed by a high school student tumbling and scrambling as a mermaid chased close behind.
The student’s calf was clawed, causing him to stumble, but luckily he was still faster, soon shaking off his pursuer.
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
Time passed second by second.
Zhao Jinchu pulled Qi Yan along as they ran.
Finally, she dragged him into a room, shoved him into a closet, and closed the door.
Qi Yan, standing 1.85 meters tall, collapsed onto her, pressing all his weight down.
Their bodies heated from running; the corners of his eyes reddened, his eyes misty. He held her tightly, breathing in short gasps.
Zhao Jinchu glanced at him, silently looking away, waiting for him to catch his breath before moving on to the next place.
Half an hour flew by in an instant.
Zhao Jinchu hadn’t expected Qi Yan to be so cooperative.
The only downside was the increasingly strong scent clinging to him.
His panting grew heavier by the minute.
It would be one thing if he was just breathing hard, but he insisted on holding onto her, rubbing against her. Such a large man, yet he chose the clingy approach, lowering his head to pant by her ear.
Zhao Jinchu endured it for a while, then finally took action, covering his mouth with her hand.
Qi Yan: “Mmm.”
Zhao Jinchu whispered, “Stop panting.”
His expression was innocent, eyes rimmed with red, chest rising and falling violently.
Qi Yan: “You dragged me running around.”
Zhao Jinchu was speechless.
That was true enough.
As they whispered, a noise came from the door.
Beep, beep, beep—the door opened, and a mermaid stepped inside.
Zhao Jinchu pressed her hand harder over his mouth.
The mermaid spun once, then turned toward the bathroom. Soon, a scream echoed from there.
Zhao Jinchu raised an eyebrow. “There’s someone else in this room after all.”
After circling around, she found herself back in her own room.
That scream sounded oddly familiar.
But at this point, she had no time to care about others. Life or death was in fate’s hands now.
Zhao Jinchu looked up and met Qi Yan’s gaze.
He looked innocent. “It’s him,” he said, pointing to the badge hanging on his chest.
With another scream from outside, she suddenly remembered—it was Zeng Nian.
Afraid he might give them away, Zhao Jinchu had kept him locked in her bathroom, bound for nine days.
Damn, she had forgotten about him!
Inside the bathroom:
Zeng Nian was chained to the toilet with an iron chain, dodging back and forth. Two holes bled on his thigh and arm.
Before him, a grotesque mermaid flicked out a long tongue, toying with him leisurely.
Terror filled Zeng Nian’s face, his expression vacant.
He had been trapped in this bathroom for nine days. Every day, he heard that wretched woman chatting happily with the one he cared for, taking liberties with her. Life was worse than death.
He believed the woman was doing it on purpose—deliberately letting him hear—to flaunt and humiliate him.
He refused to eat, attempting to starve himself to death. But the woman wouldn’t let him. Every day, she pried open his mouth and forced sugar water down his throat.