Chapter 68: I Really Want to Eat

After eating a bowl of rabbit meat, Ji Linmo felt completely restored. Staring at the now-empty porcelain bowl, he found himself gripped by an impatient craving—no matter what, he wanted another serving.

“Ah, I almost forgot something,” Qin Feng said. He stood up and walked slowly toward Niu Haoshou.

“Manager, I seem to recall you said that if we served that woman in red well, you’d give this store to him.”

The hand clutching the bills froze abruptly—Niu Haoshou’s momentary joy at forcing a customer to pay for damaged goods vanished at once.

“Ah… that, did I really say that? Hahaha…” The one-eyed man scratched his head and tried to laugh it off.

“Manager, if you go back on your word, I might not be so eager to help next time there’s trouble—say, if that woman in red comes back,” Qin Feng said, his smile dazzling as he looked at Niu Haoshou.

“After all, my partner was seriously injured because of this. It’s only fair I ask for something in return, isn’t it?”

Niu Haoshou stood rooted to the spot, his huge eye never leaving Qin Feng. He was clearly caught in a predicament. He pondered for a long moment before finally clapping his hands, having made up his mind.

“Qin Feng, how about this: I’ll appoint you as the deputy manager of our Big-Eyed Monster Supermarket. How does that sound?”

“I’ll even grant you and Ji Linmo a day off—go enjoy yourselves in the mall!”

With that, Niu Haoshou stuffed a few bills into Qin Feng’s pocket.

“After all, I did use my authority to buy rabbit meat and save Ji Linmo! Let’s call it even.”

Qin Feng said nothing; though he was still smiling, he pressed on as if refusing to let Niu Haoshou off the hook.

At this, Niu Haoshou’s face turned cold, his gaze sharp and menacing.

—No matter what, he would never relinquish his authority as manager. Anyone who tried to stand in his way, he would not tolerate.

“Thank you, Manager. Both Qin Feng and I are very grateful,” Ji Linmo spoke up before Qin Feng could, accepting the offer.

Instantly, Niu Haoshou broke into a broad grin, clapping Ji Linmo hard on the shoulder and laughing with delight.

“Hahaha! You’re the one, Ji Linmo. With a sensible and dedicated employee like you, our store’s performance is bound to soar!”

With that, Niu Haoshou led Ji Linmo out of the store.

But a piercing gaze shot toward him from behind. The one-eyed man, curious, turned around—only to find Qin Feng watching him intently, smiling brightly.

In that moment, Niu Haoshou felt as if he’d fallen into an abyss. With lingering fear, he released Ji Linmo’s arm and lowered his voice.

“Listen, Ji Linmo, a lot’s happened tonight. I’ll let your sales performance slide for now—go enjoy the mall. But your friend… you’d better keep him in check. Young people are too hot-headed; they make me nervous.”

Ji Linmo nodded expressionlessly to show he understood. He gestured for Qin Feng to join him.

Seeing the invitation, the youth hurried to his side.

“Mr. Ji, what is it?”

“Let’s go have some fun on the second floor,” Ji Linmo replied, lowering his gaze as he took out the magnetic card given to him by the woman in red.

“Sure, I’d love to!” Qin Feng took the card, instantly understanding.

The two of them strolled through the mall, heading for the elevator.

Ji Linmo gazed into the distance. At the first-floor entrance, attendants bowed endlessly to the stream of entering and exiting customers. Security guards stood fully armed by the doors.

Suddenly, a blood-soaked man in a hospital gown burst out of the emergency exit. He looked around in panic, then, as if finding his target, sprinted desperately toward the main entrance.

“Let me out! I’m done! I quit!” he screamed, careening hysterically toward the doors.

Yet none of the attendants or bodyguards so much as glanced at him; nobody moved to stop him.

Ji Linmo paused just before stepping into the elevator, silently watching the scene unfold. Qin Feng also stopped, watching the spectacle.

—No one could break the rules. If leaving was forbidden, then leaving was impossible.

“I… I really made it! I can… I can!” The man in the hospital gown grinned, but as his palms touched the doors, he suddenly let out a shrill scream.

His hands, as if made of melting ice cream, began to drip flesh and blood onto the floor.

He shrieked and collapsed; his legs, too, had dissolved into a puddle.

“So close! Just a little more!” Eyes red, the man dragged himself forward, straining with his head against the glass doors.

A cold breeze drifted in. The faint lights outside were his only hope.

At last, he managed to nudge the door open with his head, but the instant he poked his head through, the doors slammed shut.

Crash—

His head slowly slid down the glass, leaving behind a neck pouring blood.

No one in the mall—neither customers nor staff—showed any sign of surprise. They all went about their business, indifferent.

“So that’s what happens if you try to force your way out,” Qin Feng said, glancing as several janitors calmly emerged from the emergency exit to mop up the blood.

—The man’s body had melted entirely, just a pool of blood now.

Ji Linmo said nothing, stepping into the elevator and pressing the button with a conflicted expression.

Almost the moment he entered, he clamped a hand over his mouth.

For some reason, seeing that blood made him hungry.

Rabbit meat, rabbit meat, rabbit meat!

He desperately craved another taste!