Bullhorse flicked its tail and led Liu Zheng deeper into the restaurant.
Walking along the staff corridor, the two soon arrived at a three-way fork.
The left path was illuminated by red emergency lights, the straight path had carpet flooring, while the right path was blocked by two blue curtains.
Liu Zheng pricked up his ears—the sound of chopping bones seemed to be coming from behind the curtains.
"Straight ahead is the staff break room, the right leads to the kitchen territory, and the left is our area. Remember, don't take the wrong path."
Bullhorse reminded him.
What would happen if he took the wrong path?
Bullhorse didn't elaborate, and Liu Zheng didn't ask.
Just now, he had heard a woman's piercing scream.
Liu Zheng stopped to listen—the scream continued, growing weaker and weaker.
"She's probably not dead yet. Want to go save her?"
At some point, Bullhorse's massive bovine head had leaned close to his face.
Liu Zheng turned back to see its furry face wearing a smirk.
He stared into its large eyes.
"Work is so boring; a little fun wouldn't hurt. But..."
Bullhorse raised its dexterous front hoof, hooked Liu Zheng's shoulder, and turned him in another direction.
"Your luck is pretty good. Right now, I actually need an assistant."
Liu Zheng was pushed forward with irresistible force.
"Here, everyone needs a job."
Amid Bullhorse's meaningful words, the two left the fork behind.
The woman's screams faded into the distance, left deep behind the curtains.
Minutes later, Bullhorse released Liu Zheng's shoulder.
Ahead of them was a pitch-black corridor, while to their right stood an old wooden door.
"That's the takeout exit, and this is our break room."
Bullhorse opened its mouth, its thick tongue rolling upward to reveal a hidden key underneath.
It clenched the key in its teeth, struggling to align it with the keyhole.
Clearly, this was no easy task.
Liu Zheng couldn't bear to watch.
"Oh, then you do it."
Bullhorse opened its mouth, letting foul-smelling saliva drip from the key.
Without batting an eye, Liu Zheng took the key and inserted it into the lock.
The door creaked open.
"Nice job. You're actually somewhat useful."
Then, it turned to look at its own back—a slender hand was brushing through its fur.
"What are you doing?"
Bullhorse managed a frown with difficulty.
"Wiping my hands." Follow current novᴇls on 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕·𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎·𝚗𝚎𝚝
Liu Zheng replied calmly.
"I know. What I mean is, why are you wiping your hands on me?"
Bullhorse's breathing grew heavier.
"I don't take advantage of others. If it's not my saliva, I don't want it."
He said with complete seriousness.
Bullhorse's nostrils flared, its copper-bell-sized eyes gleaming with menace.
Liu Zheng simply met its gaze calmly—no fear, no provocation in his expression.
After a long pause, Bullhorse snorted.
"Human, you're too clever for your own good."
It knew this human was testing its limits.
"Being clever means dying slower, right? You wouldn't want to find a new partner so soon, would you?"
"That's true. If they were all as stupid as the last ones, I'd be doomed sooner or later. But being too clever can also get you killed."
"Then I'll need you to guide me, Boss Bullhorse."
Liu Zheng flashed a bright smile.
"Why should I guide you?"
Bullhorse eyed him sideways.
Liu Zheng considered saying "because you need my help," but he knew pushing that angle would only provoke resistance.
He glanced at Bullhorse's bulging muscles and prominent spine, then had an idea.
"Boss, need a massage?"
A huge question mark seemed to appear above Bullhorse's head.
Ten minutes later, in the delivery staff break room.
"Yes, yes, right there—harder, I can take it."
Bullhorse lay on the floor, a blissful smile on its face.
"Don't worry, I'll fix you right up."
Liu Zheng's hands moved skillfully across Bullhorse's back.
"Boss, your spine is pretty messed up."
"Carrying all those deliveries every day, of course it's messed up! I'm not like you humans who can use your hands."
Bullhorse complained.
"Why not hang them on your horns?"
Liu Zheng asked curiously.
"No way! What if they break? Our horns are more important than you humans' faces."
Bullhorse shook its head vigorously.
He decided not to dwell on this inhuman logic.
This world seemed similar to reality, but the restaurant's sign and that woman's screams reminded him it wasn't.
Asking more questions would probably cost him sanity points.
"Done. Try moving around."
Twenty minutes later, Liu Zheng patted Bullhorse's rump.
"That's it? Keep going."
Reluctantly, Bullhorse pushed itself up on all fours.
It trotted around the break room, excitement spreading across its large face.
"Kid, you've got skills."
Bullhorse raised a hoof in approval.
"Just a small trick, nothing special."
Liu Zheng said modestly.
He'd once trained briefly with a Bajiquan martial artist.
That practitioner's combat skills were mediocre, but his bone-setting and massage techniques were family secrets.
When Liu Zheng realized he wouldn't learn much martial arts, he paid extra to master the massage skills instead.
"Alright, I won't let your efforts go unrewarded. Sit—I'll brief you on the job."
Liu Zheng looked around but saw no seating.
"Humans are so troublesome. Wait."
Bullhorse produced another key from its mouth, opened a storage locker, and pulled out a small folding stool.
"Sit. This belonged to my partner three assignments ago."
Liu Zheng fiddled with the stool and asked casually.
"Working as ingredients."
He shrugged. Unexpected, yet somehow fitting.
"Ever worked delivery before?"
Liu Zheng thought for a moment before answering.
"Then I'll explain the process."
Bullhorse continued without further questions.
It gestured with its head.
Liu Zheng looked and noticed a rectangular hole at the base of the wooden door, covered by a movable plank.
"When an order comes, someone will slip the ticket through that hole. Wait about thirty seconds before going out to take the delivery from the cart, then follow the address on the ticket. Understood?"
"Good. That locker's yours—equipment's inside."
Liu Zheng checked the opened locker to find a uniform, a phone, and a map.
The phone was an old flip model with no contacts saved.
"Memorize my number."
Bullhorse recited a string of digits.
As Liu Zheng noted it down, he went to save it in contacts.
Bullhorse stopped him.
"This is the first rule I'll teach you."
Bullhorse's low voice echoed through the break room.
"Never save any numbers in your phone."