Chapter 850: A Bet [Bonus 1]
The night passed and daylight arrived. The morning light on the sea was faint, barely illuminating anything, leaving the lower deck still dim though visible enough to see. Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke'er finished breakfast and took a walk on the deck.
Over ten days had passed since departure, with everything calm and peaceful. Yet Zhang Yi's intuition told him the Fin Dragon was definitely out there. The calm always comes before the storm. That terrifying, massive deep-sea creature was intelligent - it wouldn't attack recklessly. Perhaps it was waiting for the perfect opportunity, like when a blizzard hit. This posed a slight inconvenience for Zhang Yi.
However, he had full confidence in his abilities. In a direct confrontation, the Fin Dragon stood no chance against him. Otherwise, how could he be considered one of the top experts in the Jiangnan Region?
Old Tian approached with his men and greeted Zhang Yi. "Mr. Zhang, morning!"
Zhang Yi glanced at him with a smile. "How's everything on board recently? Any unusual activity?"
Old Tian thought for a moment before shaking his head. "They've been behaving, though those foreigners from the Rockflow Group keep complaining occasionally."
"Doesn't matter. Once we dock, we'll send them to your base to pedal generators," Zhang Yi said indifferently.
Old Tian nodded with a smile. "Understood."
Old Tian looked puzzled. "We clean daily, and the cabins aren't dirty!"
A meaningful smile played on Zhang Yi's lips as he leaned against the railing, gazing at the distant horizon. "They'll come in handy."
Though unsure of Zhang Yi's intentions, Old Tian obediently followed instructions. After walking around the ship with Zhou Ke'er, Zhang Yi prepared to return.
"By the way, how's that baby Zhu Yunque's been taking care of recently?" Zhang Yi asked casually.
Zhou Ke'er burst out laughing at the question, shaking her head helplessly. "Those two are absolutely regretting their lives now. Spoiled young ladies from official families, accustomed to being waited on hand and foot - when have they ever needed to care for others?"
"Even ordinary people would find caring for a one-year-old headache-inducing. Last time I went to check on that baby Tommy, their care was atrocious. Su Nuanxi washed his diapers while crying the whole time."
A pleased expression crossed Zhang Yi's face. Though a man, he occasionally enjoyed such gossip - it was genuinely amusing. "Respect others' choices, abandon savior complexes. Let's see - we've got at least six more weeks. How long do you think they'll last?"
Zhou Ke'er understood Zhang Yi wouldn't lift a finger to help them, nor allow others to assist. After some thought, she sighed. "At most two more weeks before they break down."
Zhang Yi smiled. "Won't take that long. I bet one week tops before they crack!"
Zhou Ke'er widened her eyes. "No way! They don't seem that bad yet."
Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes. "You'll see." Turning to Zhou Ke'er, he said playfully, "How about a bet? See who's right."
Zhou Ke'er's lively eyes sparkled with confidence. "I stand by my prediction! What are we betting?"
Zhang Yi grinned mischievously. "If I win, you'll..." He whispered in her ear.
Zhou Ke'er's eyes nearly popped out. "That's... impossible!"
"Everything's worth trying. Believe in your potential."
After some mental calculation, Zhou Ke'er felt she had better odds. "Deal! But if I win, you have to..."
The exact terms of their wager shall remain undisclosed. In any case, the bet was set.
On their way back, they encountered the haggard-looking Zhu Yunque and Su Nuanxi. The two no longer maintained their former refinement. During the initial voyage, regardless of cold weather, Zhu Yunque insisted on light makeup daily to preserve her image and grace. But recently, with sleepless nights caring for the child, they constantly looked exhausted. Forget makeup - they probably hadn't changed underwear in ages. Though... Fatty Xu would likely find this exciting.
"Morning, Miss Zhu, Miss Su," Zhou Ke'er greeted cheerfully.
They responded politely to Zhou Ke'er but eyed Zhang Yi with displeasure. As captain, Zhang Yi could easily solve all their problems with minimal effort. Yet he seemed to enjoy their suffering, deliberately refusing help - how could the young ladies possibly look kindly upon him?
Zhang Yi didn't care. Watching them collect meals to eat in their room, he suddenly asked, "By the way, have you visited the lower deck recently?"
Zhu Yunque and Su Nuanxi froze slightly, their eyes showing confusion. Since when did Zhang Yi care about others' affairs?
Zhu Yunque frowned, suddenly remembering that matter. Last time they'd kindly brought food, they'd been terrified by the desperate starving refugees. Since then, they'd never dared repeat their charity. With Tommy's illness, they'd had no time to spare. But surely those people wouldn't starve - it couldn't be serious.
"Haven't been down in days. Why? Is something wrong?" Zhu Yunque asked curiously.
Zhang Yi shrugged. "Nothing much. Honestly, it's not my concern - they're your responsibility after all. Seeing you so relaxed, I assume you've solved their food situation. Forget I mentioned it!"
Zhu Yunque shot Zhang Yi a glare. "Instead of helping, you just make sarcastic remarks. Mr. Zhang, can't you be more magnanimous?"
Zhang Yi raised his hands in surrender, smiling. "Alright, alright, my bad for asking." He left with Zhou Ke'er.
Watching his retreating figure, Zhu Yunque felt an inexplicable unease. "Could something have happened?"
She inquired with a crew member about conditions below. The crewman shrugged. "What could happen? Just fighting over scraps of food."
"Any deaths?" Zhu Yunque pressed.
"Shouldn't be any deaths," the crewman answered offhandedly. "In that confined space, you couldn't hide a corpse." The smell would be unmistakable.
Relieved, Zhu Yunque said, "Good, that's good then."