Chapter 62: The Rules on the Note Have Changed!

After all the tourists had finished their meal, April and several other residents of the lower deck cleaned the dining hall.

Exhausted from half a day of hard work, April dragged her weary body toward the food-serving counter.

Just as she picked up a plate, the food on the counter suddenly vanished into thin air!

April froze, her eyes widening in sheer bewilderment.

Even after surviving in the Ghost Forest for over a decade, this was her first time encountering such a bizarre situation.

The others reacted similarly, finding it hard to believe what they were seeing.

"Where is the meat? Where are the vegetables? How did they just disappear?"

"We were promised food and water in exchange for our labor! You aren't planning to go back on your word, are you?"

As the man's angry voice faded, a wave of fury surged through the crowd.

Before they could vent their frustration, however, five large iron basins and a thermal bucket materialized before them.

There were two basins of plain vegetables, two basins of meat-sparse dishes, and one basin of plain white rice.

Inside the thermal bucket was a completely oil-free, bland soup.

"Is this all you're giving us to eat?"

"Those people earlier had such a lavish feast, with dozens of dishes to choose from at will. Why is it that when it's our turn, we only get four dishes and a soup?"

"Yeah! At least give us the leftovers from what they had!"

April despised the sight of the four dishes and a soup before her as well, but she was starving. If she didn't eat something soon, she wouldn't even have the strength to go look for the staff.

Gritting her teeth, she picked up her plate and stepped forward to serve herself.

However, before she could even reach the large iron ladle, she was shoved aside.

"Get lost, don't block me from picking my food!" The man glared viciously at April.

There were quite a few people on the lower deck. Even though he looked down on these dishes, having something to eat was far better than having nothing.

He grabbed the large iron ladle and began scooping up the meat.

He was terrified that if he was a second too late, even the meat would be gone!

The women were no match for the men and could only watch with yearning eyes until the men had finished taking the meat before stepping up to serve themselves.

April was the youngest and weakest of them all.

After being pushed aside one after another, she ended up at the very back of the line.

By the time her turn came, not a single scrap of meat was left.

She scooped two portions of vegetables, added a tiny spoonful of plain white rice, and walked away with her chopsticks to a deserted corner.

Damn it all, they were all bullying her.

Just wait until she moved to the upper cabin—she would make sure to boss every single one of them around!

However, her pleasant fantasies were soon shattered.

When Xu Hetang heard that she wanted to transfer to the upper cabin, he simply dropped a cold, harsh sentence.

"Once a decision is made, it cannot be changed!"

"Can't I change my mind? There must still be empty rooms in the upper cabin, just let me go up!"

April reached out and grabbed the sleeve of Xu Hetang's robe.

Duo Duo's greatest talent was acting cute and spoiled.

Duo Duo could win the favor of ghosts using such tactics, so she certainly could too.

Yet Xu Hetang let out a cold snort and brushed her hand away without the slightest courtesy.

"Get lost immediately, or I'll eat you!"

Xu Hetang suddenly leaned in close, revealing his terrifying ghostly visage.

Frightened into taking a step back, April turned and fled.

He glanced sidelong at her retreating back.

If General Ling hadn't given specific instructions, he wouldn't have bothered wasting words with her.

He would have swallowed her whole and ended it once and for all!

Having played all morning, Duo Duo was somewhat tired.

After finishing her meal, she returned to the room with Ling Yun, crawled onto the bed, and fell fast asleep.

Noticing that she hadn't even taken off her shoes, with her two tiny feet dangling over the edge of the mattress, Ling Yun stepped forward slowly.

He gently removed her shoes and socks, then carefully helped her turn over into a more comfortable position.

After tucking Duo Duo in with a blanket, he turned around, walked over to the sofa, and sat down, watching her quietly.

During his mortal life, he had never married, let alone had children. His heart had belonged solely to protecting the people and the realm.

Yet the people he protected had ultimately betrayed him.

He had believed everyone deserved to die—until he met Duo Duo...

This little one was different from the rest.

He didn't dislike her; in fact, he rather liked her!

Ling Yun crossed his legs and the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.

Realizing that he seemed to be smiling, he quickly reined in his expression, returning to his usual cold and aloof demeanor.

Duo Duo's dinner was personally brought up by Xie Fangyun.

Before leaving, Xie Fangyun specifically cautioned, "Duo Duo, it's not safe on the ship at night. You must not leave the room under any circumstances."

"Will Grandpa and Grandma be in danger?"

Duo Duo looked up at her, her eyes brimming with worry.

Being cared for made Xie Fangyun's nose sting.

He sniffed and forced back his tears.

"Duo Duo doesn't need to worry, Grandpa and Grandma will not be in danger. Be a good girl and stay right by Papa's side, and don't take a single step away, okay?"

"Okay!" Duo Duo nodded without the slightest hesitation.

Wherever Papa was, she would be. She would never separate from Papa!

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, and a crimson moon hung on the horizon.

The calm sea suddenly churned violently.

Countless pale hands, resembling sea grass, stretched out from the surface of the water, swaying left and right with the wind.

"Papa, can I watch cartoons?"

"You may," Ling Yun nodded, "but you must finish your dinner first."

Just as Duo Duo happily bounced up, Ling Yun's second sentence reached her ears.

Glancing at the small bowl of rice still half-full, Duo Duo worried that by the time she finished eating, the cartoon would be over.

"Papa, can I watch while I eat?"

Duo Duo hurried over to Ling Yun, tugging at his sleeve and acting coquettishly.

Ling Yun looked down at her and gently pulled his sleeve back.

"No room for negotiation!"

"Fine!"

Duo Duo pouted her little lips and turned back to the dining table.

She scrambled up onto the chair with great effort, picked up her bowl, and shoveled the rice into her mouth.

She was trying her best, but her eating speed was still too slow.

Her mouth was stuffed full of rice, making her look like a cute little hamster.

"Don't eat so fast, have some vegetables."

Ling Yun picked up his chopsticks and placed some food onto her plate.

Seeing the rice she had just managed to clear suddenly pile up again because of the vegetables and meat, Duo Duo's little face instantly fell.

"￥%..."

Duo Duo waved her small hands while mumbling unintelligibly with her mouth full.

Ling Yun understood what she meant, but deliberately feigned ignorance.

"I can't understand you. Finish the food in your mouth before you speak."

Duo Duo nodded, chewing hard.

The rice was a bit too dry and choked her slightly; she picked up her cup with both hands and took tiny sips of water.

Only after gulping down a cup of water did she finally manage to swallow the rice in her mouth.

"Papa, stop picking food for me, I can't finish it all!" Duo Duo pouted pitifully.

"Then eat slower!" Fearing she wouldn't heed his advice, Ling Yun added, "The cartoons will always be there. You can watch them anytime after you finish."

"Really?" Duo Duo's eyes lit up.

Seeing Ling Yun nod, she let out a cheeky grin and slowed down her eating pace.

Eating too fast earlier had been terribly uncomfortable; she was never going to rush like that again!

It was quite late by the time April finished her meal.

Seeing that the lower deck was mostly deserted, she wanted to borrow a flame to burn the little slip of paper.

After a day of observation, she had already figured out which rules were real and which were false.

She was afraid she might accidentally lose the slip if she kept carrying it around, or that someone else might pick it up, so she wanted to completely destroy it.

However, when she took the small slip of paper out, she discovered that the rules written on it had changed!