The North District Canteen does not provide free meals, but accordingly, employees will not be criticized for their "wasteful" behavior. Qi Jiu has the freedom to eat leftovers here.

"Hello, can you provide packed lunch boxes?" Facing the questioning gaze of the canteen staff, Qi Jiu explained, "Due to special circumstances, my subordinates missed the prescribed meal time. I don't want them to work hungry.

So I wanted to bring them something to eat."

"Of course it's no problem, but you have to pay for packing lunch boxes." The staff believed his lie and stared at the meal he was about to pack. "...Your subordinates eat a lot."

"Isn't that right?" Qi Jiu swiped his card happily, "Thank you for your hard work."

The prices at the North District Canteen are not cheap. He just ordered dozens of dishes and paid a large sum of money, but the balance in the meal card was still beyond the display screen [], and it seemed as if he had not charged anything.

I really have to thank this person whose meal card was "stolen", Qi Jiu thought.

Soon, Qi Jiu returned to the dormitory area carrying a dozen kilograms of lunch boxes.

Everyone looked at the food situation in the North District canteen curiously. Ji Xiaoye was not interested: "It seems that the management's food is also average."

"And it's very expensive." Qi Jiu said helplessly.

"Leave it to me and Zhenzhen next." She exchanged items for hiding items from the system, preparing to bring these meals to tonight's dance.

This prop is not common, and it is rare and expensive. In addition, Ji Xiaoye is a conservative type, so it is useless to keep hoarding it after getting it.

Qi Jiu: "It cost you money again."

Ji Xiaoye shrugged: "I hope it will be worth the money in the end."

She had always been conservative and was suddenly looking forward to the surprises this newcomer could bring to them.

*

As night falls, the humid night envelopes the factory, and there is deathly silence within the high walls.

It was extremely cold that night, and the whistling wind kept coming from the vents in the dormitory without stopping for a moment.

It wasn't until eight o'clock in the evening that the lights in the North District Canteen suddenly came on.

The huge and regular building stands within the high cement wall. In the deep night, the lights are bright, and the dark sky is instantly illuminated.

The factory broadcast sounded——

[The celebration dance has begun. Employees from all workshop departments are asked to rush to the North District Canteen as soon as possible to participate in the dance and celebrate the great harvest moment]

From the dormitory area came the sound of unlocking doors one after another, followed by the sound of dense footsteps and muffled voices.

For a moment, the dead silence was completely broken, and all the people in work clothes moved out in order and walked towards the bright North District canteen.

Qi Jiu and Qin Rang were mixed in the crowd of NPCs. The work clothes were not warm enough. Qi Jiu crossed his arms and shivered. Qin Rang looked up at the dark sky and muttered, "I'm afraid it's going to snow."

The lights in the North District cafeteria were in stark contrast to the thick darkness of the winter night. As he approached, Qi Qiu was stabbed so hard that he could hardly open his eyes.

It wasn't until he walked into the cafeteria and the warm air hit his face that Qi Qiu relaxed his body that was tense due to the cold.

The long chairs in the cafeteria have been removed, and a rose-colored carpet has been laid on the white floor tiles. The spacious place is like a real dance floor, with fast-paced melodies flowing, and the NPCs in work clothes seem to have been pressed by a button.

Switch, from the original lifeless appearance to a passionate and cheerful dancer, dancing on the carpet talking and laughing.

The NPCs seemed to have been suppressed for a long time, and their emotions were released at this moment.

Qi Ji briefly met the two ladies in the crowd. After making sure that he was fully prepared, he turned his attention to the dancing NPCs again.

He immediately saw Miss Rossetti standing alone outside the dance floor.

"Can I invite you to dance?" Qi Qiu bowed slightly in a decent manner, keeping the most suitable distance, and made an invitation gesture to Miss Rossetti, "The necklace is very beautiful."

His eyes glanced at the rose necklace on Miss Rossetti's collarbone, and then lowered it politely.

Miss Rossetti suddenly became interested, and few people at the ball noticed her necklace.

"Usually I only accept invitations from girls, but I think you are an exception." Miss Rossetti followed Qi Jiu onto the dance floor.

Miss Rossetti has a young and beautiful face and a head of red hair as fiery as flames. She is the most eye-catching presence in the whole ball. However, because of her identity, no NPC dares to approach her, and no one dares to invite her to dance.

Qi Jiu smiled: "I'm honored."

More and more workers join the dance floor and twist their bodies. In the real world, Qi Jiu doesn't like crowded places, so he rarely attends school and club graduation dances. However, because his adoptive parents often take him to social banquets, Qi Jiu is very interested in it.

This kind of place is not unfamiliar.

He kept a polite distance from his dance partner, Miss Rossetti, and suddenly asked: "Is the little gray cat you are looking for my lady's cat?"

Miss Rossetti's movements were obviously paused, and her brows were furrowed: "How do you know..."

Qi Qiu answered naturally: "During the new employee training, Mr. Lord took us to visit the factory cultural center. There was a group photo of the Bates family. I saw the little gray cat in the photo. Mr. Lord said it was a gadget raised by his wife.

Son."

Qi Chu observed every move of the other party. When he mentioned the Bates family, a look of disgust flashed across Miss Rossetti's face.

"But Mr. Lord said at that time that Madam's little gray cat had been cleaned up." Qi Jiu added.

Miss Rossetti's eyes flickered, looking uneasy: "Well..."

After a pause, she added, "Mr. Lord's words may not be accurate."

Qi Chu keenly caught the other party's emotions and continued to ask: "If the little gray cat is still in the factory, what are you going to do with it?"

Miss Rossetti's expression paused, and the next second, the corners of her lips slightly raised, showing an innocent but slightly sick smile: "It is my mother's most beloved cat. I am not willing to hurt it, and I will use a sufficient amount of it."

Anesthetize it to sleep peacefully. I don't want it to show a ferocious expression because of pain... Then while it is dreaming, I will carefully cut open its belly and carefully remove its internal organs, bones and skin.

Fat so I can get a full skin."

No matter who heard this, they would be frightened. Qi Jiu frowned imperceptibly. It took him a lot of effort to control his facial muscles and not show disgust and fear in front of the young lady.

"Then I will use the best raw materials to tan, fill, and shape the skin so that it will always be alive and stay with my mother."

Miss Rossetti's face showed unusual enthusiasm, as if she was immersed in some morbid emotion.

Qi Jiu looked at her intently for a moment and warned in a cold voice: "Maybe Madam doesn't want her beloved cat to be made into a stuffed cat."

Miss Rossetti's smile froze and her tone suddenly rose: "This is my New Year's gift to her. She will like it. She has never hated my gift!"

Because of the violent ups and downs of her emotions, an unusual color appeared on her face, and the look she looked at Qi Qiu became dangerous.

Sensing the crisis, Qi Jiu immediately changed the subject: "Does Madam also like roses?"

The redness on Miss Rossetti's face faded instantly. When she heard the word "ma'am", a gentle look flashed in her eyes: "Yes, my mother used to plant roses in the flowerbed near the factory, but... now the roses are all dead.

."

"Rose is also her name, but no one cares about her name. Everyone calls her Mrs. Bates. No one cares who Mrs. Bates is. It's just a boring identity!"

At this point, Miss Rossetti looked a little excited, and she even sneered without realizing it.

But soon, the anger on her face gradually turned into gentle sadness: "Rather than the boring title of Mrs. Bates, I prefer others to call her Ms. Rose."

"Ms. Rose is the most wonderful person I have ever met. Everyone should know her, always remember her, and praise her, just like they will never forget Rose Fish..."

As if she finally realized that she was out of control, Miss Rossetti suddenly stopped talking and smiled, "Sorry, I told you a boring topic. I don't think anyone wants their dance partner to talk about their mother while dancing."

Qi Jiu shook his head, with flawless sincerity on his face: "If there is a chance in the future, I would like to meet Ms. Luo Ze."

Qi Jiu remembered that Mr. Lord had said before that it was Miss Rossetti's idea to change the name of "Blood Fish" to "Rose Fish".

Since Rose is the lady's name, then Miss Rossetti obviously already knows the cause of the lady's death, and also knows that the murderer of the lady is her adoptive father Mr. Bates, and the lady is so morbidly obsessed with the lady, she will definitely do it after learning the truth.

Something about revenge...

Therefore, the disappearance of the Bates and his son is probably the work of Miss Rossetti.

[Congratulations on finding the motivation of the main character, deducing important clues, and successfully promoting the branch "Miss Rossetti's Secret". The unlock rate of this branch is currently 50%]

[Note: This branch has two endings. The direction of the story will be determined by your behavioral choices and the character's favorability. Your choice will determine the final direction of the characters in the dungeon]

Miss Rossetti's expression darkened: "Unfortunately, there is no chance..."

At this moment, there was a sudden "bang" sound, and the lights at the ball suddenly went out. The sudden darkness interrupted Miss Rossetti's words, and the light was lost. The workers who were originally enjoying the carnival fell into noise and chaos.

"What's going on? There shouldn't be such an accident at the celebration party..."

"Hurry and check the electrical equipment and emergency systems!"

Amid the commotion, Qi Jiu stood motionless on the dance floor. He was not afraid of the dark, but at this moment he sensed a dangerous aura approaching. His heart suddenly beat uncontrollably, and chills stood up all over his body.

The biological instinct of being in danger made his senses extremely sensitive. Qi Zhu felt that someone was standing behind him, very close, and there was an icy cold air behind him, mixed with the faint smell of disinfectant.

Qi Jiu couldn't move, and his breathing became increasingly rapid.

Finally, the other party tapped his shoulder lightly with his finger, as if someone was playing a prank while playing hide-and-seek——

"find me."

The moment the sound fell, the chandelier above the dance floor lit up again.

The sudden strong light made Qi Jiu unable to open his eyes. He blinked his eyelashes several times, and his stung eyes were a little moist. The moment the restriction was lifted, he turned around quickly. The bustling dance floor was filled with NPCs wearing worker uniforms.

, Qi Jiu looked past everyone, and finally looked away in disappointment.

Although Qi Jiu had never seen the other party, he sensed that the other party had left. There was no mischievous person among these identical faces and expressions.

What does "find me" mean?

Who exactly is he?
To be continued...