Chapter 221: Manager Warren Is a Zombie?
"A zombie was found in the store. We’re now searching for it, and we suspect it’s still inside," Rose Rhodes said.
In just a few words, she made the current situation perfectly clear. Her gaze was sharp.
’She has the air of someone who won’t rest until she finds the zombie,’ Lily Hart thought. ’This is going to be a pain...’
At the same time, she shot Owen Warren a death glare. ’You little brat, aren’t you usually so good at hiding? How’d you manage to slip up today?’
Owen Warren’s eyes were full of innocence. He’d just been working diligently...
He quietly shuffled a few steps closer to Lily Hart, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her. ’Everyone else stinks!’
Boss Hart, on the other hand, smelled amazing. So fragrant. She had just run over, and even her breath was sweet.
Like a piece of pork belly that had been sizzling on a hot plate for a long time—perfectly tender, fragrant, and still glistening with fat.
A smile crept onto Owen Warren’s lips. He was just about to devour that piece of pork belly in his mind...
...when his thoughts were interrupted by Rose Rhodes.
’Oh, right. We’re still hunting a zombie. I forgot.’
Owen Warren put on a serious expression and listened to Rose Rhodes speak, but his thoughts began to drift away.
Lily Hart was listening too, but when she turned her head and saw Owen Warren spacing out, she couldn’t help but take a few steps over and jab him in the waist with her elbow!
’Pay attention! They’re hunting *you*!’
Owen Warren snapped to attention just as Rose Rhodes was explaining how to catch the zombie.
First, they had to evacuate the customers upstairs. They couldn’t let the zombie harm any innocent people.
They sprang into action. Owen Warren went upstairs first to handle the customers, with Lily Hart joining him.
They used a standard script: something had come up, so they had to close early. Any unused time could be redeemed tomorrow.
Most of the customers were reasonable and left after packing their things. The few who didn’t want to leave were politely escorted out.
Soon, the second floor was empty. Lily Hart let out a sigh of relief and shot Owen Warren a harsh glare.
"Hurry up. When you turn back into a zombie, run somewhere with no people. Got it?" she ordered.
This was the plan the two of them had quickly concocted while Rose Rhodes and the others were still on the first floor.
Owen Warren would revert to his zombie form, jump out the second-floor window, and make a quick "escape."
Just that "reckless."
Soon, the sound of Rose Rhodes and the other two coming upstairs echoed—CLOMP, CLOMP, CLOMP—as if each step was stomping on Lily Hart’s heart.
She pushed Owen Warren toward the nearest window. "Quick, quick, quick! Change!"
With a sigh of resignation, Owen Warren obediently revealed his sharp nails, scarlet eyes, and pointed teeth.
He even ripped his shirt to shreds, leaving only a few scraps of fabric hanging from his body.
Seeing this, Lily Hart suddenly felt... a little tempted to touch.
As he was coming up the stairs, Oak’s nose started bleeding again. "He’s on the second floor!" he yelled, quickening his pace up the stairs.
At the same time, Owen Warren opened the window and jumped out, leaving Rose Rhodes and her two companions with nothing but the sight of his dashingly departing back.
Lily Hart darted out from the side and lunged for the window, but she only managed to grab at empty air.
She stomped her foot in frustration, grinding her teeth. "Damn that zombie! I couldn’t catch him! What a shame!"
Rose Rhodes also stood at the window and watched for a moment, seeing only the zombie’s back as it ran swiftly away, quickly disappearing from view.
She then examined the window, asking suspiciously, "If the zombie was in such a hurry to escape, why did it open the sliding window instead of just breaking through it?"
If Owen Warren could hear what she was saying, he’d be furious. ’It’s not your property, so you don’t care, huh!’
Lily Hart chimed in, "Maybe it was afraid of the pain? Afraid of getting cut by the glass?"
Rose Rhodes asked dubiously, "But aren’t zombies supposed to be unable to feel pain?"
"There are so many zombies in the world. Maybe he’s a special one," Lily Hart guessed.
Rose Rhodes looked at Oak, concerned. "How’s your nose?"
Oak shook his head, sighing in relief. "The zombie’s scent is gone from the store."
Although his superpower was dog-related, he could only get a general sense of things. He couldn’t yet tell who it was or their exact direction. ’Guess I’ll have to wait for an upgrade.’
"That’s good. Let’s head downstairs then," Lily Hart said, also breathing a sigh of relief.
The next second, Rose Rhodes recalled the back of the zombie as it jumped out the window and muttered, "Why did that back look so much like Manager Warren’s?"
After saying this, she looked around and demanded sharply, "Where is Manager Warren?"
Lily Hart: ... "He’s probably downstairs, handling the customers." She then led the way downstairs.
’That makes sense. The customers must be upset about this sudden incident,’ Rose Rhodes thought, following her down.
As Lily Hart walked downstairs, she was frantically texting Owen Warren, wishing she could teleport to his side and drag him back herself.
She knew all too well how perceptive and meticulous women could be, not to mention Rose Rhodes was from The Mysterious Clan.
She wasn’t someone who could be easily fooled. Lily really didn’t want one problem to be solved only for another to arise.
When they reached the first floor, all the customers had been herded outside and were now clamoring noisily.
Lily Hart walked out, with Rose Rhodes and the other two close behind. As soon as they were outside, they heard Owen Warren’s voice.
"Everyone, please calm down..." Owen Warren was standing in front of the crowd, dressed in a perfectly intact set of clothes.
It was the exact same outfit he’d been wearing before he jumped out the window. He was very tall, standing out like a crane among chickens, making him quite conspicuous.
Lily Hart relaxed. ’This kid is pretty sharp after all.’
Rose Rhodes watched Owen Warren’s back for a while without saying anything. It really did look like him.
’But it doesn’t make sense. Why would Lily Hart let a zombie be her store manager?’
’Besides, after running so far away, how could he have gotten back so quickly, changed his clothes, and now be here, earnestly placating the customers?’
Rose Rhodes decided she must have been mistaken. ’How could Manager Warren be a zombie?’
She shook her head. Figuring the bathhouse would have to close for the day, she left with Oak and Leafy.
As soon as Rose Rhodes left, Owen Warren dropped the act. He stopped placating the crowd, just gave them a few perfunctory words about coming back tomorrow, and then sensed Lily Hart right behind him.
He plastered on a smile and turned to grin at Lily Hart.
Lily Hart rolled her eyes at him, brushing past his shoulder. "Keep that fox tail of yours better hidden from now on," she advised.
Owen Warren thought to himself, ’I’ll definitely keep it hidden. From now on, if anyone finds out, I’ll just eat them first! That’ll save a lot of trouble.’
The hem of her shirt fluttered past Owen Warren’s eyes. He quietly extended a nail and sliced off a small piece. The edge was so clean that, at first glance, you would think it had been cut with scissors.
He nonchalantly stuffed the small scrap of fabric into his pocket and returned to the bathhouse, completely satisfied.
It wasn’t until Lily Hart was back in the RV that she noticed. "Huh? Why is there a piece missing here? Where did I snag it?" She had no memory of it, but since it wasn’t a big deal, she didn’t pay it any mind.
In the RV’s kitchen, Roman Rowe was wearing a soft, cute, pink apron, energetically stir-frying vegetables with a flick of the wok.
Hearing Lily Hart’s muttering, he immediately spun around to face her, spatula in one hand and iron wok in the other, his worried eyes scanning her from head to toe.
"Pfft..." Lily Hart burst out laughing. He was nearly six-foot-three, wearing a small, pink, ill-fitting apron, his honest expression clashing with his flamboyant golden hair.
No matter how you looked at it... the contrast was just too much.
Seeing that she was okay, Roman Rowe relaxed. He then turned around like a big oaf, placed the iron wok back on the stove, and started stir-frying again with a huff and a puff.
Like a hardworking, full-time househusband.
Lily Hart strolled through the kitchen with her hands behind her back. ’Hmm, he’s doing a great job.’