After work, no one could leave because Xiao Qi had resigned, so a new schedule needed to be made.
Because of the panda cub, two people had to be on duty every night.
Chen Qi casually pointed and said, "It'll be you two. As for who is responsible for the first half of the night and who is responsible for the second half, you can discuss it yourselves and tell me when you've decided."
This unfortunate duo turned out to be Ning Wei and Deng Bing.
Deng Bing looked at Ning Wei and silently conveyed: It's all your fault!
The two of them stood close together, not to discuss who would take the first or second half of the night, but Deng Bing was complaining unilaterally.
"Chen Qi definitely saw us chatting during work hours and deliberately assigned me to the night shift."
"Are you afraid of ghosts, that's why you don't dare to work the night shift?" Ning Wei asked earnestly.
"Who says!" Deng Bing denied it immediately, but his heart was bleeding. He had been too engrossed in their conversation, and now he was indeed a little scared.
"Since you're not afraid, then you can be responsible for the second half of the night."
"Team leader, I'll take the first half, and he'll take the second half."
Ning Wei spoke quickly, giving Deng Bing no time to back out.
Once the schedule was set, Chen Qi announced, "Meeting adjourned."
Since Ning Wei was responsible for the first half of the night, she had to rush to eat.
In the cafeteria, Tang Tang learned that Ning Wei was on duty again and tentatively asked, "Are they targeting you on purpose?"
"Isn't it extremely obvious?" Ning Wei replied.
However, there was one benefit to being on duty: while everyone else was fast asleep, she could search for evidence in the zoo.
Mei Nan and the others gradually arrived, bringing with them some bad news.
Ning Wei had previously told everyone that the way to leave was through the main entrance. So, two passengers, emboldened, had mixed with the tourists and slowly walked out as the park closed.
Unexpectedly, the zoo director suddenly emerged from the ticket office at the entrance and called those two people over.
"Then didn't you go to rescue them?" Tang Tang asked.
Mei Nan's expression was grim, "When they saw the director, they looked like they were possessed. They walked away with him blank-faced. We didn't have time to say anything, and that director looked very eerie. Everyone was terrified."
They had lost two more passengers, adding to Fu Chengwei, who had gone missing earlier, making it three passengers.
"I suspect the entire zoo is under the director's control. So, unless we get his permission, we can't get out of this gate," Ning Wei analyzed.
"I think he'll eventually make a move on all of us!" Song Zhi said with conviction.
"Let's first figure out how to bring those two passengers back!" Ning Wei stated the immediate priority.
Before they could even finish their meal, the director arrived.
He tapped on the table and announced to everyone, "After you finish eating, come to my office."
Ning Wei stood up, "But I have to work the night shift later."
"I'll inform Chen Qi to cover for you for a while."
The director left. His words, however, made everyone extremely tense.
"What do we do? He's not going to catch us all at once, is he?" Zhu Yilian said nervously.
"It's unlikely. He probably just wants to teach us a lesson. Hurry up and eat, and we'll go together later," Mei Nan reassured everyone.
But with this turn of events, who could still eat?
They all ate a few bites casually and then went to the director's office together.
The director was seated at his desk, reviewing surveillance footage. The two passengers were not in the office.
Led by Mei Nan, everyone crowded into the office.
They were initially quite scared, but with so many people together, they felt less so.
This time, the director did not stand up. He sat in his executive chair, looking at everyone coldly. They held their breath, afraid to breathe too deeply.
Finally, the director sighed with great disappointment.
"This afternoon, I saw two employees trying to escape at the zoo entrance. I am truly disappointed!" The director slammed the table, and everyone's hearts skipped a beat.
No one refuted his words.
The director continued, "You've only been here for a few days! Didn't you say you loved animals and were very willing to work at the zoo? And you're still trying to escape? I'm so disheartened!"
"Director, it was our fault this time," Mei Nan quickly took the lead in admitting their mistake.
Only after everyone had apologized sincerely did the director's face break into a smile.
"Alright, I'm not an unreasonable person. If you truly cannot accept the demanding work of the zoo, you can voice it now, and I will let you leave. You will leave then."
Upon hearing this, some people looked hopefully at those around them, but everyone else kept their heads down, their expressions unclear.
Having come this far, no one was foolish. So, even though the director said this, not a single person immediately expressed a desire to leave.
"So, you don't want to go?" No one answered. The director asked again.
Mei Nan still took the lead in replying, "We've only been here for a few days. It's normal for the younger ones to be unaccustomed. They'll get used to it after a while, Director, please don't be angry."
"Is this everyone's intention?" The director still didn't believe it.
Everyone nodded in unison.
The director finally seemed satisfied, "If you have any dissatisfaction with your work, you can discuss it with me privately. Don't always talk about resignation."
He lectured for a full half-hour, making everyone's legs ache from standing, before he finally announced the end.
"Alright, you've all had a long day of work. Go back to your dorms and rest early."
At this point, Ning Wei suddenly spoke, "I wonder where those two employees went?"
Everyone looked at the director nervously, anticipating his answer but also fearing his wrath.
The director smiled faintly, "Of course, I sent them home. Since they didn't want to stay, I wouldn't force them."
Everyone didn't believe his nonsense. However, not knowing the director's full capabilities, no one was willing to fall out with him at this moment.
"Then, Director, we'll be going back now." Mei Nan pulled Ning Wei and gestured for the others to leave.
As they walked out of the office building, the director stood by the window, holding a thermos cup, and watched them all with a smile.
Zhu Yilian curiously looked back and was so scared that she quickly turned her head and whispered to everyone, "The director is watching from above! Hurry, let's go!"
Except for Ning Wei, everyone else returned to the dormitory building.
Without seeing the bodies of the two passengers, they were unwilling to give up just yet.
On the way back to the dorms, some people volunteered to search for the two passengers.
Ning Wei discussed it with them and agreed to meet in the small grove after midnight to search together.
With Ning Wei's participation, everyone gained a little more confidence.
It was already dark, and only Ning Wei still had to go to work.