Just when I thought there was no escape, the door opened and Zhen Jie walked in. Deng Jia Zhe’s eyes never left me. I lifted the medicine bowl to my lips and took a small sip. Only then did a relieved smile touch his lips, and his attention shifted to Zhen Jie as he rose to take the tray from her hands. The moment he stood, his large frame blocking Zhen Jie’s view, I quickly tilted the bowl, emptying its contents onto the dark, patterned blanket covering me. I brought the bowl back to my lips just as quickly, tilting my head back as if draining the last drop, even letting a trickle of the dark liquid stain the corner of my mouth. In truth, I had just spit the mouthful I’d taken back into the bowl, making it look like I'd left only the dregs. By the time Deng Jia Zhe turned back around, tray in hand, it was done. I pushed the blanket aside, bunching it up next to me, and reached for the medicine bowl Zhen Jie was holding. “I can do it myself,” I said. Deng Jia Zhe gave me an approving look. He set the food tray on the nightstand and pressed a kiss to my forehead before picking up the bowl, intending to feed me. I feigned a blush and pushed him away gently. “You should get to work. Stop fussing over me.” He flashed a handsome, scholarly smile and reached out to pinch my gaunt cheek. “Alright, I’m off to work then. You eat up and get some rest. I’ll try to be back early to be with you and San Bao.” “Okay,” I said, watching him, deliberately letting my gaze linger with affection. “Go on, now. Come back early tonight.” The truth was, I was terrified he might reach over and straighten the blanket. He left without a single glance or exchange with Zhen Jie. Now, it was just the two of us in the room. “Zhen Jie, is San Bao awake yet?” I asked nonchalantly, hoping to get her out of the room. “I’ll go check on him now. You take your time eating. Just call if you need anything.” Zhen Jie turned and left. As her footsteps faded down the hall, I forced myself to take a bite of food. Then I settled back into bed, pulling the blanket over me and placing the tray on top, eating slowly. I had no appetite. My body was trembling with a nervous energy so intense it was a struggle to lift the spoon, but I kept methodically bringing food to my mouth. For one, I had to start eating to regain my strength. For another, I was wary of a surveillance camera in the room. I had once installed cameras in every room for my own safety. I’d seen too many ugly things in the world not to be cautious. I never imagined I’d be digging a pit for myself. Deng Jia Zhe had protested the camera in this room, teasing me about a lack of privacy. ‘Aren’t you afraid I’ll use it to watch our bedroom activities as my personal porn collection?’ he’d joked. But I had insisted, though I only ever turned it on when I was away or at specific times. Over time, we rarely used the one in this room. But I couldn't be sure if it was on now. After finishing the meal, I used the moment of moving the tray to fuss with the blanket. I discreetly dabbed at the wet patch with a tissue, then slipped away to the bathroom and quietly flushed it down the toilet. I played with San Bao for a little while before pretending to be exhausted, collapsing back into bed to feign sleep once more. I hadn't noticed anything else amiss, and I couldn't let them suspect a thing about me. Honestly, aside from Zhen Jie's perfume, I had nothing concrete to go on. And there were a thousand innocent explanations for a scent. But pretending to be asleep was torture. To make it convincing, I had to lie perfectly still, my eyes closed, my mind racing through every possibility, trying to figure out my next move. My nerves were stretched taut, every muscle coiled with a fear that radiated from my very core. It left me strangely alert, yet trapped in this one position, feigning a deep slumber. The agony of it was immense. In that moment, I realized that being awake was far more terrifying than being unconscious. Perhaps it was the sleepless night, or the exhaustion that follows intense anxiety, or maybe just my body’s underlying weakness, but after what felt like an eternity, I finally drifted off. But just as I sank into the deepest part of my sleep, some primal instinct screamed a warning: someone was approaching my bed.