Ling Buyi collapsed onto the cold, hard floor with a sickening thud, her weakened body giving out under the sheer weight of her exhaustion, hunger, and sickness. Her vision blurred, and the pounding in her head made it impossible to focus. The coldness from the tiles seeped into her skin as her consciousness slipped away, leaving her fragile and motionless at the foot of the staircase.
The house was silent. No one came to her aid.
Outside, her husband heard the faint sound of something hitting the floor. He paused for a moment, his hand on the doorknob, his mind calculating whether it was worth checking.
After a brief consideration, he sighed heavily and sauntered back toward the living room. He found Ling Buyi lying motionless on the floor, her hair spilling around her pale face, her body as still as a corpse.
