. Ling Buyi could feel herself crumbling, her strength draining away like water through her fingers.
And still, her mother-in-law sat there, perched at the head of the table like a queen on her throne, finally picking at the sixth dish Ling Buyi had prepared for her. The older woman chewed thoughtfully, her face void of any emotion. After what felt like an eternity, she nodded slightly.
"This will do," she muttered. "Finally, something edible."
The words offered no comfort. Ling Buyi stood there, staring at the older woman as she ate, her stomach twisting painfully with hunger. She hadn't eaten anything since morning, and her body was crying out for sustenance, her knees threatening to give way at any moment. But she didn't dare ask for food. The last time she had tried to eat before her in-laws, it had turned into another disaster.
