The story Chenheng told everyone was a fabrication, but only a fool would dare question him. Che's brother and Si Kong knew the truth, yet remained silent.
In the kitchen, Ling's world shrunk. Nanny Wang, pleased with Ling's treatment of Nuan Nuan, restricted her duties to kitchen work only. Ling's heart raced with anxiety.
"How will I monitor Chenheng now? Brother will be disappointed if I don't report back."
Determined, Ling schemed to regain Nanny Wang's trust.
Nuan Nuan, still reeling from her last punishment, wandered the house like a specter, her vitality extinguished. Her chores were completed mechanically, without complaint. Nobody complained about her even the maids would look at her and just walk away afraid of provoking their master.
One person noticed her despair.
At night, Nuan Nuan lay in bed, defeated. "Why cling to life when escape is impossible?"
Resigned, she filled the bathtub with water and submerged herself. Bubbles rippled on the surface.
Si Kong, concerned after days of peace and quiet, hesitated outside her door. "Nuan Nuan, are you there?"
No response.
His instincts screamed warning, but he pushed aside his doubts.
"Nuan, I have a message from Master Chenheng."
The room was empty. He knocked on the bathroom door.
"Nuan, are you in there?"
Silence.
Fear gripped his heart. "I'm coming in."
The sight of Nuan Nuan's lifeless body in the bathtub chilled him. He rushed to pull her out, his hands shaking.
"Nuan! What happened? Please wake up!"
Desperate, he administered CPR.
Seconds ticked by.
She didn't stir.
He tried again.
Suddenly, Nuan Nuan coughed up water and opened her eyes, vision blurry.
"Why did you save me?" she whispered.
Si Kong's face twisted in pain.
"I don't care about you. I don't care if you die. But Master Chenheng would punish me if I hadn't saved you, I only came to tell you that master Chenheng wants to see your tomorrow morning."
He released her, his words cutting deep.
Nuan Nuan's eyes closed, tears escaping.