Night descended.

Ma Hongsheng, who had just regained consciousness, was preoccupied with thoughts of Cheng Rui. Unable to suppress his concern, he left his hospital room to check on her.

Cheng Rui was still awake, absorbed in a book on economics. This was typical for Cheng Rui, whom Ma Hongsheng knew well as an alumna of a prestigious university with a thirst for knowledge. Unlike other affluent wives who prioritized self-care and aesthetics, she immersed herself in books, often staying up late. Ma Hongsheng appreciated this trait in her.

“Am I interrupting?” Ma Hongsheng asked with a gentle smile as Cheng Rui lowered her book to meet his gaze.

“I’m just passing the time reading casually, so you aren’t disturbing me at all,” Cheng Rui replied, maintaining her composed and polite demeanor.

“How’s the wound on your neck? Is it still painful?” Ma Hongsheng inquired with genuine concern.

“It’s much better now.”

“Please don’t do such distressing things again,” Ma Hongsheng said, his heart heavy. He believed Cheng Rui’s drastic actions were borne out of her deep care for him and her attempt to prove her sincerity.

As he spoke, Ma Hongsheng moved closer, intending to hold Cheng Rui’s hand for a more personal conversation. However, Cheng Rui instinctively withdrew her hand before he could touch it.

“Are you upset because I doubted you? Are you still angry?” Ma Hongsheng quickly asked, noticing her reluctance.

Cheng Rui hesitated. She wasn’t distancing herself from Ma Hongsheng because of his distrust. It was a deeper feeling that made her resistant to his touch, as if another man’s presence was imprinted in her mind, complicating even the simplest interactions with other men.

“I apologize, it’s my mistake.”

Perceiving Cheng Rui’s silence as anger, Ma Hongsheng misunderstood her true feelings. Her thoughts were actually preoccupied with someone else, a secret she kept even as Ma Hongsheng continued speaking. Fortunately, a phone call interrupted them before Ma Hongsheng noticed anything odd.

Ma Hongsheng answered the call, and his expression shifted dramatically from frustration to anger as he listened to the caller.

“That rebellious son, that rebellious son!” Ma Hongsheng shouted in exasperation after ending the call.

“What happened?” Cheng Rui asked, her attention drawn by Ma Hongsheng’s sudden outburst.

“The lawyer just called. My rebellious son got drunk with some bad company, ended up in a fight, and smashed a bottle over someone’s head. The victim is critically injured,” Ma Hongsheng explained with palpable frustration. “Now my son is facing charges of attempted murder and has been arrested.”

Cheng Rui was momentarily taken aback. Ma Weicai had always been reckless but within limits, never crossing such severe boundaries. This incident was unexpected. But then she remembered something Wang Haoran had mentioned, and understanding dawned on her.

Ma Weicai was in serious trouble now. If the injured person survived, Ma Weicai’s punishment might be lessened. Otherwise, he could face a lengthy prison sentence. For Cheng Rui, this represented an unexpected opportunity.

“Ah Rui, you should rest. I’ll speak with the lawyer to get more details,” Ma Hongsheng said, feeling overwhelmed. He gave Cheng Rui a reassuring nod before leaving quickly.

After he left, Cheng Rui retrieved a piece of paper with a phone number on it from under her pillow. After some hesitation, she added the number to her contacts and sent a friend request on WeChat.

Meanwhile, Wang Haoran was dining at a couple’s restaurant. Upon noticing a new friend request notification on WeChat, he opened it. The request included a note: “91, 58, 89.” Wang Haoran didn’t grasp the significance of these numbers immediately but accepted the request nonetheless.

“I want to know, what exactly did you do to Ma Weicai?” Cheng Rui couldn’t contain her curiosity and sent a message.

Recognizing the tone, Wang Haoran realized it was Cheng Rui.

“I said it’s a secret,” Wang Haoran replied.

“I told you the secret you wished to know, now it’s your turn,” Cheng Rui messaged.

Wang Haoran paused, realizing the meaning behind “91, 58, 89.” Such measurements could belong to a supermodel. However, he doubted whether Cheng Rui’s figure matched up. When meeting her earlier, she wore loose clothing that obscured her body shape, and he harbored no inappropriate thoughts, nor did he use his X-ray vision out of respect. He wasn’t sure if Cheng Rui was truthful. Next time they met, he decided to verify it himself.

“How can I cooperate with you if you’re not forthcoming?” Cheng Rui pressed as Wang Haoran delayed his reply.

“I administered a neurotoxin to him, making him especially prone to anger,” Wang Haoran finally revealed. He had no fear of Cheng Rui betraying him. For one, Ma Weicai was her nuisance too, and Cheng Rui valued her self-preservation too much to risk acting against him.

“How did you manage to poison Ma Weicai?” Cheng Rui queried, puzzled. She had been near Wang Haoran almost the entire time and hadn’t observed anything suspicious.

“That’s another secret,” Wang Haoran replied enigmatically.

“What else do you want to know? Ask anything,” Cheng Rui offered, grasping his hint.

“What are you wearing right now? Send me a picture.”

“A typical blue and white hospital gown—common around here. But if you want, I can send a picture.”

“You don’t think I’m actually interested in seeing you in a hospital gown, do you?” Wang Haoran teased further, sending a playful response.

Cheng Rui didn’t reply.

Wang Haoran chose not to push further and set his phone aside, resuming his meal with Tang Bingyun. He understood asking such personal questions might take Cheng Rui time to answer, just as she deliberated on sharing her measurements the whole afternoon. Undoubtedly, Wang Haoran’s inquiries were intentional, designed not out of genuine interest but as steps to erode her defenses. Cheng Rui guarded her emotions closely; for smooth future collaboration, Wang Haoran needed her more compliant and amenable to influence.

…

Later that night.

Tang Bingyun, exhausted, had drifted into a deep slumber. Still feeling energetic, Wang Haoran remained awake, casually browsing his phone. Through a monitoring virus, he discovered Yang Jingwan was also awake and on her phone. Driven by curiosity, Wang Haoran projected Yang Jingwan’s screen onto his own to see what she was up to.