Sitting up, the covers slipped, revealing her bare shoulders. The heating was on, but a chill still lingered in the air. A set of fresh clothes lay folded by the bed. She dressed quickly, then cautiously cracked the door, peering out. Seeing no one, she slipped out and hurried upstairs.

Her luck ran out. Nearing the top of the stairs, she came face to face with Zhong Cheng. Her heart lurched. She remembered seeing him just before Zhong Lin had carried her into the room. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

They stood on the staircase, separated by two steps, his gaze falling on her from above, as if seeing right through her. Though only a couple of seconds passed, it felt like an eternity. Nervous and guilty, she struggled to speak, her lips parting to offer a greeting, but no sound came out.

Then, she noticed his gaze fixed on her neck. Remembering, she quickly covered it with her hand and hurried past him, continuing up the stairs. Reaching her room, her heart still racing, she rushed to the mirror and tilted her head. There it was, a telltale, crimson mark.

He’d seen it. He’d discovered her and Zhong Lin’s secret.

A wave of icy shame washed over her, suffocating her. It felt as if her deepest secret had been exposed, leaving her utterly vulnerable. She collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in the soft pillows, and muffled a scream, "Aaaaaah!"

Mortified, Jiang Yi avoided Zhong Cheng, even skipping meals despite her hunger. It wasn't until the housekeeper knocked on her door, concerned about her well-being and offering food, that she overcame her shame and went downstairs.

Zhong Cheng wasn't there. She breathed a sigh of relief.

The housekeeper quickly reheated the food. The aroma made Jiang Yi's stomach rumble. She devoured a bowl of porridge, finally feeling some comfort. After eating, she returned to her room and dove into her studies. Half her day was lost, but she was determined to salvage the rest.

Immersed in her work, time flew by. Soon, it was dinner time. Both Zhong Lin and Zhong Cheng were absent from the meal, another wave of relief washing over her. Afterward, she strolled in the garden to aid digestion, then returned to her studies.

Her phone was on silent, all distractions muted. When she finally picked it up at 10:30 pm, she found numerous messages from Qin Zezhou.

Each one overflowed with his usual outpourings: "Missing you so much, wifey," "Haven't seen you all day, did you miss me, wifey?" "Husband's missing you like crazy," "Why aren't you replying, wifey?"

Blushing, Jiang Yi quickly replied with a "Good night" and deleted the more outrageous messages. How could he say such things so casually? "Wifey," "Hubby," and… other words. As soon as her "Good night" sent, she tossed her phone aside, grabbed her clothes, and headed for the shower.

When she came out, his reply was a simple "Good night." No more suggestive messages. Jiang Yi, unaware of the slight smile playing on her lips and the rosy blush on her cheeks, switched off her phone. She lay down and drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

Later that night, Zhong Lin returned home. He went upstairs, quietly entered Jiang Yi’s room, and gently kissed her sleeping face. His gaze was tender, but his kisses grew more urgent.

Asleep, Jiang Yi smelled cigarette smoke, a scent she detested. Frowning, she swatted at Zhong Lin’s head. "Stinky," she mumbled.