Mu Qing had been guarding the outside, observing Ning Wei's every move after she woke up, pen and paper in hand to record her actions.
It took Ning Wei a long time to regain her normal state after opening her eyes. She would then slowly sit up, stare blankly for a while, and go to the bathroom due to bladder pressure. Upon returning, she would resume her dazed posture.
These were normal reactions after taking medication, as the head nurse had informed Mu Qing in advance.
Seeing that Ning Wei's subtle movements matched the head nurse's description, Mu Qing finally felt at ease.
She jotted down the last note: Everything is normal.
She put away her paper and pen, then brought Ning Wei the dinner with the added medication.
Ning Wei sat on the bed, her head still feeling groggy. She had spent a considerable amount to allay the nurse's suspicions.
When she saw Mu Qing enter with another meal, she felt a pang of despair, but she couldn't show it on her face, lest all her efforts be in vain.
"Ning Wei, how are you feeling today?" Mu Qing set down the tray. She could have left immediately, but she couldn't resist asking one more question.
"I'm feeling alright, just very sleepy. And it's a bit unusual not to be taking my medication," Ning Wei said, trying to gauge Mu Qing.
Mu Qing's expression indeed became unnatural upon hearing this.
"Not taking medication is a good thing. The head nurse said you'll be able to leave the hospital in a few days."
Ning Wei nodded obediently and, under Mu Qing's watchful eye, slowly ate her meal, bite by bite.
She knew that Mu Qing wouldn't leave unless she started eating.
Similarly, Mu Qing couldn't stay and watch her finish the meal.
After all, it was almost time for her shift to end, and no worker didn't look forward to going home.
Mu Qing stood in the room for two minutes. Seeing that Ning Wei showed no suspicion and continued to eat as usual, she left with peace of mind.
Before leaving work, she glanced through the peephole again. Ning Wei was eating slowly, but she was maintaining the action of eating.
While eating, Ning Wei inwardly complained that Mu Qing was becoming increasingly difficult to deal with.
After the nurses finished their shift, Ning Wei went to the bathroom and forced herself to vomit.
Li Ye walked in and, seeing her retching so violently, silently handed her a tissue.
"I see you've been targeted. Didn't you want to sneak into the elevator to check things out before? You should be prepared. I estimate you'll be taken away in a couple of days."
This was the first time Li Ye had spoken such a long passage. Ning Wei listened while she vomited.
"I had a feeling too. Mu Qing lied to me, saying I could leave the hospital soon if I stopped taking my medication. I guess I won't be leaving alive."
Ning Wei would vomit after saying a few sentences, only stopping when she was throwing up bile.
Li Ye frowned, "It's not a solution for you to be like this every night."
Ning Wei had finished vomiting and placed her hand on Li Ye's wrist, "We're partners, after all. If I get into trouble this time, you'll have a hard time finding someone as smart as me, won't you?"
Li Ye did not respond, just looked at Ning Wei.
"If I'm taken away while I'm unconscious, I'll be counting on you."
Li Ye nodded, "Is that all you wanted to tell me? Do you think I would stand by and do nothing?"
Ning Wei looked somewhat bewildered. Was there something about Li Ye that she could trust?
Seeing Ning Wei's expression, Li Ye guessed her thoughts and, feeling a little angry, turned and returned to his own room.
Ning Wei found him very strange, wondering why he had suddenly become angry.
She slowly walked out, supporting herself against the wall. Although she had vomited everything she had eaten, her body had still absorbed some of the substance.
She slowly returned to her bed, and her vision began to blur again.
This time, Ning Wei wanted to test how long she could resist, so she lay on the bed and forced herself not to fall asleep.
Whenever her eyes slightly closed, she would pinch herself hard.
Both her thighs were bruised, and her arms were covered in purple and black marks.
She silently counted numbers in her mind, and eventually, she lost consciousness without knowing when.
When she woke up again, it was not yet dawn, and someone was sitting by the window.
A glance confirmed it was Li Ye. Ning Wei did not get up, slowly recalling everything that had happened before she lost consciousness.
She remembered she had been counting, and after reaching about two thousand, she remembered nothing further.
By that estimation, she had lasted about half an hour.
She wondered what kind of drug they had given her that was so potent.
"What time is it now?" Ning Wei asked as she got up.
Although there was no clock in the ward, there was one at the nurses' station.
Li Ye's thin lips parted, "Around midnight."
"Where are they?" Ning Wei asked, referring to the other passengers.
Li Ye turned to face her, "Don't worry, they're all in their rooms. I've already opened the doors. I'll close them later. I've also collected all the pills. There are the most on the fifth floor by the water dispenser, consider it my revenge for you."
Li Ye had silently taken over Ning Wei's tasks, and Ning Wei was touched.
For the first time, she said to Li Ye sincerely, "Thank you."
Having slept for almost a whole day, the effects of the drug had worn off, and Ning Wei felt no drowsiness.
She slowly walked to the nurses' station and examined the medications, wanting to identify which one she had taken.
However, there were no new drugs. She had been here once before, so she was familiar with the medications here.
Since it wasn't a new drug, it must be a special medication for a select few patients.
Li Ye suddenly appeared at the doorway, "Don't worry, even if you're taken away, I'll find a way to go with you. So stop making yourself vomit, you've already damaged your throat."
Ning Wei reached out and touched Li Ye's forehead; it was cool, like moonlight.
Li Ye, unaccustomed to close physical contact, took a step back.
"You don't have a fever, so why are you talking nonsense?"
Li Ye sneered, "Do you wish I wouldn't help you?"
Ning Wei immediately shook her head like a rattle, pulling Li Ye's hand with a placating gesture, "I was just joking. I was rambling because I took too much medicine during the day. You are a magnanimous person, please don't hold grudges against a little woman like me."
Regardless of Li Ye's reasons, it was good that he was willing to help.
Although she had spent more time with the other passengers, she had to admit that their combined abilities were no match for Li Ye alone.
Therefore, if anything were to happen to her, her only hope would be Li Ye.
The angry man was difficult to appease, and Li Ye maintained a cold expression, showing no reaction to whatever Ning Wei said.
Ning Wei's face split into a wide smile, but Li Ye wouldn't even give her a glance.
Time slowly passed. To appease the cold, handsome guy, Ning Wei took the initiative to offer to close the doors and even escorted Li Ye back to his room, closing the door with special care.
After checking all the passengers' rooms, another passenger had been assimilated due to excessive medication.