We eventually returned to the lounge.
The fire in the hearth had long gone out, leaving only a few cold embers buried in ashes.
The room grew noticeably colder, as if the chill of the night had seeped into the walls.
Lin Qiao was slumped on the sofa, eyes half-shut, caught in that limbo between sleep and wakefulness.
The others were scattered in their corners, curled up in silence, worn out but still guarded. No one had dared to fully let down their defenses.
The moment we pushed the door open, all heads turned.
"Where did you go?" Song Yao's voice cut through the quiet.
She sounded calm, but I caught the faintest hint of tension beneath her words.
I paused, unsure how to respond.
"I... wasn't feeling well," I mumbled, my voice low. "Went out for some air."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, studying my face like she was trying to piece something together.
For a moment, I thought she might press further but she didn't.
After a beat, she simply nodded and looked away.
I had no idea whether she believed me. Maybe it didn't matter.
The room returned to silence.
We sat there, waiting. For what, none of us could say.
The dark lingered, thick and unmoving.
No one spoke again. No one asked questions.
Time passed slowly. The oppressive weight of the night seemed to stretch on endlessly.
But eventually, the world began to shift.
The darkness gave way to a dim gray as morning crept in.
Faint light filtered through the curtains, casting pale streaks across the floor.
It wasn't warm, but just a reminder that another day had arrived.
With the arrival of a new day, new discomforts also quietly arrive.
The dryness in our throats. The dull ache in our stomachs.
Hunger and thirst settled in like unwelcome guests, and the tension in the room began to stir again.
Liu Zehao was the first to break.
With a sigh, he opened the system shop and quietly purchased a bottle of water and a pack of bread.
The soft chime of the transaction echoed slightly in the stillness.
Wang Yifan followed suit, getting the same items. Neither of them said much.
"Just eat a little for now," Liu Zehao muttered, as if talking to himself.
He twisted off the bottle cap and took a cautious sip, then tore off a small piece of bread and slipped it into his mouth.
Wang Yifan mirrored him by taking a sip of water, a bite of bread and then carefully repacking the rest and storing it in his backpack.
"We should ration," he said softly. "No idea when the next chance will come."
No one disagreed.
At exactly six o'clock, Butler Adrian arrived.
Butler Adrian appeared as if summoned by the clock itself.
He stepped into the center of the lounge, dressed impeccably in his usual black uniform and white gloves—immaculate, as always.
Not a speck of dust dared settle on him.
"Everyone," he said, his voice smooth and measured, "Today's daily tasks will proceed as usual."
His calmness, in contrast to our fatigue, was unsettling.
He swept his eyes across the room, then began assigning duties as if nothing had happened the night before.
"Song Yao," he began, "due to yesterday's kitchen incident, you are prohibited from entering the kitchen. Please accompany Lin Qiao to the greenhouse."
Song Yao stood. "Understood," she replied with practiced composure.
Lin Qiao bit her lip and got to her feet silently, trailing behind her.
Butler Adrian continued. "Jiang Che, considering your already injured, you will be accompanied by Gu Wenqiang to the archive room."
Jiang Che gave a slight nod, glancing briefly at his bandaged arm.
There was no objection in his posture.
Gu Wenqiang stood up as well. "Alright," he said simply.
With the assignments made, Butler Adrian gave a slight bow and turned to leave.
His footsteps were almost soundless as he disappeared down the hallway.
Those of us who remained didn't speak.
We only stared at the doorway he had just passed through, as if the air itself had shifted with his departure.
The sunlight had finally flooded the room, illuminating the worn rugs, the faded furniture, the tired faces.
But still, the warmth refused to follow.
The day had begun but the cold hadn't left.