Bai Li could not shake the feeling that if she went over to help, she would only end up being betrayed in return. She had already seen enough to know what kind of people they were. In a situation like this, trusting them would be the dumbest thing she could do.

Lin Da was grinding his teeth so hard that the muscles in his jaw were jumping, and the veins on his neck were popping out under his skin. He had already backed himself into a corner, and now when he saw Ren Mingju trying to bite his arm again, panic flooded his whole body so fast that his eyes turned wet. He was scared, really scared, the kind of scared that makes a person forget dignity and just grab at any lifeline they can find. His voice came out rough and rushed as he cried, "Dr. Yan, please help! Talk to your girlfriend, please, ask her to help!" He was not even trying to hide how desperate he was anymore. In his mind, this was no longer about face or pride, it was about surviving long enough to see another hour. Yan Cijin looked over at Bai Li, who was standing there without moving, without speaking, and without showing even the smallest sign of softening. Bai Li’s face stayed still, almost cold enough to cut, and the look in her eyes made it clear she was already thinking something ruthless. She was thinking that it might honestly be better if all of them just fell right out of the window and got themselves killed, because that would save everyone a whole lot of trouble. Besides, these people were not good people anyway, and she had no reason at all to help them. She did not owe them anything, not a hand, not a promise, not even a glance. Seeing that Yan Cijin did not say anything, Bai Li’s lips curled very slightly, just enough to show that she was pleased. She was satisfied with Yan Cijin’s reaction, or more accurately, with her silence. Bai Li hated people who could not figure things out, people who needed everything spelled out for them when the danger was already right in front of their faces.

Seeing that Bai Li was actually serious about watching the whole thing unfold like a show, Lin Da had no choice but to go all out. He forced every bit of strength he had into his arms and shoulders and started pushing desperately against Ren Mingju’s neck, trying to stop him from getting a clean bite in. His face was red from effort, and his breathing was already uneven, but he still kept pushing because he knew that if he let go now, he would be the next one in trouble. "Push harder, Zhang Fan, or if I die, you’ll be next, and no one will save us." His words were rough and ugly, but they were true enough to make Zhang Fan’s face tighten. Zhang Fan’s eyes flicked over to the others, then back to Ren Mingju, and he shouted in a strained voice, "Alright, Peng Xiao, what are you two standing there for? Come and help! If we die, you won’t survive either." The fear in his voice was impossible to miss, but so was the pressure behind it. He was not asking anymore, he was dragging them into it. Peng Xiao and another patient wearing a hospital gown finally moved, each one grabbing one of Ren Mingju’s legs. Their hands were shaking, but they still did it, and together the four of them used all their strength to lift Ren Mingju up and shove him toward the window. Every movement was messy and frantic, full of fear and panic, but they were no longer thinking about anything except getting him out. At last, with one last hard push from Lin Da and Zhang Fan, Ren Mingju was forced out through the window. Only after that did Zhang Fan and Lin Da collapse down onto the floor, both of them panting heavily, their chests rising and falling like they had just run miles without stopping.

As darkness slowly crept in, Bai Li placed the kukri beside her and tried to take off her gloves, since they were still making her hands hurt. Her fingers were not moving very well, and every attempt just made her frown a little more. She tried once, then again, but the glove would not come off cleanly because her hands were still stiff and sore. The effort made her look a little annoyed, but she did not say much. "Let me do it," Yan Cijin said, and her voice was calm and low. She reached over and slowly took off Bai Li’s gloves for her, one careful movement after another. The room kept getting darker by the minute, and soon only a faint bit of light was still coming through the window. Bai Li was tired in a way that went deep into her bones. What she wanted most was a good night’s sleep so she could get some strength back, but she did not dare sleep. There were still four living people sitting across from her, and she did not trust them at all. Seeing that Bai Li’s eyes were still open, Yan Cijin understood right away that she was exhausted and needed rest. So she lowered her voice and whispered, "Close your eyes and rest for a while. Don’t worry, I won’t sleep. I’ll stay here and keep watch." Bai Li glanced at her through the dim light, and when she looked into those eyes, she felt just a little more relaxed. She gave a soft hum in response. She really was tired, and rest was something she wanted badly. But even then, some part of her still thought she should stay awake herself, just in case those people tried anything funny while she was not ready for it. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"It’s okay, I will keep watch. You can sleep." Yan Cijin looked straight into her eyes and seemed to understand exactly what she was thinking.

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TO BE CONTINUED.

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