Lin Xiaoxiao took the ration coupons, deliberately ignoring the earlier encounter with the woman. "I'm going to the canteen to get some steamed buns then."

Zhou Huai'an nodded, watching her leave before turning back. His mind, however, was filled with the image of Lin Xiaoxiao speaking so bluntly—this girl truly dared to say anything.

Little Zhu's surgery was, as Lin Xiaoxiao had expected, a complete success.

By the time he was wheeled out of the operating room, it was already noon. Third Grandpa, hearing the surgery had gone well, finally allowed himself to relax.

Seeing Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes red and rabbit-like from the sleepless night, Zhou Huai'an said, "You go back and rest. I'll stay here with Third Grandpa until Little Zhu wakes up."

Lin Xiaoxiao was utterly exhausted. Besides, after she slept, she could take over at night to let Zhou Huai'an and the others rest.

Back in her room, she washed up quickly and fell into bed, asleep almost instantly.

After a night without sleep, and the previous night spent anxiously over the lice in her hair, she sank into a deep, heavy slumber.

So deep that she only awoke when she felt something pressing down on her mouth and nose, heavy and suffocating. Struggling to consciousness, she found the room filled with thick smoke.

In the gloom, she could vaguely make out a man using a towel to clamp down hard over her face.

Instinct for survival kicked in. Lin Xiaoxiao drove her knee into the man's stomach and clawed at his neck with both hands, her sharp nails digging deep into his skin.

The man seemed startled that she had woken up. Grunting in pain, he recoiled slightly just as shouts echoed in the hallway: "Hurry! Room 205 is on fire!"

This was followed by the sound of frantic footsteps.

Afraid of being discovered, the man turned and leapt out the window to escape.

Choked by the smoke and nearly suffocated, Lin Xiaoxiao had no strength to chase the assailant.

She carefully held up her hands, protecting the shreds of skin and tissue she had clawed from the attacker's neck under her nails.

The fire had started in Zhou Huai'an and Lü Zhigang's room next door, so Lin Xiaoxiao's room was only filled with smoke, not flames.

The fire was quickly extinguished, and a staff member broke down her door to help her out.

Everyone thought the fire was bizarre—how could such a large blaze start in the middle of the day? A staff member handed Lin Xiaoxiao a cup of water. "Were you scared? They're still investigating the cause. Maybe a guest was smoking in the room and a cigarette butt ignited the bedding."

Worried about dislodging the evidence under her nails, Lin Xiaoxiao didn't take the water. She firmly rejected the explanation: "They don't smoke."

Having lived in close quarters with Zhou Huai'an for days, she had never seen him smoke.

As for Lü Zhigang, he'd said himself that he didn't smoke due to his profession.

This was clearly a premeditated murder attempt. But why would the killer want her dead too?

After resting until her dizziness subsided, Lin Xiaoxiao went to the hospital to find Lu Yunda—he was the only doctor she knew well—holding her hands carefully aloft.

She asked him to extract the tissue from under her nails for testing.

Lu Yunda was shocked hearing her story. "Someone dared to break in and attack you in broad daylight? That's brazen!" But he had to deliver a harsh truth: "Even with this tissue, getting a DNA match and finding the culprit will be incredibly difficult."

Lin Xiaoxiao knew using DNA to track a criminal was nearly impossible at this time, but she still wanted to try. "Please test it for me. It might be useful later. I didn't see his face clearly, only his approximate height."

Lu Yunda thought her idea had merit, but forensic capabilities were limited. Only major criminal cases warranted DNA comparison.

He carefully scraped the bloody tissue from under her nails and hurried to the lab to run the tests himself.

Zhou Huai'an only learned about the fire from chatting nurses. Remembering Lin Xiaoxiao was still in her room, he rushed back to find his and Lü Zhigang's room in ashes.

Without stopping to assess the damage, he looked for Lin Xiaoxiao. A staff member told him she had been injured and gone to the hospital alone.

Zhou Huai'an hurried back to the hospital, searching until he found Lu Yunda's office. There was Lin Xiaoxiao, standing by the washbasin, scrubbing her hands vigorously, picking at her nails with a look of utter disgust.

She looked up and noticed Zhou Huai'an. "Oh! What are you doing here? Is Little Zhu awake?"

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "Are you alright?"

Thinking of her ordeal, Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes drooped. She tilted her face up like a pitiful puppy.

"You almost never saw me again. Thankfully, I'm strong. That bastard almost smothered me."

Zhou Huai'an glanced down. Faint bruises marked her pale jaw, likely from the assailant's grip.

The attack was probably meant for him, but Lin Xiaoxiao had been caught in the crossfire.

"I'm sorry," he apologized.

Lin Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly at this clueless man. Did she want an apology?

Since subtlety wasn't working, she decided to be bold. Rising on her toes, she leaned closer. "It's okay. If you kiss me, I won't be scared anymore."

The composure on Zhou Huai'an's face cracked, replaced by visible discomfort.

Lin Xiaoxiao glared. "I said kiss me! Why are you being so slow?"

Just then, Lu Yunda pushed the door open to find Zhou Huai'an frozen in the doorway and Lin Xiaoxiao's bold words hanging in the air. He felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment, though it did make him think—rumors about this couple not getting along were clearly untrue.

Once inside, he chuckled awkwardly and nudged Zhou Huai'an. "What are you blocking the door for? Come in."

Lin Xiaoxiao was slightly embarrassed that her teasing had been overheard, but adhering to her principle that if she acted thick-skinned, others would feel the awkwardness, she smiled brightly at Lu Yunda. "So? Did you get the results already?"

Lu Yanda nodded. "Blood type AB. I've recorded all the details." Assuming Lin Xiaoxiao wouldn't understand the specifics, he didn't elaborate.

Lin Xiaoxiao's heart skipped a beat. What a coincidence—that bastard Zhou Chang'an also had type AB blood.

Zhou Huai'an followed Lu Yunda to the desk. "Let me see."

Lu Yanda handed him the report. "Can you even understand this? But even with this, finding the perpetrator will be tough. Who have you offended that someone's constantly trying to kill you?"

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "I'm not sure."

But the fact that the attacker was now resorting to arson in broad daylight and targeting Lin Xiaoxiao meant they were getting desperate.

Lin Xiaoxiao leaned in to glance at the results. "If they're targeting you, why try to kill me?"The killer's logic was baffling. If the goal was Zhou Huai'an, why go after his wife—whom he didn't even seem to like?

Lu Yunda also shook his head, puzzled. "Just be careful from now on. Try to find out what's really going on."

As Lin Xiaoxie and Zhou Huai'an left the office, she couldn't stop thinking that her life was in danger, and she hadn't even managed to take advantage of this man yet. She looked at him sternly. "Zhou Huai'an, it's not safe for me to sleep alone at night anymore."