Alpha Guard 1 and five other Alpha Guards stood in front of her, their presence icy cold.
Their tall figures blocked most of the light from the bulb, casting deep shadows over He Ruoyi.
"What are you going to do?" He Ruoyi, bound, asked nervously.
"I warned you before, thinking we were colleagues and trying to help you out, but you didn't listen," Alpha Guard 1 said coldly. "If you can't keep your mouth shut, then you don't belong in 'Thorns'"
He Ruoyi's face turned pale with panic. "What did I do to be kicked out? I want to see the master!"
"You couldn't keep your mouth shut, spreading nonsense about Miss Ming. The master is very displeased. The master doesn't need an Alpha Guard with such thoughts," Alpha Guard 1 replied coldly.
He Ruoyi's face went white. She strained her neck, "No, no! I want to see the master. I'm loyal to him! I want to see the master! Don't kick me out!"
"The master said that since you can't control your mouth, you won't need to speak ever again," Alpha Guard 1 said, without any sympathy.
He Ruoyi's expression changed, her features twisting in terror.
Bound tightly, she could only struggle and writhe on the ground.
"No, no, let me see the master! Let me see the master! I admire him, but I never expected anything from him. I just secretly liked him. I am loyal to the master. I didn't know… I really didn't know…"
He Ruoyi struggled and begged in terror, "Alpha Guard 1, Alpha Guard 1, please let me see the master! I promise I won't think about anything else anymore. I'll just follow the master's orders. I just want to see him once, just once!"
"If you knew it would come to this, why did you do it in the first place? You were given a chance," Alpha Guard 1 said coldly, tilting his head and ordering, "Give her the medicine."
An Alpha Guard held He Ruoyi's head steady, pinching her jaw to force her mouth open, while another poured a small bottle of liquid down her throat.
"Ugh!" He Ruoyi struggled violently, the liquid burning her throat like fire, a searing pain that felt like it was corroding her vocal cords.
Tears streamed down He Ruoyi's face as she struggled, the liquid spilling from her mouth.
Eventually, she was in too much pain to make any sound, her long hair soaked with the medicine, sweat, and tears, sticking to her face.
Finally, she lay on the ground, half-dead.
"Take her to the punishment camp," Alpha Guard 1 ordered.
The punishment camp was where those who made mistakes in 'Thorns' were sent.
Depending on the severity of their mistakes, the punishments varied.
For someone like He Ruoyi, who was to be permanently expelled from 'Thorns,' she would be thrown into the punishment camp with no chance of getting out.
They had their own work inside, much like prisoners working in a jail.
He Ruoyi had lost consciousness by this point, completely unaware.
She was limp as she was carried away.
***
Ming Yutong was already fast asleep when Little Jingshi's bedroom door was quietly opened.
Having slept a lot during the day, Little Jingshi, although groggy, woke up immediately at the sound.
Through the faint moonlight outside the window, Little Jingshi saw Fu Yinxiu's tall and slender figure quietly walking to the bedside.
Seeing Little Jingshi awake and blinking, Fu Yinxiu raised his finger to his lips, signaling him to stay quiet.
Little Jingshi blinked and nodded silently.
Fu Yinxiu looked down at Ming Yutong's sleeping profile, calm and obedient, reminiscent of the naive girl she once was.
In the moonlight, his expression was unusually gentle, his usually stern lips softened, and his mouth curved into a gentle smile.
Then, Little Jingshi saw Fu Yinxiu bend down, lowering his face closer and closer to Ming Yutong.
He widened his eyes in curiosity, holding his breath.
Suddenly, Fu Yinxiu covered his eyes from behind.
***
Little Jingshi: "!!!"
Fu Yinxiu placed a gentle kiss on the corner of Ming Yutong's lips.
Afraid of waking Ming Yutong, he only dared to give a light kiss.
Then, he removed his hand from Little Jingshi's eyes.
Little Jingshi blinked, looking at Fu Yinxiu with curiosity, wondering what his dad had just done.
Soon after, Fu Yinxiu left but returned shortly, having changed into pajamas.
Fu Yinxiu signaled Little Jingshi to move over.
Little Jingshi was a bit annoyed, thinking it was supposed to be his time with Ming Yutong, and wondering why his dad was joining.
However, considering how pitiful his dad had been recently and how Ming Yutong had been cold toward him, Little Jingshi decided to help his dad a little.
So, he quietly moved over.
Even while asleep, Ming Yutong instinctively reacted to Little Jingshi's movement.
Feeling him move away, she automatically shifted towards him and pulled him into her embrace.
This naturally created space beside her.
Fu Yinxiu took the opportunity to lie down, extending his arm to loosely encircle Ming Yutong.
***
Before going to bed, Ming Yutong had decided to wake up early the next morning to make breakfast for Little Jingshi.
She had been looking forward to it, but Little Jingshi had not had the chance to eat the breakfast she prepared, which had been a regret.
So, on the next day, while it was still dawn outside, Ming Yutong woke up.
But when she opened her eyes, she felt that something was not quite right.
Frowning and lowering her eyes, she noticed a long and sturdy arm draped across her waist.
She was being held from behind, her back pressed against a solid chest, and the warmth from the chest was directly transmitted through the pajamas to her skin.
The familiar peppermint scent made Ming Yutong immediately recognize who it was without needing to look back.
Her body stiffened immediately.
Carefully turning her head, she indeed saw Fu Yinxiu's enlarged sleeping face.
His face was almost pressed against hers, his hot breath touching her from the corner of her eyes to her lips, constantly warming her face.
Ming Yutong's face turned red from his breath.
She blinked, feeling a bit at a loss.
It had been seven years since she had been this close to him.
Since his return, he had forced himself on her twice, leaving immediately afterward, never like this, peacefully and intimately sleeping together.
Later, when Little Jingshi stayed over at her house, they somehow ended up next to Fu Yinxiu in the morning, but not this close.
He had never held her like this, wrapped around her so tightly.
Ming Yutong didn't dare to move, afraid of waking him, and felt awkward with their eyes meeting.
She looked over at Little Jingshi, who was also sound asleep.
Ming Yutong held her breath and carefully removed Fu Yinxiu's arm from her waist.