The next day, Bai Youwei woke up still feeling somewhat disoriented.
The attic light had been on all night, and the rain outside hadn't stopped. She couldn't tell how long she had slept. Yan Qingwen told her it was 7:35 a.m., and she realized she had probably slept for about four hours.
Li Li and Lü Ang, after a night's rest, looked much better. Zhu Shu, however, had flushed cheeks and appeared feverish.
Su Man, while tidying the bedding, complained in a low voice, "Why didn't you say you had a fever? Bearing it silently, who are you trying to impress? Trying to get someone's sympathy, aren't you…"
Zhu Shu, dizzy and uncomfortable from the fever, leaned against the wall and didn't speak.
Li Li, having recovered his energy today, immediately retorted, "What's wrong with being sick? Zhu Shu's previous injury just healed, and yesterday she went into the water several times. Isn't it normal for her to get sick?! Do you think everyone is like you, as strong as an ox?!"
Su Man glared at him, her chest heaving with anger. Furious, she turned and vented all her frustration at Zhu Shu, "Are you happy now?! You have a man showing sympathy and sticking up for you! Are you satisfied, you troublemaker!"
Zhu Shu: "…"
Li Li walked directly over, stood between the two women, and pointed at Su Man's nose, scolding, "I think you're the troublemaker! If she had said she was sick, you would have called her pretentious. Now she's keeping quiet, and you're calling her a troublemaker! Tell me, what does she have to do to please you?!"
Zhu Shu opened her mouth, wanting to mediate, but then, remembering Su Man's personality, she closed it again.
She couldn't speak now; the more she said, the more chaotic the situation would become.
If she did speak, Su Man would definitely hate her even more, thinking she was a hypocritical little white lotus.
"Li Li! You bastard!!!" Su Man's eyes were red with anger.
Lü Ang also chimed in, "Yeah, Li Li, you're going a bit too far… You're a man, cut her some slack…"
"Damn it!" Li Li said angrily, "Haven't I given her enough slack? Since we were kids, I don't know how many times I've let her have her way! Ask her, how many times did I take the blame for her when we were little? How many times did I get beaten for her?"
Su Man was so angry and annoyed that she wanted to jump on him and hit him!
If it weren't for the bandage on Li Li's chest reminding her that he was still injured, she probably would have already pounced on him!
Lü Ang said in an older brother's tone, "Li Li, why are you bringing up old grudges? Just drop it. We're not even sure if we can escape from here…"
Su Man, overwhelmed with grief and anger, shouted with red eyes, "Who knows what kind of love potion that little white lotus gave him! Now he's always talking nonsense to me!!!"
Zhu Shu, holding her forehead: "…"
Yan Qingwen looked around and said calmly, "Since everyone is so energetic, let's discuss how to entertain our guest."
The air instantly quieted.
The two who were quarreling stopped talking.
Shen Mo glanced at everyone and said calmly, "I'll go."
Bai Youwei lifted her eyelids and looked at him.
Yan Qingwen also looked over, "…If it succeeds, summer will pass; if it fails, the floodwaters will submerge the second floor as well."
He paused for two seconds, then turned to everyone, "If you have no other suggestions, for the second reception, let's try these beads."
The beads in the bottle shimmered with a faint light.
They were larger and fuller than pearls, glowing with a warm orange under the light, like the glass marbles played with in childhood.
Yan Qingwen glanced down at his wristwatch and said, "One last hour to prepare. Everyone, change into the dollhouse clothes."
He and Shen Mo went downstairs together.
Li Li and Su Man, who had been quarreling, looked at each other and temporarily put aside their conflict, also going downstairs.
Cheng Laoshi, Tan Xiao, and Pan Xiaoxin also went down one after another.
Only Bai Youwei, Lü Ang, and Zhu Shu remained in the attic.
Zhu Shu, holding her burning forehead, sat down next to Bai Youwei. After a moment of silence, she asked, "Do you think… how likely is it that it's the beads?"
Bai Youwei frowned and looked at Zhu Shu.
"You haven't said much since yesterday…" Zhu Shu asked tentatively, "Is the answer those beads?"