After returning home, Shang Wu couldn't sleep at all.

She tossed and turned in bed, trying to clear her chaotic thoughts, but only felt as if she were sinking into an even deeper fog.

Just after 1 a.m., when the room was extremely quiet, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Shang Wu's heart skipped a beat, and she asked warily, "Who?"

A deliberately lowered, yet somewhat awkward voice came from outside the door: "Miss Shang, it's me, Cheng Zhou. I'm sorry to bother you so late..."

Cheng Zhou? Why is he here at this time?

Shang Wu opened the door with a puzzled look, only to see Cheng Zhou standing outside, pulling a small suitcase, with a somewhat weary and helpless smile on his face.

"What are you doing...?"

Cheng Zhou stepped in, gently closed the door, and then explained apologetically, "I thought tomorrow is your second round of the competition, so I came to cheer you on and give you a surprise. But I didn't expect that my hotel is completely full, there isn't a single room available!"

Shang Wu raised an eyebrow.

"The front desk told me to wait and see if anyone is checking out, but it's already past midnight... I'm too tired, so I had to bother you."

Cheng Zhou shrugged, looking apologetic: "I really had no choice but to come to you. Can I make do on the sofa in the living room for a few hours? I'll find another room as soon as it gets light."

Shang Wu looked at him and felt that he didn't seem to be lying.

There are many competitors at the hotel, and the rooms are almost full.

Cheng Zhou came here with good intentions.

Although Shang Wu felt it was somewhat inconvenient, she felt embarrassed to turn people away, especially in the middle of the night.

"It's okay, you can sleep on the sofa then." Shang Wu smiled and went to call the hotel staff to send a blanket and pillow.

Cheng Zhou breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went to take a shower.

Shang Wu then returned to her room and closed the door.

Fortunately, the organizers prepared a suite for her, with two rooms in total, and Aying's room was next door.

With the door closed, Cheng Zhou could sleep outside without disturbing her.

Just as Shang Wu lay down, another sound came from outside.

"Thump thump thump! Thump thump thump!"

The door was knocked on again, this time with a rapid and forceful sound, completely unlike Cheng Zhou's gentle tone just now.

Both of them were taken aback.

Shang Wu frowned, walked to the door and looked through the peephole. She saw two men in hotel security uniforms standing outside with serious expressions.

"Hello, this is hotel security. Could you please open the door?" a polite voice came from outside.

Shang Wu's heart skipped a beat for no reason. She glanced at Cheng Zhou subconsciously before opening the door.

"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?" Shang Wu asked.

The lead security guard's sharp eyes swept across the room, and he immediately noticed Cheng Zhou standing in the living room. His eyes instantly became wary.

"Madam, I'm sorry to bother you so late. We've received a notification that a suspicious and dangerous person may have slipped into the hotel. We're checking all guests floor by floor and need to verify their identity and ask them questions."

His gaze fell on Cheng Zhou: "And who is this gentleman? The people who registered for the accommodation are Ms. Shang and another Ms. A Ying."

Cheng Zhou stepped forward and took out his ID card.

"I am Cheng Zhou, a friend of Miss Shang. I just got off the plane and am staying here temporarily because there are no rooms available at the hotel."

The security guard took the ID, examined it carefully, then stared at Cheng Zhou, his tone curt.

"Just friends? In the middle of the night, alone in a lady's room? We need to take you downstairs to verify your identity and itinerary in detail and make a record. Please cooperate."

Cheng Zhou frowned.

Shang Wuzhi also felt that the interrogation was a bit too harsh and inhumane.

But she nodded, indicating that Cheng Zhou would cooperate with the investigation.

Cheng Zhou smiled reassuringly at Shang Wu: "It's alright, I'll go down and explain the situation and come right back."

Looking at the security guard's businesslike attitude, Shang Wu felt bewildered, and the feeling that something was wrong grew stronger.

She was no longer sleepy and waited in the room wrapped in her coat.

About twenty minutes later, Cheng Zhou returned, his expression somewhat subtle and solemn.

"How are you? Are you alright?" Shang Wu asked.

Cheng Zhou shook his head, his brows furrowed: "It's nothing, just verifying my identity. They asked a few questions, but..."

He paused, trying to recall, "I feel something's strange."

What's strange about it?

"The questions they asked were very detailed, some even beyond what is typical in a routine investigation."

Cheng Zhou recalled, his eyes filled with confusion, "They repeatedly confirmed my relationship with you, how we met, how long we've known each other, why we came here tonight, and even asked if we did anything in the room."

Shang Wu's face flushed instantly, both from anger and embarrassment.

"They ask this kind of question?"

"Yes, this is very abnormal."

Cheng Zhou's expression grew increasingly serious. "Moreover, when they took me downstairs, as they passed the room next to yours, I think I heard the sound of a door closing inside."

"But there was a sign on the door of that room saying that it was temporarily closed for renovations and no one was staying there."

He lowered his voice and looked at Shang Wu: "I have a feeling this isn't a regular security check, but rather someone is targeting you, or the person who appeared in your room tonight."

"Moreover, there might be someone in the next room watching you the whole time."

Upon hearing this, Shang Wu felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

Hearing this in the middle of the night made her feel terrible.

Targeting her? Paying attention to her?

Thinking back on everything that had happened before, Shang Wu suddenly realized that it was also possible that it was Zhu Ying and her group.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!