Chapter 009: Xu Sumei's Collapse 

Scene 1: Confrontation

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow as the elevator doors revealed Xu Sumei's haggard face, her bloodshot eyes burning with manic fury. "Enjoying your sleepless nights?" he asked, casually leaning against the keypad.

Xu staggered back as if struck. "Y-you did this?!" Her cracked nails clawed at the air.

Liu Zhidong grabbed her arm. "The nightmares—how'd you know?!"

"Consequences," Lu Yuan replied, flexing his calloused hands. "Return my 50,000 yuan, or keep counting sheep with demons."

Scene 2: The Bluff

"Try touching me!" Xu shrieked, though her trembling knees betrayed her. "I'll camp here until the whole county knows you're trash!"

Lu Yuan's laughter echoed through the sterile lobby. "Humans last seven days without sleep. Let's test that." He strode past them, tossing over his shoulder: "Your corpse'll make great fertilizer for my new garden."

Scene 3: Nightfall's Descent

By dusk, Xu's resolve crumbled with the sunset. Her third cup of bitter tea did nothing to ward off the creeping dread.

"Mom..." Liu Weiwei reached out, but Xu slapped her hand away.

"Don't you dare suggest surrendering!"

Scene 4: Torment Unbound

21:07 - Skeletal horde swarmed her dreams, femurs clattering like wind chimes.

22:33 - Acidic waters dissolved her flesh, eels nesting in her eye sockets.

00:15 - Flames licked her bound body as shadowy figures chanted.

03:02 - Rusty scalpels unspooled her intestines like sausage casings.

Each awakening left Xu more fractured. By dawn, her pupils danced erratically, skin tinged corpse-gray.

Scene 5: Breaking Point

"Enough!" Liu Zhidong roared as Xu convulsed on the floral-print sofa. "You're killing yourself!"

"NEVER!" Xu's shrill laughter devolved into wet coughs. "I'll die before giving that bastard—"

Her rant died mid-sentence. The room stilled as Xu's trembling hands covered her face. A broken whimper escaped:

"P-pay him...just make it stop."