"I deserve to be punished,"

Thirty minutes passed, and the tea sat untouched on the tray. Feeling thirsty, Luo Muchen decided to take a sip assuming the tea had grown cold after sitting for so long. As the liquid touched his lips, a strange sensation washed over him. The taste was off, oddly bitter, unlike the familiar flavour. He ignored it as a result of the tea's age, dismissing any further concern.

But as time ticked by, an uncomfortable heat began to spread through his body. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, dampening his collar. His mind, once sharp and focused, began to blur, the numbers in the account book swimming before his eyes. Realization dawned on him—something was terribly wrong.