Jeremiah looked down at the innocent-looking Rodney, his eyes glowing with faint displeasure. He said, in a low voice, "Okay."

Rodney smiled obediently. "Please, Mr. Chavez, this way."

He turned to the others. "Samantha, Emmett, your rooms are on the second floor, just like Yvette's. I'll take Mr. Chavez to his room first. His is a bit farther." Rodney's arrangement of Jeremiah's room, so far from Yvette's, left no doubt about his intentions.

Jeremiah walked over to Yvette, his eyes softening with gentle tenderness. He raised a charming eyebrow and said, in a low voice, "Wait for me."

Yvette casually slipped her hands into her pockets, her posture relaxed. A playful smile touched her lips as she watched him, saying nothing.

Eagle King muttered, watching Jeremiah and Rodney leave, "Rodney must be up to no good again."

Samantha, Emmett, and Charles nodded in agreement, feeling sorry for Jeremiah in his ongoing battle of wits with Rodney. They all sensed that winning Yvette's heart would be no easy feat for Jeremiah.

Yvette tilted her head slightly, yawning. "I'm tired. I'll head upstairs. You all make yourselves at home." With that, she went upstairs.

Jeremiah and Rodney walked side by side, but Jeremiah walked faster, leaving Rodney struggling to keep pace. He fell behind a couple of steps without realizing it.

Watching Jeremiah ahead, Rodney's face darkened. He thought, Damn, this guy's doing this on purpose. He thinks I don't know what he's up to, huh?

Jeremiah, hearing Rodney mutter, paused and turned, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "Why did you stop?"

Rodney froze, realizing Jeremiah had noticed his struggle. He thought, He's too cunning, pretending to be oblivious when he knew I couldn't keep up.

Rodney took a deep breath and forced a smile, affecting innocence. "Nothing. I just remembered some stories about Yvette and me, and got a bit distracted."

Jeremiah's eyes darkened, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face as he stared at Rodney's innocent yet defiant expression. His voice remained cold and indifferent. "Oh? What kind of stories?"

Rodney, fully aware of his actions, stopped walking. He perched on a nearby railing, fixing his innocent eyes on Jeremiah. "It's nothing. Yvette once helped me with a medicinal bath to cure my… weakness. And, well, she insisted I take it completely naked. I still get a little embarrassed thinking about it."

Jeremiah's smile vanished, his gaze sharpening into a chilling intensity.

Rodney knew exactly what he was doing—provoking Jeremiah. If he could make the man snap, even better if he got hurt. Then Yvette would surely turn her back on him.

Rodney smirked, his eyes defiant, daring Jeremiah to react.

Jeremiah lowered his gaze. When he looked up, his expression was cool, almost dismissive. "What's good about a child's underdeveloped body?"

Rodney blinked, caught off guard. His cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment. Without thinking, he leaped from the railing and charged at Jeremiah.

Jeremiah's eyes flashed, but he didn't dodge. He stood still, awaiting Rodney's approach.

The next second, Rodney ran into Jeremiah. He hadn't expected his surprise attack to succeed so easily. For a moment, he stood stunned as Jeremiah smiled and collapsed to the ground.

It happened so fast that Rodney was left wide-eyed. He thought, How could he be so weak? No way… Why would Yvette fall for a weak man?

Panic surged through him as he rushed to Jeremiah's side. He felt a weakened pulse. He thought, One can fake fainting, but not the breath. Why does he look like he's dying?

If it were anyone else, Rodney wouldn't care. But Jeremiah was Yvette's boyfriend, and if anything happened to him, it would be a serious problem.

Just as Rodney was panicking and about to call for help, he heard Emmett's voice. "Jeremiah?" Without hesitation, he shouted back, "We're over here!"

Within two minutes, Emmett arrived, stunned to see Jeremiah motionless. He glanced at Rodney, kneeling anxiously, and asked, "What happened? Why is his breathing so weak? What happened to him?"

Rodney recounted the events. Too nervous, he didn't notice Emmett's unnatural expression.

Emmett lowered his head, feigning worry, but inwardly he was speechless. He glanced at the unconscious Jeremiah and thought, Poor Rodney. He has no idea.

Rodney, of course, had no clue that if anything happened to Jeremiah, Emmett wouldn't have time for his explanations.

Emmett's expression turned grave. "We need to get Jeremiah to Yvette's place immediately. If we wait, it'll be too late."

Rodney hesitated, then nodded. They couldn't hide Jeremiah's condition from Yvette. His plan had backfired. He'd moved all the guards along this route; now, if something happened to Jeremiah, he had no one to vouch for him.

Emmett helped Jeremiah up. "Hurry and help me."

Rodney quickly moved forward, supporting Jeremiah. As Jeremiah leaned against him, Rodney felt a chill emanating from his body, a wave of fear washing over him. He thought, Was he already dead? Why is he so cold?

Upstairs, Yvette had just showered and changed into a tracksuit. She was about to pick up the phone when there was a knock.

She opened the door to see Rodney, sweating, with the unconscious Jeremiah in his arms, and Emmett, worry etched on his face.

Before she could speak, the door to the next room opened. Charles, Eagle King, and Samantha had heard the knocking.

Samantha, in her pajamas and ready for bed, had rushed out. All drowsiness vanished at the sight of the unconscious Jeremiah. "What? Did Jeremiah pass out?"