Night draped the Shen Biomedical Research Center in inky shadows as Aria Yan slipped through the service entrance, mop bucket in hand. The cleaning crew's uniforms hung loose on her frame—an ill-fitting disguise for the heiress-turned-ghost-bride, but it granted her freedom of movement. Above, neon lab lights cast a sterile glow through the expansive atrium's glass ceiling. Below, the guard station sat empty—Ethan Shen's directive for minimal overnight staffing.
Aria paused at the guard post, heart pounding. She'd memorized the night schedule: no foot patrols until 2 AM, cameras blinked to sleep by sensors at quarter past. She dipped her head to a passing security drone and whispered, “Not tonight." The drone's soft hum receded.
She wheeled her bucket past stainless steel benches and row
