Chapter 9: The Source of the Sleeping Pills is Questionable

"Let's talk about the relationship between Zhou Xinyu and Wang Wan."

"President Wang is usually very busy, and the two of them rarely get in touch. Every year around Xinyu's birthday, President Wang would ask me to arrange a dinner for them."

"So, the mother and daughter only meet once a year?"

"Pretty much."

"Is it because Wang Wan is unwilling?"

"No, after Xinyu's depression improved, President Wang wanted to care more about her and mend their relationship. But every time I suggested arranging meals or trips for them, Xinyu refused, saying it's fine to keep their relationship as it was."

Lin Che lightly tapped his pen on the table and asked, "But you have a pretty good relationship with Zhou Xinyu, right?"

Yu Huan nodded without hesitation, "I'm five years older than Xinyu. I became President Wang's secretary the year Xinyu started her freshman year. Since President Wang is very busy, I was usually the one to contact Xinyu, like delivering things to her, handling school matters, or when she was hospitalized. At first, it was just part of my job, but as we got to know each other better, we started talking more. Xinyu would tell me about her problems, and I would vent to her when I got scolded at work."

Yu Huan shared a few stories about their interactions, and by the end, her eyes were red. Lin Che received a message from Li Li that the inquiry with Liu Ahua was over, and there were no issues, so they let her go. "By the way, do you know why Zhou Xinyu didn't buy milk at a nearby convenience store but went all the way to Ahua's store instead?"

"I asked her the same question when I accompanied her shopping. She told me that since she sits at home all day, walking a bit more counts as exercise. Also, the owner of that store is disabled and couldn't find a job, and her husband is never around. She relies on that store to support her daughter's education. The owner has a strong sense of pride and refused the disability subsidy the community applied for her, so Xinyu always shopped there to help her earn some money."

"First-year graduate student, majoring in psychology, minoring in criminal psychology."

"Impressive. Can you tell what I'm thinking right now? And what about our Captain Lin? His thoughts are notoriously hard to guess."

Mu Yang glanced back at Lin Che, then at Li Li, and without saying a word, walked ahead faster, leaving Li Li behind. Just as Li Li was about to catch up, Lin Che grabbed him by the collar, "Captain Lin, I..." "You talk too much."

Li Li scratched his head, "I only said three sentences, is that too much?"

After talking with Zhou Xinyu's attending doctor, the information they got was pretty much in line with their previous analysis. Zhou Xinyu had indeed suffered from severe depression and had attempted suicide multiple times, but in recent years, her condition had improved significantly. Her last treatment was a year ago. Li Li pressed the elevator button and said somewhat dejectedly, "What a wasted trip. I wonder if Zhuang and the others have made any progress."

Ding! "Wait!"

The sound of the elevator arriving and a voice from behind came almost simultaneously. Mu Yang caught up, "Captain Lin, sorry to ask, but have you checked the source and dosage of Zhou Xinyu's sleeping pills?"

Before Lin Che could answer, Li Li chimed in, "We did. The prescription and the medication match, no issues there."

Mu Yang frowned. "Do you think there's a problem?" Lin Che asked.

"I checked the medication records. The last time we prescribed sleeping pills for Zhou Xinyu was a year and a half ago, and it was only a three-day supply. According to hospital regulations, the maximum single prescription for sleeping pills cannot exceed one week. Based on the police report, she died from an overdose of sleeping pills, which means she would have needed at least three prescriptions to obtain a lethal dose."

Lin Che nodded thoughtfully, and Mu Yang continued, "Zhou Xinyu has always been treated here, and the process went smoothly with significant improvement in her condition. If she had been feeling unwell recently and needed sleeping pills, she could have just come back for a follow-up. There was no need to get prescriptions elsewhere."

Li Li was still confused, "But what's the problem with that?"

"There is a problem," Lin Che interjected quickly.

"What problem?" Li Li leaned in to ask Mu Yang, but Lin Che didn't give him the chance, pulling him into the elevator. Lin Che pressed the button for the first floor, and as the elevator doors slowly closed, his gaze met Mu Yang's outside. The narrow gap of the elevator doors made her eyes seem especially piercing, as if they could easily see through the secrets hidden in one's heart.

As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, Li Li was about to ask again, but Lin Che ignored him. He took out his phone and called Xu Yang, "Xu Yang, you mentioned that Zhou Xinyu last purchased sleeping pills a week ago, right?"

"Yes, Captain Lin. Is there a problem?"

"Check if there's any facial recognition data from the medical visit."

Xu Yang was efficient. By the time Lin Che's car left the parking lot, he had called back. "Captain Lin, we found something! Someone used Zhou Xinyu's name to get the prescription. I compared the facial database, and the person is named Sun Fangfang, a high school classmate of Zhou Xinyu!"

Xu Yang nodded, somewhat moved. "Xinyu was really a good girl, not spoiled, very kind, always considering others. Even during the worst years of her depression, she tried to cope on her own, afraid of burdening those around her. I know a few of her college friends, and everyone liked her. Although I don't believe she would commit suicide, I can't think of anyone who would want to kill her."

... The questioning with Yu Huan ended close to 3 a.m. "Let's all get some rest. Li Li, you'll come with me to the hospital tomorrow to talk to Zhou Xinyu's psychologist. The lead on the comic website editor is crucial, Zhou Yun and Da Zhuang, you two look into that. Xu Yang, continue investigating everyone Zhou Xinyu met or contacted in the past month, especially the person who called her on the afternoon of October 6th. Old Du and Xia Jie, keep interviewing Zhou Xinyu's friends and classmates. Everyone, communicate promptly if you find anything."

After assigning the next steps, Lin Che slept right in the office. Before sleeping, he went over Zhou Xinyu's Weibo again. Three days, time was tight.

The next day, on their way to the hospital, Lin Che and Li Li received a call from Xie Datong, saying that his student Mu Yang happened to be the assistant to Zhou Xinyu's attending doctor. She's smart, professionally competent, and can answer questions on psychological expertise. Xie Datong also gave them Mu Yang's phone number.

Li Li stared at the floor guide for a long time, "Captain Lin, there are only 19 floors in total. Is the 23rd floor in the sky or underground?"

"Let's call and ask."

Li Li called Mu Yang, and ten minutes later, a young woman in a white coat came running over. "Officer Lin, Officer Li, right? Hello, I'm Mu Yang."

The young woman who ran over wasn't even out of breath. She had a high ponytail and looked very young, indeed like a college student, youthful and fresh. Mu Yang's almond-shaped eyes were big and bright, leaving a deep impression on Lin Che. "The Psychological Rehabilitation Department is in the office building next door. Follow me."

Mu Yang had her hands in her white coat pockets. Li Li jogged to walk beside her and asked, "Isn't this a department of City Hospital? Why is it in an office building?"

"That used to be a private psychological counseling center. According to the Ministry of Health's rectification requirements, the two are now jointly operated. Outpatient services are in the psychiatric department of City Hospital, and follow-up consultations and treatments are over there."

"Oh, I heard you're Professor Xie's student. What year are you in? Studying criminal psychology?"