Chapter 145: Arsenic Poisoning

The flower shop owner suddenly stopped smoking, took out a small bottle, and poured a few tablets into her palm, about to take them. I immediately stopped her. She opened her hand and said, "These are vitamin C tablets—I take them every day after meals!"

I said, "Sorry, but I need to test them first."

The flower shop owner sighed, "You guys are relentless."

After Sun Bingxin tested the tablets and confirmed they were indeed vitamin C, the owner swallowed a few. Huang Xiaotao commented, "Vitamin C is good for your skin. You really take care of yourself."

The owner replied, "No, actually, I had a gynecological problem recently. Doctor Cheng told me to take vitamin C regularly."

Hearing this, I suddenly became tense and shouted, "Don't swallow it! Spit it out now!"

The flower shop owner froze. "What—" But halfway through, she clutched her throat, her eyes rolled back, foam dribbling from her mouth, and she collapsed stiffly from the chair.

I shouted for Wang Dali to quickly get some soapy water. Supporting the owner, I forced her mouth open and tried to scratch her throat. Poisoned victims clamp their jaws so tightly that fingers can get bitten off, but right now saving her was the priority.

After several attempts, the owner finally vomited. I turned her onto my lap to help her vomit more easily. Wang Dali handed over the soapy water, and I kept pouring it in, forcing her to vomit repeatedly.

...

...

The flower shop owner was still semi-conscious. I looked around and said, "Dali, go pick some lilies. They can detoxify. Crush them and soak in warm water."

Wang Dali brought the lily water, and after the owner drank it, her breathing stabilized somewhat. Huang Xiaotao called emergency services.

Sun Bingxin asked in confusion, "Why would vitamin C cause poisoning?"

I explained, "Vitamin C itself isn't toxic, but when it meets another substance, it immediately turns into arsenic poison."

Sun Bingxin suddenly understood, "Arsenic!"

More precisely, it's an arsenic compound, usually insoluble in water, but when combined with vitamin C, it reacts violently, converting into arsenic trioxide—commonly known as arsenic poison.

Qu Tingting's method was incredibly clever, the best I've ever seen. Judging by this, she definitely isn't nearby.

Thanks to the timely rescue, the flower shop owner shouldn't be in life-threatening danger. After the ambulance took her away, Huang Xiaotao said, "We missed her—Qu Tingting probably escaped."

I said, "The owner takes vitamin C every day after meals, so Qu Tingting must have poisoned her last night or this morning. Once she wakes up, she might provide some clues."

Huang Xiaotao said, "Everyone must be hungry. Let's eat first."

She instructed the security police to stand down for now and sent Wang Yuanchao to investigate Qu Tingting's family background. Then we went to a Chinese restaurant. As we sat down, Sun Bingxin quickly took the seat beside me, smiling brightly at Huang Xiaotao.

Huang Xiaotao gave her a cold glare, "Have some shame?"

Sun Bingxin replied, "Mind your own business!"

Wang Dali teased, "Yangzi, you're so popular now! Teach me your secret!"

I just smiled bitterly. After the flower shop dispute, Sun Bingxin vaguely realized something between Huang Xiaotao and me and seemed ready to confront us about it. I wasn't sure if she was joking or serious, but being caught in the middle was uncomfortable.

After dinner, we went to the hospital. Around 5 p.m., the flower shop owner woke up. She said a girl came in this morning wearing a hat and mask. The owner wanted to greet her, but the girl silently left.

I asked, "Before and after the girl came, did you eat or drink anything?"

The owner recalled, "I left a cup of coffee drying on the windowsill! After finishing it, I noticed some white granules at the bottom. I thought it was just undissolved sugar and didn't pay much attention."

No doubt, that visitor was Qu Tingting, who put an arsenic compound into the coffee.

Huang Xiaotao reminded the owner to take good care of herself. After leaving the hospital, Sun Bingxin asked, "Where do we check next?"

Huang Xiaotao glanced at her phone: "Wang Yuanchao found Qu Tingting's address, but the landlord said she hasn't been back for a long time and owes three months' rent."

Sun Bingxin said, "Strange. Then where does she usually stay?"

I asked Sun Bingxin, "Refining and synthesizing those chemicals must produce strong odors, right?"

Sun Bingxin nodded, "Yes, the smell is intense. When we do experiments, we have to run multiple air conditioners."

I laughed, "Now I know why our drug inventory never showed anything missing..."

"Why?" they both asked.

"Qu Tingting is cautious. She doesn't directly take the drugs but uses other chemicals to synthesize them herself," I said admiringly.

Huang Xiaotao said, "So she probably lives somewhere isolated."

"Or in a basement!" I added.

As dusk fell, Wang Dali suggested, "Why don't we call it a day?"

No one responded. The suspect could have escaped far away overnight and vanished.

Huang Xiaotao said, "Song Yang, don't you want to use some magic tricks now?"

I frowned. Actually, I had a way, but it might have side effects.

If Huang Xiaotao knew I held back because of that, she'd blame me later. So I decided to go all in.

I said, "I'll go back to the dorm to get something. You all wait at the medical university hospital."

Sun Bingxin said, "I'll go with you!"

I couldn't agree to that in front of Huang Xiaotao. I refused firmly, "No, the secret recipe is a family heirloom. I have to do it alone."

Back at school, the herbs were ready. I always kept some in reserve just in case, so I quickly brewed the potion. It was already 8 p.m. I took a taxi back to the hospital.

Though late, the hospital was open for the investigation. In the gynecology office, I found everyone eating takeout. Wang Yuanchao had arrived too. Huang Xiaotao and Sun Bingxin were chatting happily about TV shows, which made me wonder about their relationship.

Huang Xiaotao rolled her eyes, "Been waiting for you forever!"

I said, "That was the fastest I could manage. But this potion is supposed to be used at night anyway."

Huang Xiaotao asked, "What is it? Why so secretive?"

I said, "Remember the 'Simulated Murder Technique'?"

The moment she heard that, Huang Xiaotao's expression changed. I reassured her, "Don't worry. I've got the dosage right this time. Side effects will be minimal."

Sun Bingxin asked excitedly, "What is it exactly?"

I briefly explained the principle. Tonight's plan was to use another form of the technique—make someone inhale a 'dream-inducing powder' to 'become' Qu Tingting and recreate her daytime movements.

Huang Xiaotao frowned, "Who's going to play Qu Tingting?"

Wang Yuanchao volunteered, "I will. I'm resistant to suggestion."

I shook my head, "That's exactly why you can't do it. The technique requires someone easily suggestible."

I looked around. Huang Xiaotao looked reluctant, Wang Dali was scared, Sun Bingxin eager.

I said, "Let's do a small test of everyone's eyesight."

I mimed holding a tiny hair between my fingers as realistically as I could and asked, "There's a thin hair on my hand. Who can see it?"

Wang Dali squinted, "Maybe I've watched too many movies recently. My eyes aren't good."

Wang Yuanchao shook his head. Sun Bingxin stared a moment, then excitedly said, "Ah, I see it!"

Huang Xiaotao swiped her hand between mine, "You're tricking us. There's nothing there."

I smiled and opened both hands. "Right. Nothing on my hands. It was a test of suggestibility."

Sun Bingxin bit her finger, "But I really thought I saw it."

No doubt, the best candidate among us was Sun Bingxin!