Chapter 147: The Heartless Poisoner

At that moment, Sun Bingxin stood by the table, beginning to prepare some kind of medicine. Since all the jars were empty, none of us could tell exactly what she was mixing.

It took about fifteen minutes. During that time, I glanced around the room and noticed a cabinet filled with empty medicine boxes — obviously stolen from the hospital.

I pulled out my phone and snapped photos of them. Suddenly, Wang Dali exclaimed, "Yangzi, Yangzi, should we wake her up?"

I turned just in time to see Sun Bingxin starting to undress.

I said firmly, "No, let her continue."

She didn't take all her clothes off — only down to her underwear — but still, I felt a pang of guilt for putting her through this. There was no turning back now; we couldn't interrupt the reenactment just for that.

Sun Bingxin slipped on Dr. Cheng Yahui's white coat and sat down. After a while, low moaning sounds came from beneath her wooden mask. At first, I didn't know what was happening — then it dawned on me.

None of us could bear to watch anymore and averted our eyes. Minutes later, Sun Bingxin suddenly collapsed onto the bed, sobbing bitterly and heart-wrenchingly — the heavy sorrow was suffocating.

Then she pulled a dagger from beneath the pillow and raised it to her arm. I shouted, "No! Wake her up!"

...

...

Huang Xiaotao immediately shook Sun Bingxin awake. Seeing the knife in her hand, she screamed and dropped it. Clinging to Huang Xiaotao, Sun Bingxin burst into tears.

Huang Xiaotao gently patted her shoulder to comfort her. Sun Bingxin wasn't crying out of fear for herself; having gone through the reenactment, she deeply empathized with Qu Tingting's tortured soul.

Choking on her tears, Sun Bingxin said, "Sister Xiaotao, that girl is truly so pitiful..."

"I know, I know," Huang Xiaotao soothed.

Although the clues had stopped, I didn't dare break the somber mood — we couldn't just watch her self-harm. After Sun Bingxin cried herself out, she suddenly stood and pulled out a piece of paper from a drawer.

"Brother Songyang," she said, "when I became Qu Tingting just now, a sudden thought flashed through my mind."

She handed over the paper — it was a volunteer recruitment notice from an orphanage in Nanjiang City.

I was surprised. "Could it be that Qu Tingting volunteered there?"

Huang Xiaotao said, "From everything we've seen, she never planned to run away. It's getting late — let's rest tonight and visit her at the orphanage first thing tomorrow."

As we left, Sun Bingxin remained silent. She had just experienced a deep psychological journey, and I said, "Sorry, next time I won't let you do something so dangerous."

Sun Bingxin shook her head. "No, it was a strange but unforgettable experience for me. That girl is really so pitiful."

Huang Xiaotao growled, "Being pitiful doesn't justify murder!"

The next morning, we arrived early at the police station. After gathering, we drove to the orphanage.

It was nine in the morning when we got there. A group of children played in the yard. Qu Tingting was folding paper boats for a little girl, dressed in a caregiver's uniform, her smile bright and warm.

She walked out silently when she saw us. Calmly, she said, "I knew you would come looking for me."

"Why hide here?" Huang Xiaotao asked.

"Hide?" She shook her head with a smile. "I never planned to hide. This orphanage is where I grew up. Whenever I have time, I volunteer here. After Dr. Cheng was arrested yesterday, I knew I couldn't escape either. Before being caught, I wanted to do something good for the children."

Huang Xiaotao remarked, "If I didn't know you, I'd never guess you were a killer responsible for four deaths."

Qu Tingting's expression changed. "Four? The florist didn't die?"

I said, "She was saved just in time. I have to admit, your poisoning was incredibly clever."

Sun Bingxin asked, "Miss Qu, why did you do it?"

Her eyes darkened as she revealed everything. Because of the birthmark on her face, she had always lived under others' ridicule — friendless and loveless, each day dull and lifeless like a walking corpse.

Then Cheng Yahui appeared — a ray of light in her bleak world. He was the only man who smiled at her, who said thank you.

She knew his smiles were just manners, but she couldn't resist his charisma. Like sunlight warming her skin, she fell hopelessly in love. But soon she realized Cheng was a charming womanizer, never without beautiful women around. She was always the unnoticed Nurse Qu. They worked side by side but barely spoke, like they existed in separate worlds.

Her only outlet was secretly collecting his belongings — old clothes, hair, used tissues — and in the dead of night, thinking of him so painfully she'd slash her own arm.

She rolled up her sleeve, revealing layers of scars — a map of pain covering her skin.

She deluded herself, telling herself that though women came and went, she was the one who spent the most time with him. Seeing his smile each day was enough.

Then, about four months ago, one night Cheng was unusually irritable. Alone in the clinic, he told her to take off her clothes. With hope in her heart, she obeyed, and that night felt like a dream.

But the next day, he never mentioned it. Her hopes shattered again — he'd only used her to vent.

Later, when she discovered she was pregnant, she dared not tell Cheng, fearing he'd force her to abort. Instead, she sent an anonymous letter.

Cheng became agitated after reading it. He called five women inquiring — except her, as if that night never happened.

Overwhelmed by despair, she thought: If she killed every woman around him, maybe then she'd have a chance. That night gave her courage — even gods have their weaknesses.

She went on a rampage. Having studied pharmacology for three years in nursing school, she dusted off her knowledge, prepared, and launched her deadly hunt.

Qu Tingting told her story with a hint of excitement, her eyes full of lingering affection for Cheng. The four deaths? Mere collateral damage.

Huang Xiaotao sneered, "Killing all his women won't change anything. Don't you know what kind of man Cheng Yahui is? Without women, he'll just find more."

Qu Tingting hissed, "Then I'll kill more. Kill until he notices me! To make him need me, I even made him that medicine."

Wang Dali said, "Is it really worth it? For that scumbag?"

Suddenly, Qu Tingting lunged forward, shouting, "Don't you insult him!"

Huang Xiaotao quickly shielded herself. Though small, Qu Tingting looked like a lioness in fury — Wang Dali shrank back nervously.

Sun Bingxin said softly, "I understand. Even if someone's flawed, when you love them, they're perfect."

Qu Tingting nodded. Huang Xiaotao said, "Enough. No matter your reasons, murder demands justice. Qu Tingting, you'll pay for what you've done."

Qu Tingting sneered coldly, "You'll never catch me — I'm pregnant."