The toxic reaction Dr. Xu experienced today must have been caused by that bottle of medication. The lab results came back quickly—it was ephedrine. In small amounts, this substance is harmless, but in larger doses, it can lead to poisoning. Yet again, this was another instance of the same method.
I realized that Dr. Xu often engaged in stimulating activities with many women, and Shan Yayun must have orchestrated this as a form of revenge. She wanted him to experience sudden pain during moments of excitement. What a cruel and devious method of payback.
Earlier, I had wondered how Dr. Xu could have been poisoned while staying at the police station all day. Now, everything was clear.
I sent officers to arrest Shan Yayun while Xiao Yuande and I rushed to Fuming City Medical School.
When we arrived, we quickly found Dr. Xu's lover, Xing Anlü, in her office. Upon seeing us, she asked, "Who are you?"
I introduced myself as a detective and showed her a photo of Dr. Xu. "Do you know this man?"
"Haha, that's Dr. Xu Haorang. Who in Fuming City doesn't know him? He's so handsome. Of course I know him."
"Have you had any… improper relations with him?"
"Well, how should I put it? I'm his patient. I've been treated by him. Why do you ask?"
From her reaction, I could tell she had indeed been involved with Dr. Xu in that way. I said, "Three women who had contact with him have already died. We came here specifically to protect you."
"What? How could he kill anyone?"
"We suspect someone else. Don't worry. As long as we're here, you'll be safe."
We stayed in her office, ensuring no one could enter. Around lunchtime, Xing ordered a takeaway meal. As she was about to eat, I stopped her with a silver needle and said, "Don't eat yet. Let's test it for poison."
"Oh my God, you're so cautious! This is from a restaurant I order from daily. They'd never poison their food—it would ruin their reputation!"
"It's just a precaution," I explained, inserting the silver needle into her food. Seeing no discoloration, I assured her, "It's fine. You can eat now."
"Hmph, you're wasting time! My food's getting cold!" she grumbled, taking large bites of her meal, clearly irritated.
Xiao and I stayed alert, watching the area near the office closely. We observed everyone who passed by or interacted with her, scrutinizing every detail.
Soon after, Xing finished her meal. Seeing that we were hungry, she offered, "Why don't I order something for you?"
"No need!" I replied casually. Then I noticed her pulling some chestnuts from her bag and popping them into her mouth. Alarmed, I shouted, "Don't eat that!"
"Why not? I always have a few chestnuts after meals," she replied dismissively. I grabbed her arm to stop her from swallowing, but she ignored me. With a gulp, it was too late.
Within two minutes, she began vomiting violently. Her body convulsed, her face turned pale, and she almost choked. I quickly called for an ambulance. Xiao exclaimed, "The killer is smart, always targeting food or daily habits to administer poison!"
"Exactly. These substances aren't inherently toxic, but in the right doses, they can be lethal. Many things in the world can become poison depending on the amount. The killer is exploiting this loophole, making it nearly impossible to trace the source of the poison."
As Xing's condition worsened, the other professors stayed away in fear. We opened windows to let in fresh air, anxiously waiting until the ambulance arrived.
A team of medical staff soon entered the office and carried Xing out on a stretcher. Watching her leave, we handed the case over to the hospital and turned our focus to capturing Shan Yayun. However, officers Gao Qiang, Li Siqi, Zhang Wang, and Liu Chao reported back, saying they couldn't find her.
At the hospital, we discovered that Shan had already fled. Gao explained, "She must have realized Dr. Xu was exposed and knew we'd soon trace everything back to her, so she ran."
"I understand. Tell Li Hong and Feng Sicheng to pursue her with full force. We must bring her in," I instructed.
I suspected that Shan, with her expertise in preparing poison, might have hidden in a concealed or secret location.
Returning to the hospital, we searched Dr. Xu's former office, now sealed off by the police. Using my deep gaze, I carefully inspected the area. On a book atop the desk, I found a letter. Opening it, I read:
"Dear Dr. Xu,
I have to leave for a while. I can't help you with your medication for now, so please take care of yourself. I'll be waiting for you. By the way, I'm pregnant. Do you remember that night's nightmare? I hope you'll be happy to know this."
Seeing this letter shocked me. Didn't Dr. Xu claim he had no relationship with Shan Yayun? Yet here she was, saying she was pregnant. The content of the letter confirmed that Shan and Dr. Xu must have been involved.
Reading the letter, both Xiao Yuande and Gao Qiang looked equally stunned. We bagged it as evidence and continued our investigation.
Initially, we found nothing unusual. However, upon closer inspection of the desk, I noticed something peculiar—a barely visible button. With my sharp eyes, I managed to spot it.
I pressed the button, and to my surprise, a hidden trapdoor in the floor opened. The design was ingenious. As I fell through, nearby officers rushed over, astonished.
"Captain He, are you alright?" Xiao called down.
"I'm fine. I didn't expect such a large hidden chamber here. Come down!"
Soon, Xiao, Gao, and others joined me in the underground space. What we found was astonishing—countless oil paintings and photographs of Dr. Xu, along with his clothing, socks, even used tissues.
It became immediately clear that this was where Shan prepared her poisons. The chamber was a shrine to Dr. Xu, filled with items that showcased her obsession with him.