Chapter 2

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed, surrounded by the pungent smell of disinfectant.

My father’s voice sounded beside me: “Officer, our Xia is honest and well-behaved, obedient and sensible. She could never do something like murder.”

A young, unfamiliar male voice soothed him: “Uncle, please rest assured. We’re just conducting a routine inquiry.”

I opened my eyes in a daze. My father rolled his wheelchair over to my bedside, grabbed my hand, and began to cry:

“Xia! You’re awake! You’re finally awake! What happened? Why were you poisoned…?”

“I-I’m fine, don’t… worry.” As soon as I spoke, my voice was hoarse, and my throat hurt terribly.

It must have been the poison that damaged my throat.

I didn’t die? I actually survived!

What about them?

My hand trembled as I turned my head slightly, wanting to ask my father, but instead I met a pair of clean, bright eyes.

“Hello, Ji Xia. I’m Zhong Minglang from the Municipal Criminal Investigation Team, in charge of your case.”

“What case?”

“The Renwen University ‘May 1st Poisoning Case.’ Deng Xingxing, Cheng Youran, Qin Xue, and you, Ji Xia-four people were poisoned at the same time. During the Swan Lake performance at the school gala, the poison took effect. The other three died on the way to the hospital. You survived.”

Hearing Zhong Minglang’s words, I felt a chill all over my body. In an instant, my mind was racing.

Finally, I looked up, meeting his probing gaze, and laughed a little hysterically:

“Yes, I was the one who poisoned them.”