The taste of the wine seemed to linger on Xu Qingzhu's lips and tongue. The wine was sweet and refreshing when it first entered her mouth, with a slight coolness, but it would become hot as it flowed down her throat, even burning her heart and lungs.
It's easy to imagine that it will have a strong aftereffect.
Xu Qingzhu has a low alcohol tolerance and doesn't drink much to begin with, so she couldn't withstand the aftereffects of the alcohol and her head was feeling a bit dizzy.
She hadn't actually drunk much, but the alcohol in the confined space made her feel slightly tipsy.
"Then who should I like?" Xu Qingzhu asked, her voice rising at the end, as if tinged with the effects of a strong drink, her eyes and brows smiling.
That face, which perfectly blended innocence and allure, now appeared both pure and seductive.
That cool voice seemed to be coated with honey, sticky yet making one's heart flutter and itch.
Liang Shi paused, slightly taken aback.
A few seconds later, Liang Shi leaned down and bit her cheek, then bit her lip.
Simply bite, without a trace of romance.
Xu Qingzhu poked her waist with her fingers and then gently pinched her.
Liang Shi said, "Anyway..."
She paused, then said, "I can't like her."
Xu Qingzhu asked, "Why?"
Liang Shi pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and his long eyelashes fluttered a few times, casting light and shadow under his eyelids.
After a moment of silence in the cramped space, Liang picked her up and tightened the collar of his suit jacket, the coolness of her skin still lingering on his fingertips.
Liang Shi's voice rang out, "I don't like Qi Jiao."
These words carried a hint of defiance: "Of course you can't like her either."
Xu Qingzhu: "?"
Liang Shi was drunk.
Her speech was so clear that it was hard to hear her clearly.
She rested her head on Xu Qingzhu's shoulder, murmuring, "You can like it..."
There was silence after that.
Xu Qingzhu looked down and found that she had closed her eyes and fallen asleep.
The most important part, which follows, was not mentioned.
The wine had such a strong aftereffect that it made him fall asleep very quickly. It's also possible that Liang Shi hadn't been resting well lately and had experienced a lot during the day. He was mentally exhausted at night, and after drinking a few glasses of wine, he was able to relax and fall asleep very quickly.
Xu Qingzhu was only slightly tipsy.
She lowered her eyes to look at Liang Shi, who was already sound asleep, and her slender, white fingers gently traced her jawline.
Xu Qingzhu's voice was muffled, "You idiot, sister~"
//
When Liang Shi woke up the next day, no one was home.
Xu Qingzhu has already gone to work.
It was probably due to the body's compensatory mechanism that Liang Shi slept soundly through the night after drinking those few glasses of wine last night.
It made up for all the sleep I missed while working late and waking up early on set.
She woke up in the master bedroom and wasn't too surprised, as if it were her room.
As her memories slowly returned, she first thought of what happened in the bar last night, feeling helpless and embarrassed, and finally just felt it was too absurd.
However, Xu Qingzhu also indulged her absurdity.
Liang Shi picked up her phone to check her messages. There was only one message from Chen Mian sent at 3 AM: "I miss Qi Jiao."
These five simple words caused Liang Shi's mood to plummet like a rollercoaster ride that morning.
She replied: "Let's go visit her grave after this is all over."
Qi Jiao's short life was like a soulless shell; surely she can't just be a nameless tombstone after she's gone?
So they wanted to help Qi Jiao have her name engraved on her tombstone.
Instead of becoming a wandering ghost even after death.
Liang Shi lay on the bed for a while, and when the sunlight poured in through the gap in the curtains, she raised her arm to block the sudden light.
I got up after basking in the sun for a while.
I was about to get up and make myself breakfast when I discovered that Xu Qingzhu had already placed the breakfast she had bought on the table.
Liang Shi had just unpacked the package when the phone rang.
It was a call from the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Gu Xingyue's surgery went smoothly, and she woke up today.
At the same time, Gu Zhaoyuan also rushed to the Municipal Public Security Bureau.
As the person who reported the case, Liang Shi needs to cooperate with the police investigation. Yesterday's statement was only a small part. Because it involves a murder case from many years ago, Liang Shi also needs to come to the hospital.
This matter has attracted the attention of higher authorities. Firstly, the person involved is a prominent entrepreneur in the city, and secondly, the nature of the case is so egregious that it can no longer be classified as a simple family dispute.
The more than twenty knife wounds on Qi Xiangui's body alone were enough to terrify anyone.
Liang Shi hurriedly ate a few bites and drove to the hospital.
Chen Mian probably drank too much last night and is still not awake, nor has he replied to Liang Shi's message.
When Liang Shi arrived at the hospital, Zhao Xuning was on duty, and the two bumped into each other at the entrance.
The moment Zhao Xuning saw her, he adjusted his glasses, looked her up and down, and gave her a complicated look.
Liang Shi immediately said, "I've come to see the person."
Zhao Xuning responded with an "oh," her voice as cold as ever, "I assumed you were here to apply for an annual pass."
Liang Shi: "..."
Zhao Xuning was wearing a white shirt, black pants, and a knee-length coat, with her hair casually tied in a low ponytail, much like her usual attire.
The two walked side by side. Although Zhao Xuning was about the same height as Liang Shi, Zhao Xuning had developed an extremely fast walking speed in the hospital, and Liang Shi had to walk briskly to keep up with her pace.
The elevator wasn't crowded at this time, and Liang Shi and Zhao Xuning stood in a corner after entering.
Recalling what happened on set that day, Liang Shi glanced at Zhao Xuning again and again.
Zhao Xuning turned to look at her. "Is something the matter?"
Liang Shi shook his head first, then Zhao Xuning asked, "Who are you here to see?"
“A friend,” Liang Shi said, “It’s not convenient for you to know.”
Zhao Xuning paused for two seconds: "Gu Xingyue?"
Liang Shi: "..."
When she and Chen Mian arrived yesterday, they did not see Zhao Xuning.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Xuning guessed it right away.
“Her surgery was performed by our director,” Zhao Xuning said. “I went to assist her.”
Even doctors rarely see patients like this. There are eight wounds on the body. They avoid vital areas, but there are large bleeding points everywhere. If they are not careful, they will be beyond saving.
When their head doctor was performing the surgery, he even wondered if the person was a medical student.
But it was just a joke.
Gu Xingyue also had a fatal wound on her body. The knife was 20 centimeters long and it took more than three hours to stitch it up.
Because they were designated as key individuals for protection by the Municipal Public Security Bureau, the hospital used its most renowned doctors; they didn't even dare use interns as assistants, and it was all the doctors who took charge.
After that surgery was completed, their elderly chief physician went to receive an infusion of glucose.
Zhao Xuning knew it was Qi Jiao as soon as he saw her face, but he didn't expect that when he collected the patient information after the surgery, the name he collected was Gu Xingyue.
She was determined to investigate, so she used some connections and asked a relative who worked at the municipal bureau, and naturally learned some inside information.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Public Security Bureau also sent samples for DNA testing.
Zhao Xuning, who already knew a little about this matter, could deduce anything with this additional information.
The elevator was crowded, making it inconvenient to discuss these matters. As they were getting off the elevator, Zhao Xuning paused slightly before calling out to Liang Shi, "Come with me."
//
Liang Shi was unaware that Zhao Xuning already knew everything. After arriving at her office, he pulled up a chair and sat down, while Zhao Xuning took off her glasses and placed them on the table, then took out a white coat from the cabinet.
Liang Shi asked, "What do you want with me?"
Zhao Xuning first frowned as he disinfected the white coat, and the office was soon filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant. Liang Shiyong covered his nose with his hand.
After disinfection, Zhao Xuning hung his white coat on the hanger, then crossed his arms and looked at Liang Shi: "There is an 80% chance that Gu Xingyue's injuries were inflicted by herself. The location and depth of the cuts are very similar."
"...So it wasn't her who was injured?" Liang Shi asked in surprise.
Zhao Xuning said, "She was also injured, and her wounds were quite serious."
"Did you report this situation?" Liang Shi asked.
Zhao Xuning nodded: "Of course, but all her wounds look like they were inflicted by her, so they were all reported as her wounds."
Liang Shi: "..."
"After Qi Jiao passed away, Madam Qi found Gu Xingyue to be Qi Jiao's substitute, right?" Zhao Xuning asked.
Liang Shi hesitated for a moment, then asked tentatively, "Why are you asking these questions?"
Zhao Xuning remained silent.
"There's something I need to tell you, but I'm not sure if I should," Zhao Xuning said. "I'm thinking about it."
Liang Shi: "?"
"What is Gu Xingyue's true identity?" Zhao Xuning asked. "Is it possible to find her biological parents?"
Liang Shi shook his head: "She was adopted by the former director of the Angel Orphanage. She was abandoned at the orphanage gate right after she was born."
Zhao Xuning frowned in thought, returned to his desk, opened a drawer, and found a document at the bottom.