Chapter 17: A Calculated Interruption

“We were playing such an interesting game. Why did you have to appear so suddenly?”

Before Li Mei could even inject the liquid from the syringe into Lin Qing’s body, Su Yao, from the adjacent bed, spoke out abruptly.

She remained lying on her bed, yet one hand actively pulled back the curtain. Her face wore a thoroughly displeased expression as she gazed at Li Mei.

Even upon witnessing Li Mei about to commit a heinous act, Su Yao showed no trace of panic.

She was remarkably calm.

Had it not been for the wager with Lin Qing, Su Yao would undoubtedly have welcomed Li Mei’s presence in the ward.

However, the circumstances had entirely changed.

More than the arrival of a murderer, Su Yao yearned to secure victory in their bet.

Su Yao glanced at the unconscious Lin Qing, then at the wall clock, which showed two minutes until midnight. ‘It’s truly upsetting that I won’t win this bet!’ she thought.

‘I actually thought I would win!’

Alas, with Lin Qing anesthetized and utterly defenseless, any further delay would mean his death.

‘I finally found a decent toy.’

‘If someone else breaks him, that would be terrible!’

‘I’d have to return to my boring daily routine.’

Therefore, she couldn’t simply ignore it, even if it meant losing the wager.

“What are you doing here!”

Upon seeing Su Yao appear in the adjacent bed, Li Mei’s previously upturned lips swiftly fell. Her panicked eyes gleamed with venomous resentment, and a thought flashed through her mind: ‘Should I kill this woman too?’

‘Damn rich people.’

‘They should all just die!’

‘Wait…’

‘No.’

Unlike the unconscious Lin Qing, Su Yao was fully capable and alert.

One shout, and the bodyguards at the door would rush in, leaving Li Mei utterly powerless.

She needed to remain calm and avoid revealing her intentions.

“If I were you, I’d remove that syringe. After all, Lin Qing’s condition doesn’t require injections; medication is sufficient.”

Yet, as if divining Li Mei’s thoughts, Su Yao’s direct gaze held an understanding that saw through everything.

She seemed privy to Li Mei’s every move, and even the mad schemes brewing in her heart.

Li Mei’s heart clenched. She realized her plan to bluff her way through had failed before it even began.

Now, she would have to pursue a different course.

“Don’t make a sound, or your boyfriend will die!”

Li Mei’s hand gripped the syringe tightly, poised to inject at any moment, using this as a threat against Su Yao.

As Lin Qing’s girlfriend, no matter how capable Su Yao was, she couldn’t possibly watch her boyfriend die before her eyes.

Afterward, Li Mei would only need to dispose of the syringe, and she would be absolved of any connection.

After all, there were no cameras inside the ward, only in the hallway and other areas.

“Indeed, he certainly cannot die.”

However, the certainty in Li Mei’s heart suddenly wavered.

Watching Su Yao, who remained sprawled on the bed, speaking with a leisurely and comfortable air, revealed no trace of concern for Lin Qing.

There was not a shred of tension or worry in her demeanor.

It was as if the person being threatened was not her boyfriend, but a random passerby on the street.

Su Yao’s smiling face was a false mask; only when her cold eyes met Li Mei’s could one discern that she held absolutely no affection for Lin Qing.

Everything had been an act.

‘How could this be possible!!!’

Su Yao and Lin Qing’s interactions in the hospital cafeteria had all fallen under Li Mei’s gaze; anyone with eyes could see their relationship was far from ordinary.

‘Could it be…?’

‘This was a premeditated scheme.’

‘Specifically targeting me!’

As these thoughts consumed her, Li Mei’s body began to tremble uncontrollably. Her gaze towards Su Yao turned fiercely menacing, knowing she had no escape today.

Even so, even if she were to die, she would drag someone down with her!

“Don’t get so agitated. Haven’t you noticed that even after all this talking, the bodyguards outside haven’t come in? The ward’s soundproofing isn’t very good, as you well know, which is why you resorted to anesthetics.”

Meeting Li Mei’s fierce glare, Su Yao merely rolled onto her side. She remained lying on the bed, then spoke with a smile.

Li Mei froze at her words.

Things had indeed become very strange.

If this was a trap set for her, the ropes could already be tightening. Trapped within the net, she would be unable to break free, left only to make a final, desperate struggle.

Even so, judging by Su Yao’s casual indifference towards Lin Qing, it would likely be a futile effort.

But why was Su Yao saying such things now? What was truly going on!

Suddenly, a myriad of thoughts swirled in Li Mei’s mind, utterly bewildered as to why things had taken such a turn.

“What exactly do you want?”

Because she had been unexpectedly exposed, when Li Mei spoke again, her voice was no longer melodious, but rather hoarse and low, as if a different person entirely.

Though Su Yao hadn’t directly called the bodyguards, Li Mei remained on high alert.

She feared there was a trick involved.

“Unlike that guy, I don’t go around being charitable. I’m simply very interested in you.”

Seeing that they were finally getting to the point, Su Yao’s interest was instantly piqued.

Her words were true.

Had she not been interested in Li Mei, Su Yao wouldn’t have gone through such lengths to remain in the hospital.

Of course, Lin Qing was one reason, but not the sole one.

“Does killing feel good?”

However, Su Yao’s next sentence immediately put Li Mei on edge.

‘What exactly does this woman, Su Yao, want to do!!!’

“If you want to know if it feels good, just kill someone, and you’ll find out.”

Although she didn’t understand Su Yao’s objective, Li Mei knew she couldn’t stay silent.

Otherwise, with a single shout from Su Yao, she would be utterly finished!

“I’d like to, but I can’t leave a criminal record.”

Su Yao shook her head, rejecting Li Mei’s ‘suggestion,’ stating that she couldn’t do such a thing.

Killing was wrong.

Once discovered, everything she had would vanish.

No matter how dazzling her current halo of prestige, with the disappearance of her status and position, those accolades would likewise fade away.

Like the powerful murderers in comics and novels, once they grew weary of their dull lives, the act of killing would only lead to them losing everything.

Recalling how her uncle had taught her from a young age not to do bad things, even using various real-life cases as examples, Su Yao let out a helpless sigh.

‘Having a police officer for an uncle really makes life too restrictive.’

“So, if we take a different approach… if I kill a murderer in self-defense, wouldn’t that solve everything? Plus, I’d become the victim and gain people’s sympathy.”

As Su Yao spoke, her expression grew increasingly excited.

Her obsidian-like eyes sparkled with an eager, impatient gleam.

“Lunatic!”

Seeing this, Li Mei roared in fury. Her hand immediately moved, preparing to inject the liquid from the syringe into Lin Qing’s body.

Even if she couldn’t escape today, she would kill as many people as possible!

However, before Li Mei could push the liquid from the syringe, a hand firmly gripped her wrist. The previously unconscious Lin Qing suddenly opened his eyes, then spoke.

“I agree with that statement.”

His eyes held a clear alertness, not at all like someone who had been unconscious.