After Chen Shi finished speaking, Gao Xiaohui was visibly panicked. She stood up, shouting, "This is nonsense! How can you prove anything with just a coat? I have an alibi!"
She handed over the dinner receipt, but Chen Shi calmly pushed it aside. "Alibis like this don't hold weight unless someone can verify it. You can call your friends here and confront them."
Gao Xiaohui was flustered, searching for a response, her hands trembling.
"Evidence isn't just the coat," Chen Shi continued. "Gu Mengxing was reckless. Her boyfriend put a tracking app on her phone, and you used it to move around the crime scene twice. We've got hotel footage, and I'm a witness too." He pointed to himself. "These pieces of evidence form a solid case. And the ether—if we search the hospital, we'll find traces. Any more excuses, Dr. Gao?"
Gao Xiaohui slumped back into her chair, her gaze darting around. Lin Dongxue started to reach for the handcuffs, but Chen Shi gestured for her to wait.
Suddenly, Gao Xiaohui's demeanor shifted. She gritted her teeth and said, "That bitch deserved to die! She stole my boyfriend!"
Chen Shi raised an eyebrow. "So, you two were in a game together?"
"I met Shen Jun through an online game. We talked about everything. He suggested we meet, and since I was cautious, I took Gu Mengxing with me. I regret that decision. When we met, Shen Jun was just as I expected, but Gu Mengxing suddenly claimed to have a stomach ache and dragged me away."
"A few days later, I tried to meet him again. Shen Jun asked, 'Didn't we just meet?' That's when I realized what happened. I confronted Gu Mengxing, and she initially lied but later admitted she had slept with him."
"I never thought my best friend would steal my boyfriend. I should've known. She's the type who can't live without a man. After that, I hardly spoke to her, but she kept coming to me, bragging about how well things were going with Shen Jun. I thought, 'A bitch like you will end up dead one day.'"
"A few months ago, Shen Jun came to the clinic with an STD, and I knew it was because of her. I was furious. Shen Jun was such a good guy, and yet she took him. She never appreciated him."
She buried her face in her hands. Chen Shi asked, "So that's when you decided to kill her?"
"Yes," Gao Xiaohui sobbed. "It went exactly as you said. I thought I planned it perfectly, but how did you know so much?"
"Your plan had too many holes."
"Will I be sentenced to death? I don't want to die. Please, let me go!" Gao Xiaohui cried.
"That's not my decision," Chen Shi said sternly. "You made your choice. Now you must face the consequences. I sympathize with your pain, but murder is the worst solution."
Chen Shi stood up and gestured for Lin Dongxue to approach.
Lin Dongxue exhaled deeply, realizing the killer was in handcuffs. She was excited, though she couldn't express it with the suspect right there.
As she was about to cuff Gao Xiaohui, the woman suddenly pushed her away, grabbed a syringe from the drawer, and tried to inject herself.
Chen Shi quickly stopped her, knocking the syringe away. The smell of bitter almonds filled the air.
Chen Shi looked at Gao Xiaohui and said, "Listen, you may not get the death penalty. If you fight for it, you might still have a chance of being released one day."
Gao Xiaohui screamed, "Even if I get out in decades, I'll be an old woman! My life's ruined!" She broke down crying.
Chen Shi comforted her with a gentle pat on the shoulder.
Lin Dongxue stood frozen, unsure of what to make of this. Finally, she noticed Chen Shi signaling for the handcuffs. She handed them over and watched as he cuffed Gao Xiaohui, who quietly accepted it.
"Everyone must face the consequences of their choices. You made yours, don't blame others," Chen Shi said firmly. "And if you really wanted to die, prison has plenty of opportunities for that."
"Hey!" Lin Dongxue protested. "You can't say things like that!"
Chen Shi shrugged, then took off his jacket and draped it over Gao Xiaohui's shoulders to give her some dignity. As they were about to leave, Gao Xiaohui asked, "Who are you really?"
"A concerned driver," Chen Shi replied with a smile.
The three of them climbed into the car. Lin Dongxue was nearly bursting with excitement but kept quiet with the suspect present. Just then, her phone rang—it was Lin Qiupu.
"Where have you been, Dongxue? You didn't check in this morning. Are you acting on your own again? I've told you a hundred times—"
"Brother, I caught the suspect!"
Lin Qiupu froze. "Caught him?"
"This time it's real. We have the evidence."
"Where are you?"
"I'll be back soon. Get ready for the interrogation."
Lin Qiupu hesitated before saying, "Don't mess this up."
After the call ended, Chen Shi laughed. Lin Dongxue asked, "What's so funny?"
"I was just thinking about your brother's face when he finds out," he grinned. Turning to Gao Xiaohui, he asked, "Before we go to the police station, any last requests?"
Gao Xiaohui smiled faintly, resigned. "I want spicy hotpot from Shou Wang Palace."
"I'm hungry too," Chen Shi said. "Let's go."
"Hey! Don't make decisions for us!" Lin Dongxue protested.