translated_Chapter 44

44: Counter-Schemed

The young people below the stage were buzzing with discussion.

A young male college student exclaimed in surprise, “Wow, I’m actually encountering a plot straight out of an anime. Could there be a top-tier thief trying to steal something?”

His girlfriend, huddled in his arms, said timidly, “I don’t know. Does the capital experience power outages too? This area seems pretty good.”

“So scary…”

…

Jing Yueming hurriedly urged the staff to turn on the emergency lights.

But even faster than the emergency lights was a beam of blue-violet light.

The ultraviolet light shone on Qiu Ci’s face, passing through the edges of his body and illuminating the one-meter-by-one-meter “Twins” painting.

The red and black areas, excluding the two infants, glowed with a blue light.

Jing Yueming looked towards the source of the ultraviolet light in surprise.

Tsukimi Rin, still in her trench coat and with her hair neatly styled, held the ultraviolet flashlight.

“Mr. Qiu, can I have a chat with you now?”

Qiu Ci went from initial surprise to understanding: “Of course, madam. What questions do you have?”

Tsukimi Rin said emotionlessly, “You and Miss Ai La are twins.”

“Yes, my sister and I grew up together. We only separated when she went to study in Japan at seventeen,” Qiu Ci said with a gentle smile.

“Two years ago, you had a conflict with Miss Ai La over her inheritance. At the time, you even wanted to impersonate her and inherit Mr. Louis’s estate.”

A surprised “wow” erupted from below the stage.

The audience didn’t even know if it was a real confrontation or a special performance.

Jing Yueming rushed backstage to find staff to turn on the emergency lights and kick Tsukimi Rin out.

However, the staff seemed to be acting dumb, ignoring him completely. The manager gently reassured him but showed no intention of resolving the issue.

The upright Qiu Ci was about to explain.

Tsukimi Rin followed up closely, “Do I need to produce the recording of Louis’s will and the evidence of you leading the notary to reverse right and wrong?”

“Yes, we did get angry over the inheritance,” Qiu Ci admitted to this point: “Can you turn off the ultraviolet light, please? My eyes are very uncomfortable.”

“No rush, Qiu Ci. The pigments in this painting contain a large amount of thallium salt, that is, thallium compounds, molecular formula TlSO, thallium metal itself does not emit light, but thallium sulfate will fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light.”

“That’s an interesting easter egg. I really didn’t notice. That’s really interesting.”

The male college student below the stage opened his mouth wide in surprise: “Thallium metal, highly toxic! Thallium sulfate was one of the raw materials for making rat poison a few years ago. Oh crap, run!” Saying this, he covered his girlfriend’s mouth and nose and ran outside. Although this dose wouldn’t cause any problems unless ingested or directly contacted, what if the other works were also poisonous?

The emergency lights also came on just in time, and the crowd left through the emergency exits one after another, but they didn’t expect the perimeter to be surrounded by police.

Only after explaining that they were ordinary spectators could they leave.

In the vast exhibition hall, only Qiu Ci, Tsukimi Rin, and some fearless reporters who were desperate to know more breaking news were left.

These people were blocked by the police within a safe zone.

As well as Jing Yueming and Su Yuyang, who had just come out of the back office.

Armed police came in and surrounded Qiu Ci and Tsukimi Rin in circles.

Qiu Ci opened his mouth, but said nothing.

Tsukimi Rin sneered, “You gave poisonous pigments to Qiu Shi, and poisoned your own sister for the inheritance, Qiu Ci! Do you know that when Ai La was fighting you for the inheritance back then, she never thought of harming your life!” Her eyes were filled with tears.

“Is that how it was…” Qiu Ci said with a sense of realization: “However, there’s a loophole. Before my sister passed away, she had already given me full authority to manage the company. The motive of harming her life for the sake of inheritance is not very valid.”

Tsukimi Rin took out a letter: “This is Qiu Shi’s inheritance certificate. It clearly states that all her assets, after death, are voluntarily donated to Jing Yueming of the Painting Department of X University. Qiu Shi had been sponsoring this college student in the past few years. The inheritance is not for you, Qiu Ci. I found this in Qiu Shi’s home. Qiu Ci, you didn’t know that Qiu Shi had another property, after all, this property was bought in the name of her assistant, and the key has been with the assistant for a long time.”

Qiu Ci nodded knowingly, “That’s not strange then, Miss Tsukimi, thank you for helping me find out the truth and seek, uphold, justice for my sister. The pigment wasn’t given by me. I don’t even know what she was doing before she passed away. Whether it was painting in the studio or sending pigments, it was done by her lover, that is, the high school student she was sponsoring.” Qiu Ci turned to see Jing Yueming standing there in a daze: “That’s right, isn’t it, classmate Jing Yueming.”

Jing Yueming, as Ai La’s lover, poisoned her to death in order to get the things on Ai La’s will as soon as possible.

This was more powerful than saying that Qiu Ci, who lacked nothing, poisoned her.

Tsukimi Rin was surprised, “Ai La’s pigments are a limited edition of a very niche brand. You did spend money on this item last year.”

“I also come from an artistic background, and I came into contact with it earlier than my sister. Is there anything strange about buying pigments for my own use? That box of pigments is still in my house, you can go find it. The pigments for my sister weren’t sent by me.”

In the end, Jing Yueming and Qiu Ci were escorted into the police station for questioning.

All the way, Jing Yueming was unable to think.

How could it be, there was poison in the pigment, how could there be poison.

Where was he going to find that thallium sulfate or whatever.

Ai La didn’t commit suicide.

She was poisoned.

Who poisoned her.

It couldn’t be Qiu Ci, how could it be Qiu Ci.

Compared to Qiu Ci murdering Ai La.

What made Jing Yueming more painful was the affection he had felt for the past few months.

Qiu Ci coldly used only a few words to extricate himself and push Jing Yueming into the abyss.

All of this happened too smoothly.

Was Qiu Ci planning this all along? Once an accident occurred, he would throw Jing Yueming out.

The “Twins” in the blue starry sky seemed to be satirizing this farce.

The younger brother murders the older sister.

The siblings share a lover, one is a substitute, and the other is a scapegoat.

If it was just to strike a blow at Jing Yueming at this time, it would be too much of a waste of resources.

He should have thrown Jing Yueming into prison as soon as Qiu Shi died.

That would save so much trouble.

He wouldn’t be involved with Tsukimi Rin, nor would he have to sacrifice himself.

Qiu Ci is a cold-blooded animal.

Like a snake.

In a warm environment, he will become slightly milder.

Jing Yueming’s head ached with confusion, all the way until he finished his statement.

Before entering the detention room, he brushed past Qiu Ci in the hallway: “Qiu Ci…” He felt so uncomfortable that he wanted to cry.

“Don’t whisper,” the police warned him.

Jing Yueming had too many questions he wanted to ask Qiu Ci, was it necessary?

To spend so much time on this matter.

Deceiving him, scheming against him.

What love, what crush.

How could he fall in love with someone because of a design draft.

He was also stupid, to actually believe it.