Qu Tingting had a point. According to the Criminal Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China, female offenders had the right to probation during pregnancy and a further period of twelve months for breastfeeding.
“The court will decide that later,” said Xiaotao. “Our duty right now is to arrest you.”
Qu Tingting offered both of her hands and said, “Fine. I’ll go with you without question.”
“Wait!” I interrupted them.
I put a finger on her pulse and listened to it for a while.
“I’m sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “You’re not pregnant.”
Pregnant people had a special pulse—it would feel like a bouncing ball. Qu Tingting’s pulse, though, was completely normal.
This revelation startled Qu Tingting.
“But that’s impossible!” she cried. “Dr. Cheng and I definitely did…”
“That doesn’t mean that you’d get pregnant,” I argued. “Your menstruation pattern probably went haywire because you’ve been inhaling too many chemicals. If you don’t believe me, we can take you to the hospital right now.”
“In that case…” Qu Tingting’s tongue rolled, and a tiny glass vial with some liquid inside it appeared between her teeth. “I’ve been through enough. I refuse to go to jail!”
We all froze in shock. I was afraid that she would die the instant she bit the vial.
“Don’t do it, Qu Tingting!” Xiaotao shouted.
“Who will give Dr. Cheng his antidote when you die, Qu Tingting?” Bingxin reminded her. “If you die, he’ll die too!”
Qu Tingting’s eyes widened. She spat out the poison immediately and crouched into a fetal position on the ground, crying. Xiaotao handcuffed her immediately. She was then taken into Wang Yuanchao’s car. Dali sighed and remarked, “What a crazy thing love is…”
“Alright, Mr. Poet!” Xiaotao interrupted him. “Let’s get in the car!”
“Nah, I’ll go back in Uncle Wang’s car instead,” he said. “The atmosphere in your car is as icy as Antarctica.”
“I don’t get it,” I commented after getting in the car. “Why do women like bad guys?”
“You’re wrong, Song Yang-gege,” Bingxin responded. “Women don’t like bad guys. Women like guys who stand out among others.”
She then slowly stretched out her hand to hold my arm, but Xiaotao suddenly slammed the brakes, making Bingxin bump her head against the passenger seat.
“What the hell are you doing?” she yelled.
Xiaotao completely ignored her and said to me, “I’ve got some dumplings at my place. Come and have dinner together later!”
I blushed to the roots of my hair, unsure of how to answer her. Xiaotao continued to urge me so I finally agreed.
“No! Song Yang-gege was going to invite me to dinner tonight! You still owe me a meal, remember?”
“Who do you think you are?”
“Who do you think you are?”
They were locked in another staredown and neither were willing to back down. I felt that it was time to clarify my relationship with Xiaotao to Bingxin, so I told her, “Bingxin, Xiaotao and I are actually…”
I paused. Xiaotao was eagerly anticipating what I was about to say, but I really didn’t know what to say. For one thing, we weren’t in an official relationship yet yet; and secondly, Bingxin was looking at me with sad pleading eyes. I couldn’t bring myself to be blunt to her then.
“We’re especially close to each other, do you understand?”
Bingxin sighed in relief. “Then you’re not officially together yet! Do you remember that I confessed my feelings to you when we were young, Song Yang-gege?”
Xiaotao’s eyes rounded and I quickly retorted, “Geez, Bingxin! We were kids back then! How could anyone take that seriously?”
“Well I was serious anyway!” Bingxin argued with her chin raised defiantly.
“And do you still believe that a tree would grow on your head if you swallow watermelon seeds?” Xiaotao sneered.
“I don’t care what anyone says!” declared Bingxin. Then she grabbed my arm tightly and added, “From now on, I’m announcing to the whole world that Song Yang-gege is mine!”
Xiaotao wordlessly picked up her phone and dialed a number.
“Yes...” I heard her say. “She’s here with me… I understand…” Then she passed her phone to Bingxin and told her, “Your dad wants a word with you.”
Bingxin laughed and stuck out her tongue at Xiaotao and said, “I don’t believe you!”
Just then, we heard Sun Tiger’s mighty roar coming from the phone saying, “Sun Bingxin! Who gave you permission to get involved with the investigation?”
Bingxin frowned and took the phone. She spoke with Sun Tiger for a long time. Once in a while, I could hear her father’s booming voice. In the end, the obviously deflated Bingxin finally mumbled, “Take me back to my dorm, Xiaotao-jiejie!”
Before she got out of the car once we’d arrived at the medical school, she reminded me, “Call me later, Song Yang-gege!”
“Finally,” sighed Xiaotao after Bingxin had gone, “I’ve sent the little devil away. Don’t forget to come over at my place later tonight, Song Yang!”