Seeing that Uesugi Shion still showed no reaction, Fushimi Roku continued to threaten:
"I know you might actually be dumb, but I still have to interrogate you. Next, I’m going to stick this needle into the gap under your fingernail. If you don’t want to experience the special torture I’ve developed, you’d better come clean and confess..."
As he spoke, he took a needle from the medical waste bin, untied a band, and pinched Uesugi Shion’s finger.
Uesugi Shion’s gaze remained clear and harmless, showing no sign of fear.
Fushimi Roku locked eyes with her; their gazes met. He slowly aimed the needle at Uesugi Shion’s index finger, and the tension in the ward intensified.
At the moment the needle tip pierced the skin, Uesugi Shion finally reacted. She opened her mouth slightly, as if trying to say something.
Fushimi Roku paused his hand holding the needle steadily, carefully observing Uesugi Shion’s subtle expressions, but found no flaw; she still wore the same silly, cheerful look akin to Patrick from "SpongeBob SquarePants."
"What do you want to say?" he had to ask.
Uesugi Shion’s mouth opened and closed slightly, as if wanting to speak but unsure how to express it, making strange sounds like ’ah-woo ah-woo.’
Fushimi Roku didn’t know if she was pretending or really wanted to speak, so he pointed at the hourglass on the bedside table, reminding her that time was running out.
Uesugi Shion went on with her ’ah-bar ah-bar’ routine for a while, as if struck by inspiration, she showed a ’beef noodle shop owner’ classic expression, rapidly blinked her eyes, and craned her neck to get closer to Fushimi Roku. The latter thought she was about to say something, stayed alert, and leaned his ear closer.
Uesugi Shion gently parted her lips and uttered three syllables:
Fushimi Roku’s first reaction was that this person was messing with him, and immediately turned into the infamous ’Grandma Rong,’ stabbing the needle into Uesugi Shion’s fingernail.
Uesugi Shion cried out in pain, tears as big as beans rolled down her smooth cheeks, her long lashes quivered gently as she sobbed—indeed a moving sight, a beautiful woman even looks gorgeous when crying, especially when she cries while shouting ’Daddy, it hurts’...
Fushimi Roku couldn’t take it anymore.
But not in that particular way, rather in a ’Is this person an idiot?’ way.
To prevent the sound from leaking out and being heard, Fushimi Roku was forced to gag Uesugi Shion. Her cries changed from ’Daddy, it hurts’ to ’mmm-woo-woo,’ her chest heaving violently, sounding even more bizarre.
The nurse came knocking again, asking what was going on.
Fushimi Roku realized now wasn’t a good time for interrogation. He pulled out the thin needle, came up with an excuse, dismissed the nurse, and pondered how to take Uesugi Shion away.
If it were just about taking Uesugi Shion out of the hospital, it wouldn’t actually be too difficult for him. The biggest problem was Minamoto Tamako; if she saw Fushimi Roku leaving, she would surely follow and immediately notice another woman by Mr. Fu Jian’s side...
There was no other choice but to take a risk.
Fushimi Roku smiled as he began undressing Uesugi Shion, saying regretfully, "I’m sorry, I don’t want it to be this way either..."
On the other side, Minamoto Tamako was trying to move and convince the neurology department head with senses and logic.
She claimed that a kind life was being persecuted, and only by speaking the truth could the other person be saved. Moreover, many innocent people lost their lives because of Uesugi Shion. She hoped the neurology department head would uphold the medical oath, be compassionate, and cooperate with her investigation.
The neurology department head listened quietly and replied with one sentence:
"First register, then have a consultation."
Minamoto Tamako puffed her little lips, planning to clarify that she wasn’t ill—not only was she not ill, but she was also a criminal police officer, with the authority to interrogate citizens!
Respect is given to those who show respect, so she wouldn’t blame herself for being ruthless now!
Minamoto Tamako felt it necessary to show the other party how it’s done, like Mr. Fu Jian showing his police badge, surely able to scare the neurology department head out of his wits!
However, before she could take action, the hospital’s fire alarm suddenly sounded.
The urgent alarm blared continuously, the administrator began organizing patients for evacuation, the corridors were filled with anxious people quickly heading downstairs through the safety exit.
Minamoto Tamako stretched her neck, looking around nervously as thick smoke poured out from upstairs.
She was startled, worried something had happened to Mr. Fu Jian, and immediately rushed upstairs against the current of people, totally unaware of a ’fake doctor’ pushing an emergency stretcher downstairs.
"Cough cough... cough cough..."
"Mr. Fu Jian! Where are you, Mr. Fu Jian?!"
Minamoto Tamako looked all around, seeing nothing but dense smoke in the hallway, with no sight of a fire source. The smoke alarm sprinklers spun around, quickly drenching her like a drowned rat.
Unexpectedly, the ward was empty; no raging fire, no people in sight, and the smoke was coming from the adjacent men’s restroom.
Minamoto Tamako looked bewildered. She considered that maybe the bodyguard had taken Uesugi Shion and escaped. Mr. Fu Jian, tasked with keeping an eye on Uesugi Shion, probably chased after her when he saw her leaving the hospital.
Realizing she’d done something foolish, she quickly slapped her forehead, preparing to run downstairs for safety.
As she traversed the corridor, Minamoto Tamako didn’t feel hot; instead, she felt a bit cold. Turning to look, it seemed the smoke was already dispersing.
Minamoto Tamako sensed something was off, deciding to check the source of the fire in the men’s restroom. As she passed by the nurse’s station, the landline phone suddenly rang. She hesitated for a moment, thinking it might be an emergency concerning a patient who couldn’t get in touch with anyone. Since she encountered it, she couldn’t just ignore it.
"Moshi Moshi?" Minamoto Tamako answered the phone.
"Thank goodness, you finally answered!" Fushimi Roku’s voice came through the receiver, sounding urgent, "The hospital caught fire; I’m downstairs now. I didn’t see you come down, couldn’t get in touch with you, so I had no choice but to call this landline... What are you doing up there?"