Chapter 93 "Even if the sky falls, I'm here."
After Lu Shengheng was sent away, Lu Yu immediately called Cheng Yi.
The call was connected almost instantly. "Cheng Yi, come to the old house restaurant immediately and bring a sealed bag and gloves."
In less than two minutes, Cheng Yi appeared at the door of the restaurant. He was obviously on standby nearby. There was no extra expression on his face, only absolute obedience and efficiency.
Lu Yu handed the napkin-wrapped wine glass to Cheng Yi and signaled with his eyes, "Lu Shengheng just fainted here from poisoning. There's an unknown powder residue on the edge of the glass. Lin Che suspects it was a cardiotoxic drug, such as procainamide or quinidine. You should personally deliver it to the Physical Evidence Section of the Municipal Bureau's Criminal Investigation Corps, explain the situation, and request an urgent toxicology test. Also, file a formal report in the name of the Lu Group, requesting the police to intervene in the investigation of Lu Shengheng's poisoning. Remember to emphasize that this is a suspected poisoning case that occurred at the Lu family's old residence. The victim's identity is unique and must be taken seriously."
"Yes, Mr. Lu." Cheng Yi took the wrapped wine glass with both hands, and was extremely careful to avoid any secondary contamination. Without a word of nonsense, he bowed slightly and then turned and walked away quickly.
Lu Zhihui and Song Wanzhi looked at their son's swift and decisive arrangements. The shock and anger on their faces had not subsided, but were filled with a layer of solemnity and fear.
Lu Zhihui sat back heavily in the chair, pinching his brows tiredly, his voice hoarse: "Ayu... this, this is..." He couldn't imagine what kind of huge waves would be set off if Lu Shengheng really died here.
Lu Yu walked to Lu Zhihui and put his hand on his father's tense shoulders, "Dad, don't worry, leave it to me." Lu Yu's voice was low, but with a reassuring power.
Lu Yu turned his gaze to Lin Che. Lin Che had just experienced a high-intensity first aid. His forehead was soaked with sweat and his face was a little pale. He was frowning slightly, as if he was trying hard to recall some details.
"Procainamide..."
Lin Che repeated the drug's name in a low voice, as if confirming his own judgment. "If the dose is high enough, it can cause severe heart block and ventricular arrhythmia, leading to an attack of Asperger's syndrome, which is the sudden loss of consciousness, convulsions, and cardiac and respiratory arrest we just saw. Mixing it with alcohol will accelerate absorption and increase its toxicity."
He paused, then looked up at Lu Yu with a firm gaze. "The reason I'm so impressed by this is that when I was in graduate school, there was a senior fellow in the forensic toxicology department in the lab next to ours. He was working on a simulated case project at the time, studying how to use procainamide to fake an acute heart attack and cause death. Out of curiosity, I attended a few of his group meetings, and I remember very clearly the characteristics of this drug's poisoning, the difficulties in clinical rescue, and the key points of forensic identification."
Lin Che's gaze swept over the spot where Lu Shengheng had fallen, as well as the seat he had been sitting in. Her tone was filled with cold analysis. "Judging from the timing, the poison took effect very quickly. It's almost certain he ingested it at the dinner table. The powder on the rim of the wine glass was either an accidental addition when the drug was administered, or... it was intentionally left there to confuse the audience."
He approached the dining table and pointed to where Lu Shengheng's plate and wine glass were placed. He lowered his voice so that only Lu Yu and the Lu Zhihui couple nearby could hear: "Look, the placement of his tableware, especially the knife and fork, did not show any obvious signs of panic before he fell. If he was forced to poison by someone, or if he took the poison on his own accord, the tableware would not have been kept so neatly in the painful struggle before the poison took effect. This is more like..."
Lin Che paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of several people before he spoke word by word, "This is more like a carefully rehearsed play. He likely put the powder into the wine at a specific, inconspicuous moment, like when he was drinking, or pretending to wipe his mouth with a napkin, and then calmly drank it. He calculated the time of the attack, collapsing at the moment when your conflict was at its most intense and he seemed to be forced into a desperate situation. His goal was to firmly pin the blame for being persecuted on the Lu family! Especially you, Lu Yu."
"Poisoned himself?" Song Wanzhi gasped and covered her mouth in disbelief. "Is he... is he crazy? This is too risky!"
"Wealth and honor are achieved through risk, especially when they think they have victory." Lu Yu's voice was as cold as ice, with suppressed anger and cold calculation in his eyes.
He understood all of Lin Che's hints.
"He's gambling. He's betting on his luck, that he can be rescued in time. He's betting that if he can't be rescued, his son Lu Chi will be able to use the forged will as a 'victim' and, under the pressure of public opinion and so-called 'family affection', forcibly demand shares. He might even cause unrest in the group and profit from it. And whether he lives or dies, if anything happens here, the blame will be directed at the Lu family, at me."
Lu Zhihui was so angry that he was shaking all over. He slammed the table and said, "You beast! You're a beast! For money, you can even use your own life as a bargaining chip!"
Lu Yu gently held his father's agitated arm, but looked at Lin Che with a questioning look: "You just said that he has regained a weak spontaneous breathing?"
"Yes, when the ambulance took him away, his heartbeat and breathing, although extremely weak, had recovered." Lin Che nodded, then added, "But this doesn't mean he's out of danger. Procainamide poisoning causes persistent damage to the myocardium. Arrhythmias can recur at any time, and it can cause severe myocardial depression and hypotension. The rescue process will be extremely dangerous. Even if he is saved, he may suffer permanent heart damage or even... brain damage."
As a doctor, he stated the most objective and cruel possibility.
Lu Yu's eyes flickered, and there was no sympathy for Lu Shengheng in them, only cold consideration.
He was silent for a few seconds, then spoke again, his voice carrying the calmness of someone in control of the situation: "In other words, there's a chance he won't wake up, or...even if he does, he'll be useless."
Lin Che looked into Lu Yu's eyes, understanding what he meant. He nodded slowly, "From a medical perspective, yes. Severe poisoning leading to cardiogenic shock and multiple organ failure has a low survival rate. Even if someone survives, the prognosis is extremely poor."
Lu Yu's lips curled up into a cold, emotionless arc, the kind of cold scrutiny a hunter might give his prey as it steps into a deadly trap. He pulled out his phone and dialed another number, this time to a contact at the hospital.
When the call was connected, Lu Yu's voice returned to its usual calmness, but with an unquestionable pressure: "Dean Li, it's me, Lu Yu. My uncle Lu Shengheng just had an emergency at home, suspected of drug poisoning, and is on his way to your hospital for emergency treatment. His condition is extremely critical. Please mobilize the best team of experts, use the best equipment, and do your best to save him. No matter what the cost, I want him alive."
He paused, his tone emphasizing a deeper meaning. "Also, please ensure all medical records are kept, especially toxicology test results, emergency medications, and changes in vital signs. Record the entire process on video and archive it. He is an important individual, and his safety is of paramount importance. All treatment procedures must be strictly standardized and withstand any scrutiny. Do you understand?"
A respectful and solemn assurance came from the other end of the phone.
After hanging up the phone, Lu Yu's eyes swept across the messy restaurant, finally landing on Lin Che's tired but still clear eyes. He reached out and gently brushed away the sweat-soaked hair on Lin Che's forehead.
"Thank you for your hard work." His voice was low.
Lin Che shook her head and looked at Lu Yu with concern: "Next... is the tough battle."
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When Lin Che came out of the bathroom, Lu Yu was standing on the edge of the terrace with his back to the room, one hand in his trouser pocket and the other holding his phone to his ear.
The night outlined his tall, slightly tense figure, the light from his phone screen illuminating the hard lines of his jaw. His voice was low, but it carried an undeniable command and clear instructions, remarkably clear in the stillness of the night.
"Public opinion monitoring has been upgraded. All related terms, especially those involving 'Lu family,' 'Lu Yu,' 'poisoning,' and 'inheritance,' will be tracked 24 hours a day. If any abnormal signs are found, the emergency plan will be immediately activated."
"Over at Cheng Yi's place, please expedite the inspection of the physical evidence. Please hurry up, Captain Liu. I need a preliminary report before daybreak."
"Lu Chi and his mother are in the hospital. Send someone to 'look after' them. We need to know who they contacted and what they said."
Lu Yu's instructions came one after another, with rigorous logic, covering all key links and keeping possible crisis nodes under firm control.
Lin Che leaned against the door frame and listened quietly, the tension in her heart relaxing little by little as Lu Yu's steady and powerful voice grew.
This man seemed to be born to control storms.
Lu Yu finished his last call, casually placed the phone on the small wicker table next to him, and then turned around.
"Why don't you dry your hair?" Lu Yu's voice was much deeper and softer than when he was on the phone just now. He strode back into the room and picked up a dry, soft, thick towel that was draped over the armrest of the sofa.
He walked up to Lin Che and naturally put his arm around his shoulders. Lin Che obediently sat on the sofa.
Lin Che naturally crossed his legs and leaned against the sofa cushions. Lu Yu half-knelt in front of him with one leg. He unfolded a large towel and wrapped it around Lin Che's wet hair with extremely gentle movements, rubbing it patiently to absorb the water.
Lu Yu's fingers applied just the right amount of pressure, pressing against his scalp through the towel, bringing a strange sense of comfort and reassurance. Lin Che's nerves, tense throughout the night, finally relaxed completely under this silent care.
He closed his eyes slightly and his body relaxed unconsciously. He leaned forward and his hands unconsciously wrapped around Lu Yu's waist, burying his entire face in Lu Yu's waist.
Lu Yu's movements did not pause at all, as if it was only natural for Lin Che to snuggle into his arms at this moment.
His other hand naturally dropped, his broad palm resting firmly on the back of Lin Che's neck, which was buried in his waist.
Lin Che's breath penetrated the thin fabric of the shirt and brushed warmly against Lu Yu's waist.
He tightened his arms around Lu Yu's waist, absorbing the warmth and reassuring breath emanating from him.
The blindingly powerful sense of security that Lu Yu possessed made him sink into it.
Lu Yu stopped wiping his hair and lowered his head, only able to see Lin Che's soft hair and a small section of white neck.
“Are you…” Lin Che closed his eyes, his voice filled with weariness and a hint of barely perceptible worry, breaking the silence. “Are you worried?”
His question was vague, but Lu Yu instantly understood what he meant.
They were worried about the public opinion tsunami that would be caused by Lu Shengheng's real death, worried that this self-directed and self-acted poisoning drama could not be exposed, and worried that Lu Chi and his mother would use this to stir up even greater waves.
Lu Yu let out a deep laugh, and he leaned forward slightly. His slender fingers gently lifted Lin Che's chin, forcing him to look up.
Lin Che opened his eyes and met Lu Yu's, still blazing and deep in the night. There was no panic or heaviness in them, only a calm, in-control confidence, and... a hint of worry for him at the moment, a teasing that bordered on doting.
"What's this little thing?" Lu Yu's thumb gently stroked Lin Che's jawline. His voice was deep and had the unique magnetism of the night, clearly striking Lin Che's heart. "Even if the sky falls, I'm here."
His tone was calm, yet it carried a weight of weight. It wasn't an attempt to comfort, but rather a statement of an indisputable fact.
Lin Che looked up at him, seeing the deep, calm ocean in Lu Yu's eyes. His tense heartstrings finally relaxed, a near-blind sense of trust and security filling his chest. He exhaled softly, as if to expel the last bit of air and worry from his chest.
Lin Che didn't say anything, but just turned his head slightly and gently pressed his slightly cold cheek against the back of Lu Yu's hand that was still lingering on his chin, rubbing it dependently.
Lu Yu's eyes softened instantly, and he picked up the towel again and continued to wipe the ends of Lin Che's hair carefully.
"Baby, go to sleep."
He whispered to Lin Che, "Everything will become clear when daybreak comes."
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