The Favored Heiress
Chapter 421: Li Qiao is Captured

Chapter 421: Chapter 421: Li Qiao is Captured

Li Qiao tugged at her lips, "Of course, I know."

Shang Qiongying touched her pearl earrings, sighing with a look of great disappointment, "Researcher Li, even before the start of today’s conference, we had already received complaints and evidence from participants in human experiments.

Considering the gravity of the situation, the Council dared not make any hasty judgments. Therefore, I’m sorry to say, we’ve informed the police about the matter. Since you’re aware that it’s illegal, if you have anything to explain, you’d better save it for the police station."

As she spoke, Shang Qiongying gestured to the event’s host by tilting her chin, "Please let the police officers come in."

Li Qiao looked at Shang Qiongying calmly, lips curved as if she had anticipated this move.

Quite the bold move indeed.

From the seats reserved for representatives of pharmaceutical companies, Xia Siyu felt her anger surge upon hearing these words.

She narrowed her eyes and glared at the back of Shang Qiongying’s head, then turned to Li Qiao, about to stand up and speak, when she noticed a subtle shake of Li Qiao’s head.

Out of an understanding between them, Xia Siyu suppressed her urge to speak and could only watch helplessly as Li Qiao and the entire Renhe team were taken away by the police.

Nobody could have imagined that such an incident would occur at a medical conference.

Within five minutes, the figures of Li Qiao and others had vanished from the seminar room.

Shang Qiongying’s eyes gleamed with rare amusement and satisfaction. She stood up, walked to the stage, took the microphone from the host in a dignified manner, and announced, "I apologize for the scene you’ve witnessed. The case of Renhe Laboratory is indeed exceptional, and the Council can only handle it impartially.

I also urge everyone to remember, in all areas of medical research, never to seek shortcuts..."

After the Renhe staff was escorted out, the conference was paused for half an hour before resuming with the presentation of findings.

The hundreds present could all see that the Council had abandoned Renhe Laboratory.

They didn’t even intend to help mediate the situation.

...

What was even stranger was that the seven researchers from Renhe Laboratory were taken to Chong City Police Station.

In less than an hour, all but Li Qiao were released.

It was now midday, and Academician Jiang, his steps faltering, walked out of the police station looking extremely unwell.

The man, well into his seventies, seemed to have aged several years all at once.

As two colleagues helped him down the steps, Academician Jiang suddenly snapped, "Lian Zhen, why did you talk nonsense at the police station just now?"

At that moment, Lian Zhen was at a loss for words, so faced with Academician Jiang’s reprimand, he could only keep his lips tightly sealed and remain silent.

The others exchanged glances, and after a moment, someone suddenly spoke up: "Teacher, it’s not all Lian Zhen’s fault.

After all, the one originally investigating Guan Mingyu’s disease was Li Qiao, so Lian Zhen didn’t speak incorrectly. Everything was her own decision, and it truly has nothing to do with us."

The speaker was a female colleague named Li Xiaoxiao, in her early thirties.

Usually inconspicuous within the laboratory, her words now could not help but seem like kicking someone while they were down.

Lian Zhen slowly raised his head, looking at Li Xiaoxiao with a complicated and unpredictable gaze.

"Shut your mouth!" Academician Jiang was red-faced with anger, "All of you are doing research at Renhe because of who provided the conditions, have you forgotten? They say not to forget the well-digger when drinking the water, but look at all of you, running off faster than anyone when trouble arises. Are you not ashamed?"

"Teacher!" Li Xiaoxiao, seeing the other colleagues scolded into silence, suddenly grew bold, "You can’t just say that. Even if it was Li Qiao who provided us with the research environment, what does it matter now? It’s the police who have found her at fault—are you expecting all of us to go to jail with her?"

The reasoning is sound, but human hearts are too fickle and cold.

Academician Jiang closed his eyes in sorrow and grief, recalling Li Qiao’s actions over the past few years; he absolutely refused to believe that his proud protégé would commit acts against human decency.

He shook off the arm around him that was trying to support him, and made as if to return to the police station, "If you want to leave, then leave. I will shoulder this responsibility together with Qiaoqiao."

"Teacher..."

The people around him spoke all at once, trying to persuade him, but the old gentleman was very stubborn, determined to go back to accompany Li Qiao.

Lian Zhen carefully observed the colleagues around him; apart from Li Xiaoxiao, whose behavior was the most suspicious, the rest seemed to be like grass blowing in the wind without a backbone.

He shook his head and strode forward to catch up with Academician Jiang, and when he supported his arm, he cautiously whispered a sentence in his ear.

Academician Jiang’s shoulders trembled, somewhat in disbelief, "What did you say?"

Lian Zhen’s eyelids drooped low, and considering there were other colleagues nearby, he advised in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, "Teacher, going back is useless. The police conduct their investigations beyond our influence. It’s better to return to the guesthouse and wait for news."

Academician Jiang felt somewhat at a loss, although he was advanced in years, his mind was still quite clear.

He remembered how, back in the laboratory, Li Qiao and Lian Zhen had the best relationship. Perhaps... he wasn’t lying.

...

Half an hour later, at the corner of the third-floor corridor of the guesthouse, Li Xiaoxiao checked her surroundings with her mobile phone in hand, then hurriedly made a call, "Hello, it’s me, Xiaoxiao."

The person on the other line said something, and Li Xiaoxiao said with a forced smile, "You’re still so wise. Li Qiao indeed refused to say anything in front of the police.

But the evidence the police have all points to her, and we are not implicated at all. It took less than an hour for them to release us."

Seemingly recalling something, Li Xiaoxiao added, "By the way, there’s someone in our laboratory named Lian Zhen. I thought his relationship with Li Qiao was quite good, but he was the first to turn against her.

If he hadn’t kicked her while she was down at the police station, we might not have been able to get out so easily."

On the phone, the person on the other end said I know and was about to hang up.

Hearing this, Li Xiaoxiao called out anxiously, "Vice-chairman, about that thing you promised me, letting me join the Council..."

After receiving a satisfactory answer, she immediately beamed, "Okay, okay, then I won’t bother you anymore."

Li Xiaoxiao hung up the phone and hummed triumphantly while looking at her mobile phone.

Who really wants to be cooped up in that shabby laboratory their whole life, doing unrewarding research?

Even if Academician Jiang had a great reputation, how could it compare to the honor of joining the Council?

Besides, she had long disliked Li Qiao.

Other than being wealthy, what else did she have?

Yet so many people were generously indulgent of her.

No one even knew where the money she used to fund the laboratory came from.

She snorted disdainfully twice, then hurried back to her room.

Half a minute passed, and two people slowly emerged from above the stairs.

Lian Zhen, supporting Academician Jiang, sighed quietly, "You must believe what I said now."

Academician Jiang, holding onto the stair rail, trembled at the corners of his mouth, unable to utter a word.

He never imagined that someone in the laboratory had hidden motives.