Chapter 140: Doctor Cheng’s Secrets (1/2)

We went to the gynecology department where Qu Tingting worked. Strangely, while the other departments were mostly empty, there was a long line of patients here waiting to see the doctor.

I asked a woman in line who the doctor was here, and she impatiently replied, “It’s Dr. Cheng, of course! Haven’t you heard of him? He’s the most famous gynecologist in the country! I came from the suburbs early this morning just to see him!”

“Dr. Cheng?” asked Bingxin. “You mean Dr. Cheng Yahui?”

The woman nodded. Bingxin informed us that Cheng Yahui was also a lecturer at her college. He was a young doctor still in his thirties. He was also single, handsome and incredibly talented. The man had published many papers in reputable medical journals. While he used to work in a top hospital in the city, he was transferred here for some unknown reason. Still, since he was a famous doctor, his patients followed him no matter where he worked.

“Why would such a great doctor be transferred here?” I asked.

“Hey!” cried Bingxin. “Are you saying that this is a lousy hospital?”

“Well…” I smiled wryly. “You wouldn’t deny that it’s a step down from the last hospital he worked in, right?”

Bingxin pursed her lips, but went on to explain, “I heard some gossip about him having an affair with one of his patients. That woman was the wife of a powerful man, so when the scandal was exposed, the husband demanded that Dr. Cheng be punished. He had to resign from his last position. I have a friend who had a crush on him, but when she found out about this, she was completely heartbroken!”

“Ugh, I hate those kinds of scumbags!” cursed Xiaotao.

At that moment, Qu Tingting came out from the doctor’s office and called the name of the next patient to go in.

“There are too many people here,” stated Xiaotao. “Let’s just barge in!”

We entered the doctor’s office ahead of the patient, causing a wave of complaints behind us.

My first impression of Dr. Cheng was that he was indeed very handsome. He wore a pair of golden glasses and seemed gentlemanly. When he saw us, he stood up in shock and asked, “Which one of you is my patient?”

His voice was smooth and alluring. My guess was that his loyal patients weren’t merely impressed with his medical skills.

In my hometown, there was a very beautiful nurse in the community clinic who looked just like Lin Chi-ling. Because of her, some young men would visit the clinic every thirty minutes. Some even broke their own leg just for a chance to see her.

“We’re the police,” Xiaotao announced, showing her badge. “We’re here to investigate a case.”

Dr. Cheng made a gesture for us to take a seat. He rested his elbows on his desk and interlaced his fingers after sitting down.

“How may I help you?” he calmly asked.

Xiaotao showed him the photos of the three victims. When Dr. Cheng was looking at the photos, I noticed that Qu Tingting who was standing next to him looked a little nervous.

“They’re my former patients,” stated Dr. Cheng. “What happened to them?”

Upon hearing this, I knew that we were on the right track.

“They’re all dead!” Xiaotao answered.

“What?” asked Dr. Cheng, clearly shocked. “Who did it?”

“We wouldn’t be here asking you questions if we knew who did it,” said Xiaotao. “Were you… particularly close to them, Dr. Cheng?”

He pushed up his glasses and smiled.

“Surely you’re not suspecting me, are you, Officer?”

“Oh, don’t worry,” replied Xiaotao. “It’s just a routine question.”

“They’re my patients. That’s all there is to it.”

I noticed that he moved his hands away from our sight and rested them on his lap. His ears turned slightly red too. He was clearly lying.

“Where do you live, Dr. Cheng?” I asked.

“I haven’t bought a house in this neighborhood,” he answered, staring at me with interest. “So I’m currently staying in the staff quarters. Why do you ask?”

“If my guess is correct,” I sneered, “I think a woman booked a room in a hotel near the medical school this morning, expecting you to join her, and that woman’s name is Xiaowen!”

“How did you know?” Dr. Cheng was terrified. Then he realized what he just said and his voice changed drastically. “That’s a preposterous accusation!”

As expected, the model Xiaowen had clearly been expecting him in that room. But when he bailed on her, she called her rich boyfriend instead.

Did he really not meet her this morning? I had some doubts about this.

“It looks like you’re a very busy man,” I said. “You don’t even know about a murder case that happened not far from here. Xiaowen died this morning in that hotel room.”

Dr. Cheng broke out in cold sweat.

“What does that have anything to do with me?” he argued. “I admit that this patient was interested in me, but I never humored her. Is that illegal?”

“Where were you between 9 am and 10 am this morning?” Xiaotao asked.