Episode 2 recap: Tan Jing Tian noticed something unusual about Liu Xiao Yu.
As soon as Tan Jing Tian had settled into the dorm, he received a call from Jin Ling, who informed him that he needed to visit Liu Xiao Yu's advisor's house in the evening, and Jin Ling also wanted to go along. Tan Jing Tian had originally planned to pick her up with his senior, but Jin Ling didn't want to trouble them and said she would go to the advisor's house after work to meet up with them.
Professor Tang and Tan Jing Tian were already acquainted, and Professor Tang's wife, Li Guo, had also come over. There was a memorial portrait in Professor Tang's house, of Professor Song from the insect institute, who was Professor Tang's advisor and also Liu Xiao Yu's earliest advisor. Professor Song had sacrificed himself seven years ago to protect Professor Tang and other students from a hornet attack during a field expedition, so he was Liu Xiao Yu and Professor Tang's savior. Professor Tang had placed the memorial in his home.
Professor Tang hoped that Liu Xiao Yu would return to the lab to work together, but Liu Xiao Yu deliberately changed the subject and avoided eye contact with Professor Tang, seemingly hiding something. Professor Tang didn't notice, but said his lab doors were always open if Liu Xiao Yu wanted to come back.
During the meal, Professor Tang continued inviting Liu Xiao Yu to come back and do research together, but Liu Xiao Yu continued avoiding the topic. Tan Jing Tian noticed his unusual behavior, and also observed that Liu Xiao Yu wasn't drinking and seemed to be vomiting, in addition to having an injury on the back of his hand. Tan Jing Tian felt Liu Xiao Yu was definitely hiding something.
After the forensic examination by Mario, he immediately contacted the police to synchronize the situation. The cause of death was asphyxiation, and the deceased had indeed had sexual relations with someone before death. The residue found in the body matched the substance found at the scene, indicating it was the same person. Comparison confirmed it was poisoning. However, the injuries on the deceased's body did not match the props in the room, so further investigation was needed.
It has been determined that the victim was whipped and tortured with an unknown instrument before being strangled with bed curtains. After dinner, Tan Jing Tian, Jin Ling, and Liu Xiao Yu returned to the dorm. Jin Ling had specially prepared living supplies for Liu Xiao Yu as well, knowing that researchers like them often don't take good care of themselves, and also to express gratitude to Liu Xiao Yu for helping Tan Jing Tian.
Liu Xiao Yu's room was full of all kinds of ants, as he liked to conduct research in his room. Jin Ling noticed a strange smell in the room but politely did not mention it. Later, when Tan Jing Tian came to send Jin Ling off, they embraced, and Jin Ling also noticed the same strange smell on Tan Jing Tian. Tan Jing Tian told her it was the smell of neem oil, which is used to repel insects, and that his roommate used it because he was worried about ants crawling on the bed.
Jin Ling remembered smelling the same odor at the crime scene in Sanchu. At the time, the driver who reported the case had said the smell was from some virility medicine he had brought, so no one thought much of it. But now Tan Jing Tian confirmed it was the distinctive smell of neem oil, commonly used by insect researchers, and not a virility drug at all.
Jin Ling realized the driver must have lied. She decided to immediately go find the detective and have Tan Jing Tian return to rest. Tan Jing Tian insisted on accompanying her, as he had experience helping the police solve many cases in China and could potentially be helpful. They discovered the likely murder weapon was an Indian urumi sword.
The driver had escaped from the detention center, leaving only his shoes behind. The suspect Pithon, who was detained across from the driver, was suspected of helping him escape. The detective ordered Pithon to be brought in for questioning.
At the police station, Jin Ling and Tan Jing Tian informed the detective about the information they had gathered on the murder weapon. Pithon was trembling during the interrogation and denied hearing anything. When the detective searched Pithon, he found wounds on his chest consistent with injuries from an urumi sword.
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