Shen Qingqing glanced at him, "I don't have time to deal with you right now, get lost."
She had just been discussing the antidote's production process and ingredients with the old man and was on the verge of a breakthrough, a stage where she couldn't be disturbed. Carter was being incredibly annoying!
Carter, publicly embarrassed, gritted his teeth, "I think you're just guilty!"
"What am I guilty about?"
"You're guilty because you're incapable of developing an antidote!" Carter glanced at the old man, finding nothing to say to him, but to Shen Qingqing, he was untrusting. "You've been researching for so long, have you developed an antidote? If you don't have the ability, stop pretending!"
Butler Su happened to be walking downstairs and paused upon hearing this.
Carter's eyes flickered, and he continued, "On the island, you were like this too, always seeking the spotlight, always meddling in matters you couldn't resolve. It's still the same now, is being in the spotlight really that important?"
He didn't mention Shen Qingqing's expertise in poisons, but in his words, he portrayed her as someone who loved attention and acted tough.
Butler Su knitted his brows slightly, "Mrs. Fu, regarding the little prince's poison, is there an antidote or not?"
Shen Qingqing ignored him, staring intently at Carter.
Her gaze was unwavering.
Carter felt a surge of irritation under her stare, "Why are you looking at me? Did I say something wrong? Everyone can see what kind of person you are."
Shen Qingqing remained silent.
She had a pair of beautiful, dark eyes, like mirrors reflecting the deepest flaws and schemes in people's hearts.
Carter began to falter, forcing himself to maintain composure, "You've hit a nerve, haven't you!"
"Dare to make a bet?"
She suddenly spoke, her voice still clear and pleasant, but Carter was not in the mood to listen, "What bet?"
Shen Qingqing brushed past him, sat on the sofa, and her gaze subtly swept over him, "I bet you dare to confront Pei Ji."
"What is there for me not to dare?!"
Carter blurted out, "I dare to confront him, can he?"
Everyone knew that Pei Ji had been in a coma and hadn't woken up.
"Aren't you going to ask what we're confronting him about?"
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow.
Carter stiffened, feigning calmness, "I'd like to ask you that too, what exactly do you want me to confront Pei Ji about? I haven't done anything recently!"
The onlookers' mouths twitched.
Was he inadvertently confessing with his words?
If he weren't flustered, why would he explain?
Carter, as if oblivious to their strange looks, said, "I don't need to confront him!"
"Then let's make a bet," Shen Qingqing relaxed her back and leaned against the sofa. "When he wakes up, he'll naturally know who harmed him."
Others didn't know what he had consumed, but Pei Ji himself would know.
Carter's eyes flickered. Impossible, that poison would be fatal. The person had said Pei Ji was certainly going to die this time.
"No need to bet, I dare to confront him, as long as you can wake him up."
Shen Qingqing nodded, "Alright, it's settled then."
"And you?" Carter pressed, "You said you would develop an antidote, where is it? Why hasn't it been developed yet?"
"There is an antidote, otherwise, I wouldn't have suggested you confront him."
Carter froze.
What did that mean? Had Pei Ji really woken up?
Shen Qingqing looked towards the staircase, a smile playing on her lips.
Carter sensed something and slowly turned his head. During this process, he saw the expressions of others – surprise, joy, complexity...
The ominous feeling in his heart grew stronger.
When he saw the tall, radiant man walking down the stairs, step by step.
Carter's heart sank.
He had really woken up!
Pei Ji's complexion wasn't good now, a little pale and lacking color, but his steps were steady. He walked down and stopped in front of Carter.
"Surprised to see me awake?"
Carter spoke stiffly, "Why would I be surprised? It's good that you're awake, everyone is very happy."
"Happy?" Shen Qingqing's voice, filled with implication, chimed in from the side. "I thought everyone in this room might be happy, except for you... who would be very disappointed."
Carter glared at her.
"After all... you were the one who poisoned him."
This statement caused a ripple effect.
Everyone looked at Carter, what did that mean, he poisoned him?
Carter panicked for a moment, but quickly remembered that even if the poison was cured, they had no evidence. He feigned calmness, "I don't understand what you're talking about!"
Shen Qingqing looked at Pei Ji, "You tell him."
Pei Ji didn't even look at Carter, and slowly said, "This morning, I woke up and had a bowl of porridge, and then I didn't eat anything else."
Carter sneered, "Everyone had porridge this morning, and they're all fine."
"But that bowl of porridge was given by you."
Pei Ji looked at him, his gaze sharp.
Carter remained unfazed, "I helped distribute the porridge to everyone this morning, and everyone drank it without any issues. Why is it only you who got poisoned after drinking it?"
Shen Qingqing said lightly, "Because only you touched his porridge."
Carter scoffed, "If that's your logic, then anyone who made porridge this morning could be the poisoner."
"What if we find the poison on you?"
Upon hearing Shen Qingqing's words, Carter seemed to hear a joke, "Let's not even talk about whether I have it on me. Even if I were the killer, do you think I'd hide the poison on myself?"
Shen Qingqing said calmly, "That's not necessarily true."
"I don't have any poison on me," Carter stated confidently. "And without concrete evidence, you can't search me. If you really want to search, then go to the police. As long as the police have a warrant, I will cooperate."
With that, he turned and swaggered towards the exit.
After all, without concrete evidence, no one could force him to stay.
Unfortunately, he was stopped by two bodyguards at the door.
Carter immediately glared at Pei Ji, "What is the meaning of this? Are you obstructing my personal freedom?"
Pei Ji said calmly, "I sincerely apologize. Someone attempted to poison me. For my own safety, this matter must be investigated thoroughly. You are a suspect, and you can only leave after being searched."
"Why should you search me? Are you police?"
Carter questioned angrily.
Pei Ji didn't waste any more words with him, giving Butler Su a look. Butler Su immediately called several bodyguards, who surrounded Carter.
At this point, everyone suddenly remembered Pei Ji's identity.
He wasn't as radiant and harmless as he appeared. He was a little prince born into royalty, completely different from ordinary people.
He also possessed rights that others did not.
Carter retreated repeatedly, trying to evade the bodyguards reaching for him. However, his arms and ribs were injured, and his physical strength was already insufficient.
These bodyguards were all professionally trained and highly skilled, easily restraining him.
Carter roared, "Let me go! Have you no respect for the law? Without any evidence, why are you searching me?!"
Pei Ji waved his hand, and the bodyguards immediately covered his mouth.
After a thorough search, Carter's phone, wallet, and a small medicine bottle were found. Most bizarrely, this small medicine bottle was found within the wound on his arm, which was secured with bandages.
The old man took it, opened it, and sniffed, "This is the poison."
The crowd recoiled in horror. Thinking they had all drunk the porridge Carter had served that morning, they wished they could regurgitate it.
"Why did you harm people?" someone questioned.