The sixth floor felt quieter than the rest of the hospital.
Most of the patient wards were below. Up here, the corridors looked different. The lights were a little dimmer. Glass panels lined the walls, showing rooms filled with equipment instead of hospital beds.
Lian stepped out of the stairwell and glanced around.
Kai spoke softly in her ear. “Immunology labs should be on the east side of the floor.”
“I see the signs.”
A few staff members walked past wearing white lab coats and ID badges. They moved with the tired focus of people used to long hours and too much research.
No one paid much attention to Lian.
She kept walking at a steady pace.
“Dr. Zhou’s office is two doors down from the main lab,” Kai said. “Room 612.”
Lian passed a glass window that looked into a laboratory. Inside, several technicians worked at stainless steel tables while machines hummed quietly.
Normal work.
Normal routine.
Except she knew what was hidden behind some of the research.
She stopped outside the door marked 612.
“Camera?” she asked quietly.
“None in the hallway right now,” Kai replied.
Lian knocked once.
A voice answered from inside.
“Come in.”
She opened the door and stepped inside.
The office was small but neat. A bookshelf filled with medical journals covered one wall. A computer sat on the desk beside several organized stacks of paperwork.
Dr. Zhou sat behind the desk reading something on his tablet.
He looked up when Lian entered.
He was older than she expected. Maybe late fifties. Thin glasses rested on the bridge of his nose.
“Yes?” he asked politely.
“I need to speak with you about a patient,” Lian said.
Zhou set the tablet down.
“Which patient?”
Lian walked closer and placed the sealed syringe case on his desk.
His eyes immediately moved to it.
“Where did you get that?” he asked.
“Room 417,” she replied.
Zhou frowned slightly.
“That injection was scheduled for administration this morning.”
“I know.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“Why are you bringing it to me?”
Lian met his eyes calmly.
“Because you approved it.”
Zhou studied her for a moment.
“You’re not one of my staff,” he said.
“No.”
His voice remained professional, but there was a hint of suspicion now.
“Then who are you?”
Lian ignored the question.
“What exactly is VX9?”
For the first time, Zhou’s expression changed.
Just slightly.
His eyes flickered toward the syringe case again.
Kai spoke quietly through the earpiece.
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“He recognizes the name.”
Zhou folded his hands together.
“That compound is part of an approved clinical trial.”
“What does it do?”
“It reduces inflammation in certain immune disorders,” he replied.
Lian tilted her head slightly.
“That’s the official description.”
Zhou’s jaw tightened.
“And it’s accurate.”
Lian reached forward and gently tapped the plastic case.
“Seven patients are already dead.”
The room went still.
Zhou stared at her.
“Where did you hear that?”
Kai whispered, “Heart rate spike.”
Lian stayed calm.
“The symptoms are documented in the hospital records,” she said. “Fever. Organ failure. Immune system collapse.”
Zhou shook his head slowly.
“You’re misunderstanding the data.”
“Explain it to me then.”
Zhou stood up from his chair and walked around the desk.
His movements were controlled, but tension showed in his shoulders.
“These patients were already suffering from serious medical conditions,” he said. “Some complications were expected.”
“Seven deaths are not complications.”
“They are statistical outcomes,” Zhou replied.
Lian watched him carefully.
“You’re still giving the injections.”
“Yes.”
“To new patients.”
“Yes.”
Kai muttered quietly in her ear. “He’s not even pretending to hesitate.”
Lian kept her focus on Zhou.
“Did the patients consent to being part of this trial?”
Zhou looked irritated now.
“All required documentation was signed.”
“Did they know what VX9 really is?”
His eyes hardened.
“You’re asking questions that fall outside your authority.”
Lian crossed her arms.
“Then help me understand something.”
Zhou waited.
“If the treatment is safe, why are the records hidden in a restricted database?”
That question landed harder.
Zhou didn’t answer right away.
Kai spoke again.
“He didn’t expect that.”
Zhou finally responded.
“Research data is often restricted during early trials.”
“Thirty one patients,” Lian said quietly.
His gaze sharpened.
“You’ve been looking at files you shouldn’t have access to.”
“Yes.”
Zhou walked back behind his desk.
“You should return that syringe to the nurse,” he said. “The patient’s treatment schedule shouldn’t be delayed.”
Lian didn’t move.
“She isn’t getting the injection.”
Zhou’s patience was starting to wear thin.
“You are interfering with a medical procedure.”
“And you’re experimenting on people.”
Zhou’s voice turned cold.
“You clearly don’t understand medical research.”
Lian leaned slightly forward.
“I understand when people are dying.”
For a moment the two of them simply looked at each other.
Kai broke the silence.
“Someone just entered the hallway.”
Lian didn’t look away from Zhou.
“Who funds the VX9 program?” she asked.
Zhou answered without hesitation.
“The Han Medical Research Foundation.”
“Why them?”
“They provide the resources necessary for advanced research.”
Lian nodded slowly.
“And they tell you what to test.”
“No.”
Kai whispered, “That one was a lie.”
Zhou pointed toward the door.
“You need to leave.”
Lian remained where she was.
“Did you create VX9?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Zhou hesitated.
Just briefly.
Kai caught it.
“Pause detected.”
Lian noticed it too.
“You know who did,” she said.
Zhou adjusted his glasses.
“The compound came from a partner laboratory.”
“Which one.”
“I’m not required to disclose that information.”
Kai’s voice came again.
“Two people outside the office now.”
Lian reached out and picked up the syringe case from the desk.
Zhou watched her closely.
“That belongs to the hospital.”
Lian slipped it into the pocket of her jacket.
“Not anymore.”
Zhou’s expression hardened.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Am I?”
“You have no idea how important this research is.”
Lian walked toward the door.
“People are dying.”
“Medical progress always carries risk,” Zhou replied sharply.
She paused with her hand on the door.
“And you’re comfortable with that?”
Zhou didn’t hesitate this time.
“Yes.”
The word hung in the quiet office.
Lian opened the door.
Two hospital security guards stood in the hallway.
One of them spoke immediately.
“Sir, is everything alright?”
Zhou stepped forward slightly.
“This woman shouldn’t be here.”
The guards looked at Lian.
“Ma’am, we’re going to need you to come with us.”
Lian studied them calmly.
Kai spoke quietly in her ear.
“Your exit path just got complicated.”
Lian gave the guards a small, polite smile.
Then she stepped out into the hallway.
