After recounting the abnormalities she had recently discovered, Tao Xia felt dry-mouthed and thirsty. For some reason, she had been especially thirsty these past few days, yet she still felt an intense dryness in her mouth.

Picking up the chilled boiled water that Luo had poured in the morning, Tao Xia had just taken a sip when Lin Hai swiftly intercepted the cup from her hand.

"What's wrong?" Tao Xia was extremely puzzled.

Lin Hai stared intently at the water cup in her hand, took it over, sniffed it close to his nose, nodded slightly, and said, "Just as I suspected."

"What did you find? Lin Hai." It was rare for Tao Xia to see Lin Hai display such a serious expression.

Normally, Lin Hai tended to be carefree and nonchalant, and it was only at critical moments that he revealed a seriousness that was utterly enchanting to women, but it also meant that bad news was looming.

"This water contains a slow-acting drug that gradually erodes the brain's nerves, with initial symptoms of dry mouth and tongue. It creates dependency on the drug-laced water. Over time, it will lead to mental confusion, and eventually, you will obediently submit to the mercy of the drug and become someone else's puppet."

Lin Hai narrowed his eyes; this kind of drug could still be found in the underground black markets abroad, but it was uncommon in Huaxia.

"The person who drugged the water is very sneaky, and it's very likely they aim to achieve some sort of control over you." A cold light flickered in Lin Hai's eyes. Anyone who dared to employ such despicable tactics against his woman was simply asking for trouble.

"Luo is in charge of pouring my water every day, and he's been especially diligent in doing so recently. Now that you mention it, I suddenly feel like something is indeed off," Tao Xia's beautiful eyes reflected a glint of rational thinking, and her brain was quickly piecing things together.

"It seems that Luo is quite suspicious; even if he isn't the one responsible, we still need to conduct an in-depth investigation on him," Lin Hai frowned.

"Does the drug have any side effects?" Tao Xia couldn't help but worry as she asked.

Lin Hai smiled faintly and said, "For an ordinary person, the side effects are extremely severe, but for your husband, the illustrious Poisonous Hands and Compassionate Heart King Yan, dealing with this kind of drug is as easy as pie."

Slowly extending his finger, Lin Hai performed the special Acupoint Technique, combined with Gang Qi, to reinforce Tao Xia's body and expel the toxin.

"How do you feel now?"

"I feel much lighter all of a sudden," Tao Xia seemed to be in a much better mood as well.

Lin Hai smiled and said, "Later, ask Luo to pour you another glass of water. Pretend to drink it and spit it out when he's not looking. Then go home, and I will secretly protect you and carry out a counter-surveillance to see who exactly is trying to harm you."

Tao Xia nodded; Lin Hai was an expert in this area. With him by her side, her safety was absolutely guaranteed.

"Hehe, whoever I've protected in the past has always been of a Chief's caliber. Mayor Tao, how do you plan to thank me?"

"Scoundrel, don't make me drain you dry after all this," she retorted.

"Eh, I didn't say anything."

Tao Xia glared at him, but in her heart, she found great comfort; with him around, there was always a strong sense of security. She didn't need to act like a strong woman and could fully indulge in acting like a carefree little girl.

Picking up the phone, Tao Xia spoke with the tone of a superior, "Luo, would you mind pouring me another glass of water? I've been feeling thirsty a lot lately."

Pretending to have finished talking business with Tao Xia, Lin Hai left the office. As he was going downstairs, he happened to meet Luo.

"Are you finished with your business, Brother Lin? Take care, hehe," Luo said with a smile as he carried a cup of boiled water.

Lin Hai nodded, giving nothing away, and said goodbye with a smile.

During the brief conversation with Luo, Lin Hai had already detected the faint scent of poison mixed into the boiled water.

"It seems that there's something very wrong with Luo," thought Lin Hai, silently leaving the building.

From a small window corner upstairs, Luo watched Lin Hai depart, a glint of gloom flashing in his eyes.

When it was time to leave work, Tao Xia walked on the road without realizing, for some reason, that she was being followed today.

"How strange."

Muttering to herself, Tao Xia continued walking to her neighborhood without feeling like she was being tracked as she had been before.

She also didn't know where exactly Lin Hai was hiding.

Even as she walked into the corridor of her own building, she still did not feel anyone following her.

Tao Xia was speechless; she could only take out her keys and unlock the anti-theft door.

After entering her home and sitting on the sofa, Tao Xia picked up the water cup on the coffee table, drank it all in one go, and rubbed her pretty forehead.

"Mayor Tao, you're back."

An abrupt voice broke the silence.

Tao Xia's beautiful eyes suddenly opened wide, suppressing a trace of panic, and she stared intently.

"Luo? Why are you in my house?"

Luo's face was restless and greedy; he licked his lips, his face full of excitement as he said, "Mayor Tao, you're so beautiful."

"Please try to be rational, Luo," said Tao Xia, her face turning extremely ugly. She noticed a strange smell in the room, with a light fragrance, but after inhaling it, her mind couldn't help feeling groggy and her body began to heat up gradually.

"Rational? Mayor Tao, I am very rational. My mind is completely clear now, there's no time when I have been more rational than this."

Luo looked like a proud victor, admiring the fruit of his stealth, his greedy gaze roaming unabashedly over Tao Xia's body, involuntarily focusing between her legs.

While rubbing his hands together, Luo said, "Mayor Tao, you always appear aloof and unapproachable, causing many people in the office to be afraid of you. That noble and cold demeanor bewitched me completely."

"But I dared not show a bit of my affection in front of you. I was afraid that if you realized, you would despise me."

"Mayor Tao, I've long wanted to put you on the bed and ravage you, oh no, to serve you, to serve you well."

"Now the opportunity has finally come. Rest assured, in public, you will still be Leader Tao, feared by others, the beloved Mayor that the people adore, but in private, heh heh, I'll train you to be an obedient little Dog."

Luo's every desire was unconcealed, his countenance greedy and vile.

"Luo, I'm giving you one last chance. Think about your family. After all your hard work up to now, do you really want to regret it for a fleeting impulse?" Tao Xia was extremely anxious. She felt her limbs go cold and heavy, unable to lift them, and if this continued, she would have absolutely no ability to resist, and would end up like a little fish on the cutting board, entirely at the mercy of others.

The last sliver of hope in Tao Xia's heart was Lin Hai.

She could only pray that Lin Hai would quickly notice something was wrong and prevent Luo from succeeding.

If Luo made one more move, committing an act that tarnished her purity, she would not hesitate to find a way to end her life immediately; she did not want to face Lin Hai with a stain on her honor.

Luo took out a bottle with green liquid and enticed Tao Xia with a persuading tone, "Come on, Mayor Tao, drink this, and you will know what is the most wonderful feeling in this world."

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