Huang Xuemei

Biodata

Background / History

Huang Xuemei grew up in a wealthy Northern Capital family. Both parents were senior executives at well-known companies, with considerable influence and local connections. They doted on their only daughter. Xuemei earned good grades and gained admission to Northern Capital University 358 359.

She shared a dormitory with Zhu Yun, a student from a small rural county, but their relationship had been poor since their first year. Xuemei looked down on Zhu Yun’s background and became increasingly jealous of her scholarships and university activities. Their rivalry intensified when Zhu Yun announced that she had secured a position at a company to which Xuemei had also applied unsuccessfully 358.

Personality

Xuemei is calculating in preparing for and denying her crime. Before poisoning Zhu Yun, she studied relevant criminal-law provisions and planned how to answer accusations. During questioning, she repeatedly emphasized the absence of eyewitnesses or direct evidence, invoked her rights, and sometimes remained silent to avoid making mistakes 360 361 363.

Her confidence collapses when the court finds that she committed the poisoning. She first protests that she has been falsely accused, then confesses after her lawyer explains that acquittal is no longer realistic. Su Bai characterizes her courtroom apology as an attempt to reduce her punishment rather than proof of genuine remorse 365 366.

Her final hospital visit differs from her earlier pleas: she apologizes to Zhu Yun without asking for forgiveness and stops her father from saying more. The narration leaves open the possibility that she has finally recognized her wrongdoing 368.

Abilities & Skills

Chemical Knowledge

Xuemei’s laboratory experience gives her access to highly toxic chemicals and knowledge of their dangers 360 365.

• Steals a chemical from the university laboratory and applies it to Zhu Yun’s toiletries 365.
• According to evidence cited by Su Bai, understands the distinction between harmful and lethal doses, yet deliberately increases the dosage 365.
• Buries the unused chemical outside the dormitory; its eventual recovery helps establish her guilt 363 365.

Legal Preparation

Before committing the poisoning, Xuemei studies the relevant criminal-law provisions and prepares her defense 360.

• Challenges whether the prosecution’s evidence proves that she personally administered the poison 360.
• Relies on silence and her lawyer’s responses during further questioning 361 363.
• Her strategy fails once the prosecution supplies evidence completing the chain of proof 364.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Poisoning Zhu Yun

After hearing that a laboratory chemical is highly harmful to humans, Xuemei decides to use it to punish Zhu Yun. She steals the chemical, poisons Zhu Yun’s toiletries, and hides the remainder on campus. Zhu Yun survives but remains seriously ill, facing possible lifelong disability and intellectual impairment 358 365.

Xuemei becomes the sole suspect. She denies poisoning Zhu Yun and claims that she took the chemicals for experiments but lost them while returning to the dormitory 358 360.

First Hearing and Adjournment

At the first-instance hearing, prosecutor Chen Le presents Xuemei’s hostility toward Zhu Yun, threats reported by roommates, and theft of matching chemicals. Her defense lawyer, Wan Xiangdong, argues that these facts establish suspicion without proving who administered the poison 359.

Su Bai challenges the lost-chemical explanation using surveillance evidence and the inconsistencies in Xuemei’s account. Roommate Yao Qing also testifies that, shortly before the poisoning, Xuemei repeatedly urged everyone to use separate cups and spoke about Zhu Yun less often than usual 360 361.

With a crucial evidentiary link still missing, Su Bai requests an adjournment for further investigation. Chen Le supports the request, and presiding judge Sun Zhengping grants it. Meanwhile, Huang Tao prepares to send Xuemei abroad if she is acquitted 362.

Recovery of the Remaining Poison

Su Bai directs attention to the discrepancy between the amount stolen and the smaller amount involved in Zhu Yun’s poisoning. Investigators use campus surveillance to locate the remaining chemicals, but their hiding place lies in a camera blind spot. Further inquiries among student clubs produce a new lead after nearly two months 363.

At the resumed hearing, Chen Le presents the recovered chemicals and evidence connecting them to the poisoning. Su Bai argues that the missing link has been supplied. Sun Zhengping rejects the defense’s continued objections and rules that Xuemei poisoned Zhu Yun 364.

Confession and Sentencing

Xuemei disrupts the hearing by insisting that she has been wrongfully accused, prompting a temporary adjournment. Wan Xiangdong then advises her to confess and seek leniency. She recounts the theft, poisoning, and concealment of the remaining chemical, while claiming that she intended only a joke or punishment rather than serious harm 365.

Su Bai counters that her chemical knowledge, preparation, and deliberate use of a lethal dose demonstrate intent. Zhu Yun’s parents refuse forgiveness, and Chen Le maintains her recommendation of a death sentence with reprieve 365 366.

The court sentences Xuemei to death with a two-year reprieve. She breaks down emotionally and continues asking for a lighter punishment before court police escort her away 367.

Appeal and Hospital Apology

The Northern Capital High Court accepts Xuemei’s appeal. She submits evidence suggesting that she and Zhu Yun had been close, but Chen Le challenges that account by questioning why she increased the poison dosage. The court upholds the original judgment 367 368.

Afterward, Xuemei obtains permission to visit Zhu Yun in the hospital. In handcuffs, she kneels beside the bed and repeatedly apologizes without requesting forgiveness. She leaves with court police after telling Huang Tao not to say anything further 368.

Relationships

• Zhu Yun — Roommate and poisoning victim. Their longstanding conflict centers on Xuemei’s resentment of Zhu Yun’s achievements 358.
• Huang Tao — Father. Finances her defense, arranges for her possible departure abroad, and repeatedly seeks forgiveness from Zhu Yun’s family 359 362 367.
• Wan Xiangdong — Retained defense lawyer and director of Yanda Law Firm. Initially pursues acquittal, then shifts to seeking a lighter sentence 359 365 366.
• Su Bai — Zhu Yun’s lawyer. Challenges Xuemei’s explanations, requests further investigation, and opposes sentencing leniency 360 362 366.
• Chen Le — Public prosecutor. Leads the supplementary evidence search and maintains the recommendation for a death sentence with reprieve 363 366.
• Yao Qing — Roommate and prosecution witness. Testifies about Xuemei’s threats and unusual behavior before the poisoning 359 361.
• Liu Mei — Zhu Yun’s mother. Rejects requests for forgiveness but eventually permits Xuemei’s hospital visit 367 368.