Song Xiao

Biodata

Background / History

Family and Zhang Zhao’s abuse

Song Xiao was born less than a year after her parents adopted Song Sheng, who was just over a month old at the time of adoption. After having their biological daughter, the parents increasingly neglected Song Sheng and eventually stopped supporting her education. Both sisters studied chemical engineering 20 22 23.

Song Sheng later became involved with Zhang Zhao, who repeatedly abused her and begged forgiveness afterward. Following their separation, he blamed Song Xiao and her parents for preventing a reconciliation 22.

Attack on the family

Song Sheng called Song Xiao to warn her that Zhang Zhao had knocked her unconscious, stolen her keys, and was heading to the family home. The warning came too late: he entered, struck Song Xiao unconscious, and tied her up beside her unconscious parents in the bathroom 22.

When Song Sheng arrived and refused to resume their relationship, Zhang Zhao threw mercury vapor into the bathroom. In the initial account given to police, Song Xiao recognized the substance, cut her restraints with a razor, moved her parents into the living room, and attacked Zhang Zhao from behind with a kitchen knife. The later confession confirmed that she incapacitated him with the knife and helped drag him into the bathroom 23 30.

Zhang Zhao regained consciousness while the sisters were trying to restrain their poisoned parents. Song Xiao seized a syringe containing a powerful sedative, injected him, and repeatedly slammed him against something in her panic. She stopped when Song Sheng pulled her away; Zhang Zhao was no longer breathing. Their parents also died after repeatedly striking themselves against the wall during mercury-induced hallucinations 30.

Identity exchange

Song Sheng proposed taking responsibility for Zhang Zhao’s death. Her plan was to stage the scene as suicides caused by mercury poisoning, remain behind as an injured survivor, and send Song Xiao to hide at her workplace and dispose of the stolen mercury. She reassured Song Xiao that her pregnancy would keep her from being executed 30.

The sisters exchanged identities. The badly injured, bandaged hospital patient introduced as Song Xiao was actually Song Sheng; the masked fugitive pursued as Song Sheng was the real Song Xiao. Their similar ages, builds, and shared blood type helped conceal the substitution 29.

While using her sister’s identity, Song Xiao attacked Pei Qingyu and Xun Yin with chloroform at the factory. During the subsequent reservoir confrontation, she splashed sulfuric acid at Xun Yin and seized Pei Qingyu as a hostage. Pei Qingyu caught her when she fell over the railing, but the railing broke, putting him in danger as well. The officers ultimately captured her 25 26 27 29.

Exposure and confession

The deception began to unravel when the hospital patient suffered a hemolytic reaction during a supposedly compatible blood transfusion. Medical records showed that the sisters had different blood subtypes and contraindications. Pei Qingyu and Xun Yin used this discrepancy to establish that the hospitalized woman was Song Sheng 28 29.

Confronted with the records and test results, Song Xiao admitted her sister was pregnant and recounted the killing. She explained that Song Sheng had hidden the two syringes, although she did not know their precise location. As the officers left, she asked whether her sister would face consequences 29 30.

Song Sheng subsequently revealed that she had wiped Song Xiao’s fingerprints from the knife and hidden the detached needles in the sofa. Someone removed the needles before the police search, indicating that the investigation was being monitored. Listening devices were later found on both sisters; Song Sheng identified Zhuo Wumian as their supplier. Wang Yu eventually obtained the two syringes, and Xun Yin directed that the case be closed while the Zhuo Wumian evidence was filed separately 31 32 44.

Appearance

• Similar build to Song Sheng: Their physical resemblance in age and build helped make the identity exchange plausible 29.
• Mask and loose hair: While posing as Song Sheng, she concealed most of her face with a mask, with loose hair nearly covering her eyes 29.
• Identity distinction: The severe facial disfigurement and extensive hospital bandages initially attributed to “Song Xiao” belonged to Song Sheng, not to her 22 29.

Personality

Song Xiao’s feelings toward Song Sheng combine attachment, resentment, and dependence. During the cover-up, her fear of death and resentment toward her sister contributed to her accepting the proposed escape. Nevertheless, she repeatedly sought reassurance that Song Sheng would survive and later worried about the consequences her sister might face 30.

Under immediate threat, Song Xiao acts with desperate violence: she killed Zhang Zhao during the struggle, then resisted the investigating officers while concealed behind her sister’s identity. Once exposed, she became distraught and gave a detailed confession 25 26 29 30.

Abilities & Skills

Chemical Engineering Knowledge

• Both Song Xiao and Song Sheng studied chemical engineering 23.
• While impersonating Song Sheng, Song Xiao used chloroform and sulfuric acid against the investigators; neither attack prevented her capture 25 26 27 29.

Relationships

• Song Sheng — Adoptive older sister who devised the identity exchange, concealed evidence, and intended to take responsibility for Zhang Zhao’s death. Song Xiao ultimately confessed and asked whether Song Sheng would be punished 29 30 31.
• Parents — Her biological parents, who neglected Song Sheng after Song Xiao’s birth. Both died during Zhang Zhao’s attack 20 22 30.
• Zhang Zhao — Song Sheng’s abusive former boyfriend and the family’s attacker. Song Xiao killed him after he regained consciousness during the struggle 22 30.
• Pei Qingyu — Investigator whom she attacked and held hostage while impersonating Song Sheng. He nevertheless saved her from falling and later exposed her identity 26 29.
• Xun Yin — Investigator who helped capture her, obtained the medical verification, and participated in her interrogation 27 29 30.
• Zhuo Wumian — Supplier of the listening devices found on the sisters, according to Song Sheng’s identification. The evidence concerning him was separated from their case 44.

Notable Quotes

“Are you really not going to die?” 30

“My sister... she, she didn't actually do anything. Will anything happen to her?” 30