Chapter 18: Incontinence of Tears 3

A temporary passage made of steel plates was set up on the collapsed bridge deck, and soon vehicles began streaming toward Construction Site No. 3.

The reporters arrived even faster than the police—unnaturally fast, as if someone had arranged it in advance.

He Qiuting and the others were guarding the corpse in Prefab Building No. 1. As reporters swarmed in with their cameras, Lu Shun was outside Prefab Building No. 2 under a shed, smoking with the workers.

Adopting a humble demeanor, he took out his imported cigarettes, squinted with a curved smile, and handed them out one by one, quickly blending in with the group.

The typhoon had passed, and the heavy rain was nearly over. Fine raindrops brushed against their faces, carrying a slight chill.

“Are you a friend of Boss He?” asked a tall man named Yuan Feng, who approached him with a hint of wariness.

“No, I’m from the power plant. We have a business partnership with Cloud Horizon.”

Lu Shun took a drag of his cigarette, exhaling a plume of white smoke that scattered in the evening breeze. “We’re just unlucky—we signed a contract with him, and then this happened right after.”

“What’s your surname, brother?” someone asked.

“Lu.”

“Oh, Director Lu.” The workers looked Lu Shun up and down, noting his eye-catching hair color and instinctively thinking he was very young. They couldn’t help but marvel, “Young people these days are really something. So young and already a director, tsk tsk.”

“Hey, I heard something—not sure if it’s true or not.” Lu Shun lowered his voice, watching as several workers gathered around, and said mysteriously, “I heard Cloud Horizon recently secured a prime piece of land for a big project. It’s stepping on a lot of toes, and a few real estate companies are scheming behind the scenes.”

The workers exchanged glances. One chimed in, “I think I heard something like that too—rival companies trying to poach people from Cloud Horizon.”

“Ah, that’s got nothing to do with us. They’re not going to poach laborers like us.”

“What happened today is pretty strange too,” Lu Shun remarked. “I just checked the surveillance footage. Your foreman was really dedicated—told to work, he actually did it. Climbing that high in such strong wind, and without a safety harness?”

At this point, Lu Shun noticed the worker named Yuan Feng lower his head, his gaze flickering briefly.

In the surveillance footage earlier, He Qiuting had replayed and zoomed in repeatedly, focusing on him.

Now, seeing it in person, he did seem suspicious.

“To be honest, Brother Lü was acting strange today,” another worker suddenly spoke up. “He told us to resume work and said the higher-ups wanted photos—shots of us working in the heavy rain for the leaders. We had no choice but to go out in the wind, but we all stayed in safe spots. No one actually worked.”

“Yeah, no idea why Brother Lü climbed up so high himself without any safety measures.”

“The other person who died was Zhang Jia, Brother Lü’s apprentice. Zhang Jia saw how dangerous it was for him up there alone and tried to go up and call him down. But as soon as he got up, the building material collapsed, and they both fell.”

Lu Shun frowned and fell silent for a moment. “You mentioned taking photos earlier—who was in charge of that?”

Yuan Feng froze, then looked up. “Me, why?”

“Did the foreman tell you to take the photos?”

…Yeah, what about it? Yuan Feng said righteously, putting on the airs of a champion of justice. But I’ve already posted the video online. I want everyone to see how Cloud Horizon drove a worker to his death! My brother was such a good man—died so tragically, with nowhere to seek justice!

Lu Shun chuckled lightly and remarked casually, You’re really showing respect for your brother. Now the whole internet knows how he died.

I’m speaking up for Brother Lü! Only with public attention can these capitalists not easily sweep this under the rug! Yuan Feng declared indignantly.

I heard from President He that the foreman’s phone is missing, Lu Shun said leisurely. Suspected to have been taken by rivals.

The workers didn’t immediately grasp the meaning of his words.

President He said he never issued a work resumption notice, but the foreman claimed he received one. The evidence linking this matter is in the foreman’s phone, but now it’s gone, Lu Shun explained.

Yeah, we haven’t seen Brother Lü’s phone.

Right, I wanted to call his friends and family, but his phone wasn’t on him either.

Yuan Feng, you were the first one to rush over. Did you see it?

Damn it! Yuan Feng widened his eyes, appearing agitated, and retorted to the coworker, Don’t spout nonsense! What do you mean I was the first one there? I didn’t see anything when I arrived.

Lu Shun played peacemaker beside them. Don’t get angry, brother. It might not be someone from our side. But whoever it is, that person is probably in trouble.

How so?

If I were a rival, and I hired someone to help me erase evidence, would I keep that person around after the deed was done? Lu Shun said with a smile.

Damn, buddy, you’ve watched too many movies! Haha, we live in a society governed by law now, the crowd laughed at him. Lu Shun good-naturedly shrugged. I do love watching movies.

He bit his cigarette, scrolling through his phone as he spoke, when his fingers suddenly trembled.

He had stumbled upon a live broadcast from a local news outlet.

The person surrounded by cameras and flashing lights in the footage was none other than He Qiuting.

He Qiuting stood straight, but he seemed drained of color, his entire body faintly pale. His eyes were terrifyingly red, his lips pressed tightly together as if struggling to hold something back.

It looked as though he might break down at any moment.

Lu Shun’s mind buzzed, and he immediately sprinted toward the No. 1 prefab house.

At the entrance of the No. 1 prefab house.

He Qiuting blocked the reporters outside, using his body to shield the two corpses inside, hoping to preserve the final dignity and respect for the deceased.

Waves of camera flashes hit his face, making his eyelashes tremble and his eyes hard to keep open. The urge to cry grew stronger.

Suppressing his emotions, he spoke, his voice still calm and deep. Yunji Real Estate has always prioritized worker safety. We issued a work suspension notice as early as noon today.

A reporter immediately challenged him. But from what we understand, this notice was not implemented.

As he spoke, the reporter pulled up a video online—the very footage of Lü Weihua working during the heavy rain and typhoon, falling from a height.

He Qiuting stared at the video, almost certain that this was no accident but a premeditated frame-up.

Now that Lü Weihua was dead, if he publicly shifted the blame onto the deceased, it would undoubtedly provoke public outrage.

He was mentally weighing his options when a figure suddenly pushed through the crowd, towering before him.

Lu Shun, grim-faced, blocked the nearest camera with his hand and snapped in a low voice, Stop filming.

Before he could finish speaking, someone grabbed his arm from behind and dragged him aside.

He couldn’t believe He Qiuting possessed such strength—the abrupt pull nearly made him stumble.

Lu Shun stood frozen in place, sensing the other’s emotions through that rough force.

He Qiuting seemed angry.

You may film, He Qiuting declared without flinching, his gaze fixed on the dense array of lenses. His words were clear and composed. My presence here today means I will take full responsibility for this matter—without evasion or denial.

His eyes grew increasingly red, veiled by a faint mist, yet they shone startlingly bright under the night sky and camera flashes. Today, it was my worker who suffered. As the responsible party for Cloud Horizon, I am duty-bound to ensure the safety of every employee.

There are many unresolved questions about this incident, He Qiuting continued, his stomach pain intensifying until he could barely stand straight. Clenching his teeth, he forced himself upright, each word ringing with resolve. Jumping to conclusions before the truth is uncovered, or circulating footage of the deceased, shows disrespect to the victim and inflicts further harm on their family.

His body trembled slightly. As he lowered his crimson-tinged eyelids, a tear suddenly fell, stretched by the wind into a glistening streak, captured by the flashes and swallowed by the dark night.

Fragility and strength merged perfectly in that instant.

He Qiuting’s tear evoked a subtle, brief silence among the reporters, who then held their breath and focused intently on his words.

The investigation will take time, but I assure everyone… He Qiuting lifted his eyes, staring directly into the cameras.

If the final findings place the responsibility on me…

I will not evade it. Whatever must be borne, I, He Qiuting, will bear it in full.

…

After addressing the reporters, He Qiuting returned inside and sat down, refusing any further interviews. A sharp, twisting pain gripped his stomach, unlike any before, accompanied by a thick, metallic taste rising in his throat.

Suppressing the urge to vomit, he waited until the police arrived.

The officers set up a cordon outside the construction site, keeping the reporters at bay. They first examined the deceased worker’s condition, then collected shattered construction materials from the accident scene.

He Qiuting informed the police about the suspicious behavior of the worker named Yuan Feng. However, by the time the police began their search, Yuan Feng had already slipped away in the chaos.

He Qiuting sighed. With Yuan Feng gone, even if evidence pointed to him, it would likely be irretrievable.

He submitted surveillance footage and company documents to the police, who then requested he accompany them to the station for a formal statement and further investigation.

Just before boarding the police car, Lu Shun called out to him from behind.

He Qiuting.

He Qiuting swayed slightly, pausing before turning back. His face was expressionless, his beautiful eyes drooping with exhaustion.

I’ll go with you, Lu Shun stated firmly.

On what grounds? He Qiuting was utterly drained, his body pushed to its limits, his voice too faint to convey any emotion. With all those cameras earlier, didn’t you consider how inappropriate it was to rush out like that?

I didn’t have time to think about that.

Lu Shun was not an impulsive person; he always considered the consequences and weighed the pros and cons before acting. But when it came to He Qiuting, he couldn’t care less.

Watching He Qiuting with red-rimmed eyes being bullied, his first instinct was to smash every single one of those people’s cameras to pieces, every last one of them.

The little rationality he had left stopped him from doing so, and Lu Shun felt he had shown remarkable self-control and composure.

He Qiuting looked at him for a moment, his gaze as plain as water, then turned and walked toward the police car on his own.

Lu Shun hurried after him, trying to comfort him, Don’t be afraid, it’s fine. Even if something does happen, it doesn’t matter—I’ll back you up!

Lu Shun thought such words would offer the other some sense of security, a way for him to express his affection. He even expected He Qiuting to feel a flicker of gratitude.

To his surprise, He Qiuting suddenly stopped walking. His back visibly tensed, as if suppressing something.

After a long pause, he finally spoke.

He said to Lu Shun, From now on, don’t interfere with my affairs—or with me as a person.

Lu Shun was taken aback. He stepped in front of him and said sincerely, He Qiuting, I just want to help you.

He Qiuting frowned, unable to hold back any longer. Why do you…

A sharp pain suddenly shot through his stomach. He paused mid-sentence, taking a moment before continuing, Why do you always assume I can’t handle things on my own?

That night, Lu Shun had stepped on far too many of He Qiuting’s sore spots.

First, he repeatedly mentioned wanting to take care of him financially, then he interrupted his interview with the reporters, dragging complicated personal dynamics into his work.

He Qiuting’s gaze turned icy, his pupils contracting in pain. I don’t need your help. I never said I needed your assistance, Lu Shun. Don’t be so self-righteous.

The harsh words stung Lu Shun, who prided himself on his dignity, leaving him feeling humiliated.

Oh, is that so? Lu Shun, wounded by the other’s distant tone and expression, flared up. Then what was that act in the car all about? Pulling someone close only to push them away? So everything has to go your way, and I don’t even have the right to help you? Fine, I’m self-righteous then. He Qiuting, what do you take me for?

Cold sweat beaded on He Qiuting’s temples. The metallic taste in his throat grew stronger, as if blood were rising. He swallowed with difficulty. …I don’t want to talk to you.

Then let’s not talk at all. We’ve already broken up—did you think I’d come crawling back for a taste of what I left behind? Do you think I can’t find someone else? He Qiuting, which one of us is really being self-righteous here?

The moment the words left his mouth, Lu Shun regretted them. It was a hurtful, impulsive remark that wounded them both.

How could he ever compare He Qiuting to anyone else? He never would…

He was just angry that He Qiuting didn’t want him, so he lashed out to make himself feel better.

Sure enough, before the words had fully faded, he saw He Qiuting press a hand to his stomach and slowly bend over.

Are you okay… Lu Shun rushed forward to support him, but the other forcefully shook off his hand.

It’s my fault. Since we broke up, I shouldn’t have involved you again. He Qiuting, his eyes red, spoke calmly before getting into the police car.

The investigation at the police station lasted over an hour.

After completing his statement at the police station, He Qiuting could no longer hold back on his way to the restroom. He nearly jogged inside, his body stiffening the moment his hands gripped the sink before he suddenly retched.

He expected to vomit blood but was surprised to find nothing came out.

He Qiuting felt a flicker of relief.

He sat on a bench in the corridor to recover and called his driver.

While waiting, he saw the worker named Yuan Feng swagger out of the interrogation room with a smile, seemingly cleared of any key information and released without charges.

As Yuan Feng passed by, he put on a show of greeting He Qiuting, feigning concern, General Manager He, don’t get too worked up. Running such a large enterprise, mistakes are bound to happen now and then.

His words carried a hidden meaning, and after speaking, he strode straight out of the police station.

In the quiet, dark alley with no surveillance cameras in sight, Yuan Feng felt a gust of wind at his back. Before he could turn around, his vision went black as a coarse black sack was thrown over his head, then viciously tightened around his neck, knocking him to the ground.

He instinctively cried out for help, but a kick to his stomach silenced him. Several hands dragged him mercilessly into the alley.

Heavy blows from clubs, fists, and feet rained down like a storm, each strike brutal enough to seem intent on killing him. He tried to shield his head, but his hands were ground under a shoe sole, bones crushed to pieces.

Ah— Help—

His desperate screams were futile.

There were about six or seven people around him, all seeming like hardened criminals, cursing as they beat him.

Yuan Feng faintly heard someone say, The boss said keeping him around is a liability.

The sack began to soak with blood. Yuan Feng was beaten bloody and battered, too weak even to cry out.

The assailants finally stopped.

The leader took out his phone, snapped a photo, and added a message: As instructed, we left him barely breathing.

A black car was parked by the roadside at the alley’s entrance.

The window was half-lowered, revealing Lu Shun’s inscrutable face.

He glanced at the message on his phone, his cold eyes lowered, and flicked a bit of ash from the cigarette resting on the window edge.

The car slowly pulled away from the alley, merging into the night.

Fifteen minutes later, Yuan Feng was back at the police station, colliding with He Qiuting who was on his way out.

He Qiuting was startled.

Yuan Feng’s face was covered in blood, his arm seemingly broken, several teeth missing, and he limped as if on the verge of collapse.

Help, help…

A bloodstained hand grabbed He Qiuting’s arm; Yuan Feng’s nearly 200-pound frame almost dragged He Qiuting down.

An officer at the reception rushed over and asked what had happened.

Trembling with terror, blood streaming from his nose and mouth, Yuan Feng stammered out a plea, I want to report a crime. Someone… someone tried to silence me.

General Manager Sun from Wantai Real Estate—he’s trying to kill me to keep me quiet!

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