After my divorce at thirty, I developed an intelligence network.

The rain started at noon, not heavy, but frequent.

In this kind of weather, construction sites that are outdoors basically have to stop; the machines won't run, and people have to stay indoors.

There's an old saying in the construction industry: "A cloudy or rainy day" doesn't mean you're really idle; it's just an excuse to settle accounts and argue over things.

More often, people gather around a table with acquaintances, drink some wine, chat idly, and information flows freely among the cigarettes, alcohol, and tea.

The location was a newly opened private restaurant on the edge of the new district, which Lin Wei had booked.

When Gong Yuelong arrived, several exquisite cold dishes were already laid out on the round table. Lin Wei sat in the main seat, with Liu Jing and Zhao Hongyuan beside her.

Upon seeing him enter, all three of them stopped talking.

"Boss Gong, we've been waiting for you. The weather must be tough on the road, right?" Lin Wei greeted him with a smile, pointing to the empty seat next to her.

She wore a beige cashmere sweater today, her hair was loosely tied up, and she had put on exquisite makeup.

"It's alright, the rain isn't heavy." He nodded to Lin Wei first, then looked at the two people opposite him: "President Liu, President Zhao."

The dishes were served one after another, piping hot.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere in the private room became more lively.

Somehow, the conversation veered towards the recent events in the High-tech Zone.

First Wu San broke his leg, then Wang Biao broke his knee, and then there were those bundles of steel bars that disappeared...

These stories have been circulating in the industry for a long time, with many versions, but they all revolve around the name Gong Yuelong.

Manager Zhao gave Gong Yuelong a thumbs up: "If you ask me, Brother Gong, you're something else! Who is Wu Jinshui? He's been running rampant in the High-tech Zone for years, and no one has dared to mess with him like that."

"And you, you came right up and crippled two of his top generals! That's satisfying! That's fucking satisfying!"

He truly felt relieved, as he had been repeatedly harassed and wronged by Wu Jinshui's men in his younger days.

Liu Jing was more cautious, saying, "The methods are tough. However, Boss Gong, this feud is now irreconcilable."

I've dealt with Wu Jinshui before. He's all smiles on the surface, but he's incredibly petty and holds grudges. Your new project... I'm afraid it'll cause you a lot of trouble later.

She paused, then looked up. "I heard you've even gotten in touch with Director Fu?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Wei also looked at Gong Yuelong, her eyes filled with concern and inquiry.

Gong Yuelong toyed with the wine glass in his hand. "When it comes to projects, there are always troubles, no matter where you are. The difference is that some troubles can be negotiated, while others... you have to make them feel the pain."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Director Fu is concerned about the development of the High-tech Zone and hopes that our companies can operate legally and compliantly and successfully complete our projects."

He didn't say much, but he conveyed his meaning.

Liu Jing and Zhao Hongyuan exchanged a glance. Their words were perfectly measured, but they both understood the weight behind them.

The fact that someone as cunning as Fu Mingde would show concern is itself a signal.

Liu Jing nodded, her tone softening considerably:

"Yes, the High-tech Zone needs some fresh looks. It gets boring from always doing the same thing."

The rain still hadn't stopped by the time the meal was finished.

Gong Yuelong listened to their praises or probing questions, but didn't say much.

He knew that half of these praises and offers were because of what he had recently done.

The other half probably sensed a possible shift in the landscape of the high-tech zone.

Is Wu Jinshui's big tree really starting to loosen? Many people are watching and waiting.

And he, unknowingly, had become the center of this turmoil.

As the party ended, the rain lessened, turning into a light drizzle.

Lin Wei called a designated driver, and Liu Jing and Zhao Hongyuan also got into their respective cars.

Gong Yuelong stood at the restaurant entrance, lit a cigarette, and looked at the sparse traffic in the rainy night.

It felt pretty good; a rare sense of relaxation emanated from the taut bones.

Comfortable.

He hoped Wu Jinshui would be sensible. Having suffered a loss, lost face, and lost goods, he should back down and let everyone have some peace.

But he knew this was mostly wishful thinking. For someone like Wu Jinshui, face was more important than life. This temporary quiet was probably a prelude to something even more ruthless.

Hopefully he'll know what's good for him.

But we're also waiting for him to be oblivious.

He didn't count on God at all, nor did he expect anyone to take anyone away.

There is only one way out—kill!

……

The rain pounded down, fast and fierce, as if the sky had leaked.

The pale light of lightning illuminated those unfinished buildings in an instant.

Wu Jinshui led his men into this place. His face was darker than the sky, and his eyes burned with fury.

On the third-floor platform, Wang Biao huddled behind a pillar, looking like a dripping ghost.

When he saw Wu Jinshui leading his men up, his body trembled violently.

"Where is the stuff?" Wu Jinshui asked abruptly.

Wang Biao's lips turned pale: "Boss, I'm looking for..."

"Looking for you?!" Wu Jinshui suddenly stepped forward. "You've been searching for a whole day and night, and you're hiding here?!"

"It really was Gong Yuelong who stole it! I swear!" Wang Biao dragged his injured leg and tried to crawl over, his hands scratching wildly at the slippery cement ground.

"Swear?" Wu Jinshui sneered, just as lightning struck, illuminating half of his face, making it appear deathly pale.

"You know how much those bundles of timber are worth. They're gone? I think someone's been heartless and wants to keep them for themselves!"

Wang Biao's eyes widened: "Boss! I've followed you for so many years..."

"It's because he's been following us for so long that he dares to touch my things!" Wu Jinshui interrupted impatiently, turning his head to his subordinate, "Take him back. Question him properly."

Two of his men immediately closed in.

Wang Biao panicked and shrank back, his back hitting a pile of scaffolding steel pipes.

With a whoosh, the long pipes piled on top loosened and slipped off.

A blinding flash of lightning was followed by a thunderclap.

A thick steel pipe crashed straight down amidst the flash of electricity.

boom!

The muffled sound was mixed with the thunder and was almost inaudible.

Wang Biao froze, then collapsed limply, blood gushing from around his head, mixing with the rainwater and quickly spreading into a dark red hue.

The men Wu Jinshui brought with him, who had been so aggressive just moments before, were now frozen in place.

Rainwater streamed down their hair and cheeks, but no one bothered to wipe it away.

Someone died.

It wasn't a physical injury from fighting; it was real, immediate damage.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment, with only the sound of torrential rain and distant rumble of thunder.

"...Brother Biao, he..."

A man nearby was the first to recover, suddenly stepped forward half a step, and said loudly:

"Boss... Boss! This... this is retribution! It's heaven's will for him!"

That bastard Wang Biao must have been plotting something for a long time, wanting to steal the boss's goods!

Even God couldn't stand it and took him away! Serves him right!

Another tall, thin man quickly chimed in, "That's right! Scarface is right! I think this pile of pipes has been unstable for a while now. Wang Biao was up to no good by crashing into it!"

Maybe...maybe he was trying to cause an accident to harm you, boss! In the end, he harmed himself and got himself into trouble! Serves him right!

"Yes, that's right!"

"That's fate!"

Several people began to whisper and echo each other, desperately trying to explain the chilling scene they had just witnessed as either divine intervention or their own fault.

Wu Jinshui did not turn around.

He stood quietly at the edge of the platform.

After a few seconds, he slowly turned around.

He glanced at the corpse, then spoke, his voice drowning out the rain:

"Look carefully."

He pointed to the pile of scattered rusty pipes, then to Wang Biao's dirty work pants and calloused hands.

"He illegally climbed abandoned scaffolding in the rain, lost his footing, and fell, sustaining fatal injuries. He was working under the influence of alcohol and was not in his right mind, thus courting death."

The men were stunned, then one of them reacted and nodded quickly: "Yes...yes! He was climbing around like that! And he'd been drinking! We all saw it!"

Wu Jinshui's gaze swept across everyone's faces: "That's all there is to today's matter. Answer everyone who asks."

He paused, then said, "He died in a workplace accident; it has nothing to do with anyone else. The company will pay the compensation that is due. Do you all understand?"

Everyone quickly responded, "Understood, boss!"

Wu Jinshui took one last look at Wang Biao's corpse, his face devoid of any extra expression.

"Make sure it's clean. Contact them and handle it as a workplace accident." After giving the instructions, he turned and went downstairs.

The men looked at each other, then at the corpse on the ground.

The downpour continued, and thunder rumbled.

Someone muttered a curse under their breath: "He brought this on himself, who else can he blame?"