42 "Investigation should be done with one strike, and dripping water wears away a stone"

The rain was much lighter when we left the shantytown, but the ground was still muddy.

Tao Wanji rolled up his trouser legs and walked in the mud for a long time. When he finally reached the door, he was splashed with mud by several cars that suddenly passed by.

Turning around, he saw a group of people in suits and ties getting out of a car. Deng Zixiong was surrounded by the crowd, his face full of pride.

While He Yu was imprisoned and under police investigation, he had already taken the lead in negotiating the old city renovation project. The part that originally belonged to He Yu also came into his hands. Although the shantytown was dilapidated, it had an excellent geographical location. Building a commercial center here in the future would bring huge returns.

"Isn't this the community cafeteria that He Yu built?" Deng Zixiong laughed. "He's naive to think that people will buy into his small favors."

"The most stable thing in this world is money. A little extra money is more useful than any living allowance."

Tao Wanjia had a photographic memory, so after recognizing the man as Deng Zixiong, he did not leave in a hurry. After thinking for a moment, he took out a business card from his wallet and walked forward in the mud.

Before she came back, she had already dug up all the public information about this person, including his rise from scratch to the present, and his father who was rumored to have retired after working in the provincial government for many years.

An investigation requires both the firmness of hitting the target with one blow and the gentleness of water dripping through a stone. Tao Wanjia took her time and introduced herself before asking about the land in a roundabout way. She said that she came because of the recent suicide of the vice president. Every word she said pointedly pointed to He Yu. Deng Zixiong relaxed his guard and answered her questions in a roundabout way.

However, Tao Wanjia also saw that his words were not true, and instead he was leaning towards solidifying He Yu's guilt. She found the right opportunity to interrupt and turn away.

Deng Zixiong thought that his reports had come in handy. He stared at the small words on the business card again and again, and finally, when he looked at the slender figure, he chuckled.

He felt that his painstaking efforts had finally caused He Yu to fall, but he did not consider that he had been struggling in the abyss for a long time. If he could make a perfect chess game against others, then others could naturally pretend to conceal their mistakes and hunt him.

Not long after He Yu arrived at the company, the police came again.

In addition to supplementing the evidence that was not fully collected last time, Lu Yuan also took the procedures and asked him to assist in the investigation.

"Don't worry, Mr. He. This is just a routine inquiry. It won't affect your reputation among the public." Seeing that he didn't move in his seat, Lu Yuan added.

He Yu smiled, stood up, and looked down at the company entrance surrounded by Sun Heng's family. "I no longer have any reputation. So I hope Captain Lu will take the trouble to find out the truth as soon as possible."

"Of course." Lu Yuan extended his hand. "Please come in."

In addition to the routine questions he had asked last time, Lu Yuan this time focused on the relationship between the two of them and the reason why Sun Heng had quarreled with him.

He Yu was reluctant to mention the business disagreements and the dirty things that Sun Heng did behind his back, but as time passed, he finally understood the whole game when Lu Yuan took out the video and a bill he had transferred to Sun Heng not long ago.

Wrapped in anger and frustration, all the decency and respect for the deceased were finally revealed in the face of naked false accusations.

"I originally thought he was just slacking off in private, and because he'd been with my father for so many years, I turned a blind eye. A month ago, I found out he was owing a lot of gambling debts. The debt collectors were calling me, and I couldn't get a hold of him. When I finally saw him at a regular meeting, he still talked back to me. I was so angry that we had a few words. I wanted to fire him, but he knelt down in front of me in his office and said he had to help me no matter what, even if the money was a loan."

He Yu recalled the scene when Sun Heng was in front of him that day. There was no hostility, only humble begging. He couldn't stand that kind of attitude of others, so he softened his heart and agreed.

"I paid the money from my personal account. It wasn't a bribe as he said, and I wouldn't bother to do such a thing."

Every project he'd secured in Rongcheng over the past few years had been negotiated on his own. He considered those shortcuts and unorthodox practices filthy and unbearable, something he despised and would never do. But with such dirty water now poured upon him, He Yu felt it would take a long time to cleanse himself.

It was already seven o'clock in the evening when the interrogation was completely completed. The night was dim and a thin mist blocked the moonlight in half.

Xiao Zhang was waiting outside the police station with his car. The back door slowly opened, and before He Yu got in, he saw his father's gloomy face.

He Jinsheng immediately arrived with his lawyer upon hearing the news. Upon learning it was just a routine inquiry, he finally gave in. He went to the company to appease the troublemaking family members one by one, then arrived just in time to pick him up. His original intention was to sympathize with the child, but the tone of his words changed the moment they left his mouth.

"You'd better come back to South City with me as soon as possible. The water in Rongcheng is too deep and not suitable for you."

The car drove slowly towards the neighborhood where he lived. Xiao Zhang observed the situation and raised the barrier to leave some space for the father and son.

He Yu tugged at his tie, leaned back in his chair wearily, and asked, "Am I simply not suited to Rongcheng? I've said from the beginning that I can't do this job, but you're the one who won't let me go."

"What do you mean I won't let you go?" He Jinsheng couldn't bear it any longer. "You're my son. If you don't share my worries, who else can I turn to? Do you want me to hand the group over to someone else?"

He Yu didn't have the energy nor the desire to argue. Ever since the accident that year, He Jinsheng didn't treat him like he did when they were children. Even though it was a traditional father-son relationship where they were too shy to express their love out loud, there was always something between the two of them. He Jinsheng thought his rebellious period came too late, but He Yu felt that he had become suffocated after his father returned to the group.

In short, everything changed after leaving that residential building.

"I know it's hard for you to accept it now, but sometimes leaving is also a kind of protection." He Jinsheng spoke earnestly, and He Yu chuckled when he heard it.

The anger that had been instilled in him since morning by others boiled over at his father's words. He didn't agree with this reasoning; he felt that leaving was merely escaping. No matter how deep the water was, if it splashed on him, he would wipe it clean.

Just as the rebuttal was about to roll out of his throat, the phone suddenly rang inside his coat, interrupting the atmosphere.

Tao Wanjia planned to stay at Huang Zheng's house for a while. After packing up her things, she told He Yu that she didn't know he was in the police station all day and she only had time after she finished her work.

"You want to go back to Jingping?"

She spoke very quickly and He Yu couldn't hear clearly for a moment.

"No, I have something else to do recently so I'm going to Huang Zheng's place first." She took the computer off the table and didn't notice that his tone was a little depressed.

He Yu looked out the window and was passing by their former high school. He was silent for a moment and said "OK" softly.

He didn't know what she was planning, he only knew that she would probably be coming and going in a hurry like this from now on. The feeling of loss was like a weight weighing on his heart, and he felt a little lost.

He Jinsheng knew that persuasion was not working, so he changed his approach and asked in a gentle tone, "Is it Wan Jia?"

He Yu turned his head and asked, "Did my mother tell you?"

"Who else but her could you possibly be so devoted to staying here? Son, you two have been going back and forth for so many years, it's time to settle down. If you don't want to stay in South City, just choose any city Wan Jia likes. Daddy will prepare any place you like, both domestically and internationally. Can you please not stay in Rong City?"

He Yu knew very well that this was his father's policy of appeasement, but these words really hit him. He also looked forward to their future, but now was not the right time after all.

A softness flashed in his eyes, and He Yu said seriously, "Don't even think about hitting on her. We'll decide our own affairs."

Wen Dongyang has been waiting near the KTV for three consecutive days since he discovered something unusual last time.

He worked his usual shift at the police station during the day, and disguised himself to scout the area after work at night. However, he was a familiar face, so when he wasn't busy, he would bring his apprentice along. A new recruit, unfamiliar and somewhat slow-witted, failed to help and nearly ruined his plan, so he gave up on bringing anyone along.

He hid during the day and went out at night, just like staring at a criminal suspect and refusing to let go. After several attempts, he finally saw the girl again. She was bullied by other people inside and was always the last one to leave before closing in the early morning.

Wen Dongyang bought some medicine and waited on the roadside. Seeing that there was no one around, he no longer deliberately kept a distance and handed her the medicine. When he saw that she was not wearing a hearing aid, he made some sign language.

Does it hurt?

The girl was stunned for a moment. After taking the medicine, she looked at him warily and stretched out her hand to indicate that she knew he was a policeman.

Wen Dongyang smiled and said, "I wanted to ask you for help, but now it seems that you need help more than I do."

He spoke for a long time using both hands, always keeping a distance that would not scare her. The girl bit her lip and mustered up her courage when she saw that there was no one around.

Do you want to investigate Deng Zixiong?

I'm willing to help you

Her fingers were thin, and her arms beneath her sleeves were still bruised and scarred. Her movements were stronger and stronger. Her young face, illuminated by the streetlight, showed fatigue and pain, but her eyes were clear, revealing the courage to face the darkness.

Wen Dongyang was touched, and after explaining to her what she needed to pay attention to, he asked her what her name was.

The girl paused and pointed to the forsythia in the green belt beside the road. The bright yellow petals were particularly eye-catching in the night.

He called out, smiled and said it was a nice name.

Across the street, Huang Zheng, who had finally found someone, misunderstood the scene and put her arm on the steering wheel. After a short whistle, Wen Dongyang immediately looked over.

After recognizing Huang Zheng, he became nervous. He quickly left his contact information and ran to the front of the car.

"How come you have time to come here today?" He smiled and leaned against the window to please the already cold face.

"Did I disturb your date with a little girl?"

Huang Zheng was already angry that he had stood her up on a date, and her brows furrowed even more upon hearing this. "I thought you were working overtime at the office, but it turns out you're here every day rescuing fallen girls. Officer Wen, if you're so busy, don't have a relationship. Society needs you more than I do."

Wen Dongyang was about to explain, but it was a bit strange to see her jealous for the first time. After a moment of silence, he reached out and touched her earlobe.

The pearls were shiny and glistening, a gift he had given her not long ago.

The corners of his lips curled up, shamelessly, "Huang Zheng, how come you look so good even when you're angry?"