TSMLI CHAPTER 4

While keeping a close eye on what was happening behind her, Lin Chu raised the microphone and gripped it tightly to steady her nerves.

 

“Sir, they cannot hear what you are saying. Would you like the microphone?”

 

The speakers hummed softly as her voice carried outward. The onlookers and the leaders standing in front gradually fell quiet. Reporters immediately swung their cameras toward her and began taking close-up shots.

 

Jiang Jin stared at the nervous little face filling his camera lens for a long moment and could not help smiling. His colleague from the Nanjiang Evening News had already called the newspaper office in an attempt to secure the evening headline. Word of the incident had not yet spread, and no one fully understood what was happening. The editor-in-chief remained hesitant. Jiang Jin glanced at his colleague, snatched the phone, and turned his attention toward the stage. He raised his camera, ready to capture a close-up no one else would notice.

 

“Boss, it’s me, Xiao Jiang. Something big is happening today! The City Investment Group illegally demolished a factory in Huitian North, maliciously damaging machinery and chemicals. It’s highly newsworthy, and now there’s a rescue scene unfolding as well. A man and a woman working together! I guarantee you a surprise!”

 

As he spoke, he spotted a silhouette appearing backstage. Jiang Jin quickly hung up and pointed his camera in that direction.

 

Lin Chu tried to buy more time.

 

“You can only be heard clearly with a microphone. I’ll give it to you!”

 

The short man was sweating heavily, the hand holding the lighter trembling.

 

“Get out of here! Get out! You’re talking nonsense!”

 

With that, he seized Yang Chunbei and pressed the flame close to her nose. Yang Chunbei screamed, tears and snot streaming down her face. Red paint covered her pale skin. The man barked at her to shut up.

 

Lin Chu fixed her gaze on him.

 

“They really cannot hear us. So…”

 

Facing the front of the stage, she steeled herself and decided to go all out.

 

“This gentleman claims that the City Investment Group forcibly demolished a factory in Huitian North, causing them serious losses, yet the City Investment Group refuses to take responsibility.”

 

The faces of the City Investment Group leaders turned grim. The onlookers, who had fallen silent moments earlier, began murmuring again.

 

The short man gradually released his hold on Yang Chunbei and turned his attention to Lin Chu. She continued calmly.

 

“As an employee of the City Investment Group, I do not believe this is the truth. The City Investment Group is a state-owned enterprise and has always worked for the good of the people. Of course, if the truth is as you say, then please speak it out clearly and give the people the truth!”

 

Lin Chu coaxed him gently. The short man hesitated for a long time before finally shouting at her.

 

“Bring me the microphone!”

 

Lin Chu had vaguely noticed a hand waving from the far end of the stage. A moment later, a man in a suit bent low and climbed the steps, then pressed a finger to his lips, signaling anyone who saw him to remain silent.

 

Lin Chu gritted her teeth and continued to hold the short man’s attention.

 

“I’m also afraid you’ll hurt me. How about this? I’ll place the microphone on the stage, and you can come and take it yourself. Is that acceptable?”

 

After speaking, she stepped closer, gently set the microphone on the edge of the stage, and immediately retreated.

 

The short man thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. He brandished the lighter once more to intimidate the dancers before hurrying toward the microphone.

 

In the blink of an eye, he bent down to retrieve it, still clutching the lighter tightly. A sudden gust of wind swept past him from behind. The sharp impact shattered the already tense atmosphere. Even the floating particles of dust in the sunlight seemed ready to explode. Everyone held their breath.

 

The next second, a violent tremor shook the edge of the stage. Shen Zhongxun shouted and swung his leg in a powerful kick. By the time the short man realized what was happening, it was already too late. The force of the blow to his waist and hip sent him tumbling off the high stage. The lighter and microphone rolled away in opposite directions amid his screams. The dancers in the center of the stage immediately cried out and fled toward the far steps, while the security guards surrounding the area charged toward the fallen man.

 

Unexpectedly, the short man made a desperate final move. Ignoring the pain, he scrambled to his feet and lunged toward Lin Chu, who was still limping into the crowd. A deafening scream rang out behind her. Lin Chu’s back stiffened as she sensed the approaching danger. She cried out in fear, closed her eyes, and just as the rush of air reached her from behind, she suddenly turned, lifted her uninjured leg, and kicked hard to the side. Her skirt swept through the air as a sharp pain shot through her leg. The short man crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, howling in agony.

 

Shen Zhongxun, who had just jumped down from the stage, froze halfway. His clenched fist had nowhere to land. The short man’s nose was bleeding freely as he rolled on the ground in pain.

 

Lin Chu was still trembling with shock when the security guards swarmed in and quickly subdued the man. Reporters rushed forward as well, cameras and video recorders all aimed at her. Lin Chu reacted at once, covering her face and turning her back. Seeing this, Shen Zhongxun immediately stepped toward her. He raised his arm to block the reporters’ cameras and questions while guiding her toward the backstage area. The remaining security guards and staff quickly moved in to hold the media at bay.

 

After only a few steps, Shen Zhongxun noticed that Lin Chu was limping. Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm around her waist, lifted her slightly off the ground, and carried her the rest of the way backstage, ignoring her startled cry.

 

Once they were inside, Lin Chu realized her legs felt completely useless. She was already soaked in sweat. Shen Zhongxun helped her into a chair and immediately called for someone to take her to the hospital. After hanging up, he looked at her face, which was still slightly contorted with pain, and for some reason felt a sudden urge to laugh. He coughed lightly and then spoke in a serious tone.

 

“Thank you very much for your help earlier. Your colleagues will take you to the hospital shortly. The company will cover all medical and recovery expenses.”

 

Lin Chu was furious, yet in the end she only managed a soft “hmm.” Soon a colleague arrived to collect her. Several leaders also came backstage to ask Shen Zhongxun for details.

 

He kept his explanation brief. The leaders did not fully understand the situation. Under normal circumstances, someone from the group’s general manager’s office should have handled the matter. Because of the suddenness of the incident, however, emergency measures had been necessary. They quickly decided that Shen Zhongxun should carefully choose his words before facing the media. He straightened his suit and stepped outside with the others.

 

Reporters still surrounded the stage and rushed forward the moment they spotted him, fighting for the best positions. From a distance, Jiang Jin watched as Shen Zhongxun stood at the center of the group, speaking with calm eloquence. His colleagues from the Nanjiang Evening News urged him to go up and ask questions, but Jiang Jin shook his head and laughed.

 

“I don’t want to get myself into trouble. You go help Xiao Cai. I don’t think he can squeeze through.”

 

After saying that, he turned around, straddled his motorcycle, and disappeared into the chaos surrounding Nanhu Lake.

 

Lin Chu went to the hospital. After examining her, the doctor simply advised her to rest for two days. There was no serious injury, and her ankle was not even red or swollen. Instead, the leg she had used for the side kick still felt a little numb from overexertion. The doctor jokingly asked about her skill level.

 

Lin Chu replied awkwardly, “I don’t know any kung fu. I’m just decent at yoga and stretching. I joined the taekwondo club in school, and the most I can do is kick.”

 

The doctor laughed. “I told you, I’ve never seen someone who claims to know martial arts react like this after a kick!”

 

The colleague who had accompanied her could not help laughing either, though she was also genuinely impressed by Lin Chu’s actions that day.

 

Ye Jing only learned about the incident that evening. She immediately bought a large bag of snacks and rushed over to Guanjin Garden to see Lin Chu. The moment she entered, she shouted “Heroine!” Sang Feiyan and Shi Tingting, who had been chatting in Lin Chu’s room, burst into laughter.

 

When Ye Jing first met the two roommates, Lin Chu had to make introductions. The three women gathered around her, bombarding her with questions. Ye Jing was the most excited. After asking a few things, she gave Lin Chu a light slap on the head.

 

“Are you crazy? When did you become so selfless and altruistic? You’re usually indifferent to anything that doesn’t concern you!”

 

Lin Chu dodged her hand and answered irritably.

 

“Do you think I wanted this? That lighter was almost burning my colleague’s nose. She was covered in paint. If it had caught fire, she would have been seriously hurt. I just had a momentary lapse of judgment and did it.”

 

She muttered under her breath, “If it happened again, I definitely wouldn’t do a good deed.”

 

Sang Feiyan and Shi Tingting were not yet close enough to linger. After chatting for a while, they said goodbye and left. Ye Jing closed the door and asked whether Lin Chu was injured. Lin Chu patted her right leg, the one she had used for the kick.

 

“It feels like my tendons have been stretched to the limit. The doctor said it’s nothing serious, but my calf hurts a little when I walk. I’ll be fine after a couple of days of rest.”

 

It was time for the evening news. Lin Chu brought out her laptop, searched for a moment, and quickly found the live broadcast page.

 

After waiting a short while, she spotted the eye-catching headline. Lin Chu cared about nothing else except whether she had appeared on television. In the end her eyes widened, and she covered her face with a loud wail. Ye Jing was both amused and exasperated.

 

“You’re not that shameless. Besides, they only showed a few shots of you and didn’t even mention your name. What’s there to be ashamed of?”

 

Lin Chu regretted not yelling “You jinx!” at Ye Jing that night. The next day, her mother called in a panic.

 

“I heard you had an accident yesterday. What happened?”

 

Lin Chu tried to play it off, but her mother was furious.

 

“You’d better be honest! What went wrong at your workplace? How did you get hurt by a thug? Don’t deny it! The neighbors have all seen the news, and Xiao Wang even said he saw your story on some forum!”

 

Lin Chu complained bitterly and had no choice but to confess the truth, though she carefully avoided detailing the dangerous side kick. Her mother finally breathed a sigh of relief, but still scolded her for a long time, criticizing her for showing off and acting recklessly. Lin Chu repeatedly admitted her mistake while tapping her stiff calves and thoroughly regretting her actions.

 

After hanging up, she immediately searched the local forums and nearly fainted. Some overly curious netizens had even managed to dig up her photos. Lin Chu quickly contacted the moderator to have the posts removed, so angry she could barely speak.

 

While Lin Chu remained holed up in her rented room, occasionally erupting in private fits of rage, Shen Zhongxun finally found a brief stretch of free time after two exhausting days.

 

The perpetrator that day turned out to be the tenant’s partner, a man suffering from mental illness. A conflict over improper profit distribution had driven him to act in such an extreme manner, something no one had anticipated. The situation quickly escalated beyond what Shen Zhongxun could manage alone. Shen Hongshan, as general manager of the City Investment Group, stepped in at once. He issued a series of swift and decisive orders that filtered down through the ranks. The crisis was brought under control in a short time, yet lingering problems remained. Residents living near Huitian North, upon learning they had been residing in such a hazardous area, raised continuous objections and complaints.

 

The atmosphere inside the Shen household was tense. Shen Hongshan looked both physically and mentally drained.

 

He had been transferred from director of the municipal planning bureau to general manager of the City Investment Group. Over the years he had served the people with a work style that won public approval. Several major projects he had overseen in Nanjiang City had earned widespread praise. No one expected such a serious problem to surface so close to his retirement.

 

No one spoke at the dinner table. The dishes gradually grew cold. Even Jiang Jin ate his rice in silence.

 

Shen Hongshan glanced at him and said quietly, “The news from the Nanjiang Evening News always comes the fastest and most comprehensively. They’re quite capable.”

 

Jiang Jin raised an eyebrow, pretending not to understand.

 

Shen Zhongxun suddenly spoke.

 

“It is the duty of the news media to expose the facts.”

 

Shen Hongshan immediately glared at him, but Shen Zhongxun remained calm, slowly chewing his food.

 

“It’s better if a matter can be kept from the media and resolved privately. But sometimes public supervision through the media is more efficient. What’s the point of a state-owned enterprise like the Environmental Group if it doesn’t generate profit? That principle applies to all state-owned enterprises.”

 

Shen Hongshan stared at him for a long time with a somber expression. Shen Zhonghe quickly changed the subject.

 

“Eat while the food is still warm, Dad. Try this.”

 

Shen Hongshan’s chest rose and fell heavily before he finally picked up his chopsticks again.

 

The gloomy atmosphere lingered after the meal. Shen Zhongxun loosened his tie, stood up, and left first. Jiang Jin leaned back on the sofa and began playing mobile games. Once Shen Hongshan returned to his study, Jiang Jin cheerfully waved goodbye to the remaining two and headed downstairs.

 

As the iron gate opened, a ring of smoke drifted in. Jiang Jin choked on it, his eyes stinging. He was about to curse when he turned and saw Shen Zhongxun leaning against the wall, eyes downcast, slowly exhaling smoke. Jiang Jin offered a quick greeting and started toward his motorcycle, only to hear Shen Zhongxun call out in a hoarse voice.

 

“Stop.”

 

Jiang Jin halted and turned back with a guilty look.

 

Shen Zhongxun studied him from head to toe. The tall, strong young man was in the prime of his youth, a sight that was truly enviable. He took a deep drag on his cigarette, stubbed it out, bent down to pick up the butt, and tossed it into the trash can beside the sycamore tree.

 

Then he spoke.

 

“Be careful with your wording when you write your reports. Since you have firsthand information, you should make good use of it. However, the interests involved are far too complicated. You must not act rashly.”

 

With that, he walked unhurriedly toward the parking space. Jiang Jin was startled by the abrupt words. He muttered “expressionless” under his breath and climbed onto his motorcycle. As the engine roared to life, a sudden realization struck him. He glanced back at the slowly departing car and recalled the documents he had glimpsed in Shen Zhongxun’s study a few days earlier. The memory returned in fragments: the open study door and papers related to the demolition of the Huitian North factory. The pieces connected. Jiang Jin cursed angrily.

 

“Damn it!”

 

He had been used.

 

The motorcycle suddenly accelerated and vanished into the darkness of Ningxi Road.