Chapter 595: The Fall

After Chen Shi finished his long speech, Zhou Tiannan leisurely took a puff of his cigar and laughed, “Mr. Chen, you should switch to writing novels. Your made-up stories are quite entertaining. I don’t mind you using my name in your story, but if you present it as fact, I might sue you for defamation.”

“You don’t need to say anything. I already know the truth. Unfortunately, I realized it too late. You’re much smarter than I am.”

“Do you know what I hate the most? People who go back on their word…” Zhou Tiannan’s eyes flashed with a hint of menace, suggesting his motive for killing the Qu brothers.

“Did the Qu brothers renege on their promise? Did they ask you to help them become CEO and then not pay you as agreed?”

Zhou Tiannan shook his head and sneered, looking at Lin Dongxue. “Miss Lin, I want to tell you something. As the saying goes, you can know a person’s face but not their heart. Even someone you see every day might have secrets you don’t know.”

Lin Dongxue could sense there was more to his words but was puzzled. Chen Shi said, “Zhou Tiannan, do you think luck will always be on your side?”

“You’re wrong. I don’t believe in luck. I believe in hard work and talent. You have talent too, but you haven’t used it.”

“Evil deeds will be punished. You’ll pay the price.”

“Goodbye, then. I have some things to attend to,” Zhou Tiannan said with a smile. “Next time, please call ahead if you want to meet. Although I’m a law-abiding citizen, I don’t appreciate being disturbed by the police.”

Chen Shi stared into his eyes. This round of confrontation ended in another failure, leaving him frustrated.

As they left the building, Lin Dongxue asked, “How did you figure it out?”

“Figure what out?”

“That Qu Jingli poisoned himself?”

“When he used the eye drops, I was watching him. In hindsight, his hand was shaking. Plus, Yan Ke kept insisting he just got close and did nothing. His expression didn’t look like he was lying.”

“In the end, Yan Ke and the others can’t be arrested. Two people are dead, and no one is held responsible!”

Chen Shi looked back. Zhou Tiannan was standing on his balcony, smiling and waving. Chen Shi shot him a fierce look and walked away.

“Song Lang, you’re impressive, but you’re only human. You can’t fight a god!” Zhou Tiannan muttered. His cigar was finished. He extinguished it on the iron railing and tossed it away, ready to go back inside and celebrate his victory. As he turned, he saw someone standing behind him. Before he could react, the person shoved him hard in the chest, sending him tumbling off the balcony.

A scream shattered the neighborhood’s silence. Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue, who were just at the entrance, ran back. Seeing the person on the ground, Chen Shi was shocked as if seeing an alien. How could it be? The villain who was so high and mighty a moment ago was now lying in the flower bed, his neck broken, blood gushing from his mouth.

“Call 911!” a bystander shouted.

Chen Shi walked over, grabbed Zhou Tiannan’s hand, and demanded, “Who did this?”

Zhou Tiannan struggled to speak, whispering in his ear, “Song Lang… you really…” Then he slumped and died.

Chen Shi stood up, overwhelmed with an indescribable feeling. He looked up. Ironically, Zhou Tiannan fell from only the third floor. He had survived a fall from the sixth floor before, which marked the beginning of his madness. Now, another fall ended it.

The police arrived, sealed off the scene, and began investigating. The woman at Zhou Tiannan’s home was from a high-end club. Completely unaware, she was terrified and allowed to leave after providing her contact information.

Once Zhou Tiannan’s death was confirmed, his body was bagged and taken away. Everyone was in shock. Lin Qiupu said, “I never thought I’d be investigating his death. Chen Shi, come here!”

“How many times do I have to tell you? When he fell, Dongxue and I were at the entrance,” Chen Shi said, frustrated.

“Why did you go to see him?”

“I wanted to expose his murder methods. I told Dongxue; she was there the whole time.”

Lin Qiupu was exasperated. “Did you see any suspicious people enter the building?”

Chen Shi shook his head. “I’m leaving. I’ve got a headache!”

On his way home, Chen Shi’s feelings were complicated. He had hoped for Zhou Tiannan to face justice but not like this. His death would certainly cause a ripple effect.

He decided to call Gu You. “Where are you?”

“At home.”

“I’m coming over.”

No evidence was found at the scene. Zhou Tiannan had fallen backwards, and the ground was dry. Lin Qiupu believed someone had pushed him. However, the surveillance only showed Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue entering.

Lin Qiupu had a thought: Could Chen Shi have pushed Zhou Tiannan in a fit of anger during their conversation? Dongxue, being close to him, would cover for him.

He decided to speak with Lin Dongxue alone, observing her closely. “Were you and Chen Shi already at the gate when he fell?”

“Yes, the security guard can vouch for us. He came right after… You don’t suspect us, do you? We’d never do such a thing!”

“Are you sure Chen Shi didn’t do anything?”

“What are you saying? You know his character.”

“But we don’t know his past. He’s smart enough to plan a perfect murder. You might just be his alibi.”

Lin Dongxue pulled her hand back. “Brother, I swear it wasn’t him! How could anyone push someone from that distance? Many people had reasons to hate Zhou Tiannan: those he blackmailed, the families of those he killed, and us. Don’t just suspect Chen Shi.”

“I just want to eliminate possibilities. Don’t take it personally.”

Lin Dongxue stared out the window at the vehicle carrying Zhou Tiannan’s body. “His death isn’t good news, is it?”

“Hard to say. We can now legally search his home. We might find evidence against his accomplices. But his followers won’t stay quiet.”

Meanwhile, Chen Shi brought Gu You to the office. When he announced the news, everyone was shocked. Chen Shi closed the curtains and doors, then sat down. “Who did it?”

“What? You suspect us?” KK said. “Xiao Chong and I have been here all day.”

“I was at home. My computer usage and the building’s surveillance can prove it,” Gu You added.

Chen Shi persisted. “I don’t want to catch you; I want the truth. Anyone here could plan such a murder. Who did it?”

Everyone looked bewildered. It seemed none of them had been there. KK said, “Honestly, I wish I had done it. We all wanted him dead… Is this a joke? Such a formidable guy, just gone?”

“Maybe it’s karma,” Gu You said with a slight smile.