The foreman led the group around, explaining as they went. Jian Suiying observed intently, occasionally asking questions.
Halfway through the inspection, someone from the Sanya office suddenly received a call. After muttering "uh-huh, yeah" for a while, he hung up and rushed over to Jian Suiying.
"Mr. Jian."
"What is it?"
"Director Yang from the Land Resources Bureau somehow found out you were in Sanya and insists on inviting you to dinner." "Huh? How did he find out?"
"We have no idea either. We thought this trip was so rushed you wouldn't meet anyone, but now he knows..."
"Since he called, we can't avoid it. He helped us a lot back then."
Jian Suiying sighed softly, glanced at the time, and said, "Then I need to head back now or I'll be late."
"Yes, Ms. Jian. You should head back while the rain isn't too heavy."
"But I haven't even finished half of what I came for."
Jian Suiying shook her head, glancing up at the rough cement roof. She thought to herself, this trip had been nothing but a waste of time, a delay in her work, and a real pain.
The man glanced at his watch and hesitated, "So, what do you suggest, Ms. Jian..."
Jian Suiying couldn't decide either. Not going would be rude, but staying would be a waste of time.
Just then, Li Yu spoke up.
"You go back. I'll stay."
Jian Suiying glanced at him. Realizing this was the only option, she said, "Then take plenty of photos and videos. If you have any questions, ask the foreman."
Li Yu nodded, then turned his face away.
Suiying didn't bother to dwell on his attitude. She exchanged a few words with the foreman, then hurriedly left with the office staff member.
On the way back, the wind and rain intensified noticeably. The windshield wipers flapped wildly like they were possessed, barely keeping pace with the pounding raindrops.
What should have been an hour's drive took them two and a half hours to return.
Not only did they miss dinner time, but in such weather, no one would risk coming out just for a meal.
. Thus, dinner was canceled en route.
After two hours of sleep, he actually felt more energetic. With nothing to do at the hotel, he decided to have Li Yu copy the photos
and videos copied over to him so he could review them himself.
He dialed Li Yu's room phone, but after ringing for a long time, no one answered. With no other choice, Jian Suiying steeled himself and went to knock on the door.
But after pounding on the door for a long time, there was still no response.
Was she taking a shower?
Jian Suiying pounded on the door for a while longer, but still no response. Then the person might not be in the room at all.
Jian Suiying had no choice but to return to his room and start calling Li Yu's cell phone.
To his surprise, the phone didn't ring either.
Jian Suiying couldn't fathom where he could possibly be at this hour. Swimming? Hot springs? Working out? Wasn't he tired?
The more he couldn't find him, the more he wanted to search.
Jian Suiying kept dialing his phone over and over. After about three or four attempts, she was about to give up, thinking it was pointless, when the phone suddenly rang.
The moment it connected, Jian Suiying heard the howling wind roaring on the other end—the unmistakable sound of someone completely exposed to the elements, definitely not indoors.
Jian Suiying's heart immediately tightened. "Hello? Li Yu? Li Yu? Are you outside? What are you doing out in this weather?"
"
There was no response for a long time. Or perhaps there was, but the howling wind drowned out any sound.
Jian Suiying grew anxious, shouting desperately into the receiver, "Li Yu! Li Yu! Can you hear me? Where are you?" After a long pause, a faint, weak voice finally came through, "I... don't know..."
Jian Suiying's heart sank instantly.
He quickly ran through the possibilities in his mind. The most likely scenario was that their car had been in an accident.
But if something had truly happened, why hadn't anyone informed him after all this time? Or had everyone in the car been involved in the accident, leaving no one to make contact?
unreachable?
Jian Suiying felt like he couldn't breathe. He'd never feared anything in his life, but he truly dreaded that this might be the last time he heard Li Yu's voice.
time he would hear Li Yu's voice.
He forced himself to calm down, his voice trembling. " "
where you are?"
Li Yu remained silent for another long moment.
Jian Suiying burst out of the room and ran to the door of the person who had come back with him, pounding on it fiercely.
The person, likely asleep, answered with a startled cry from inside before clattering to open the door. Jian Suiying's face was a mask of fury. "They've been in an accident!"
The man looked utterly confused. "What? Who? What happened?" Jian Suiying shouted, "Li Yu's car crashed!"
The man stared at him in astonishment. "Li Yu? But Mr. Jian, they all came back safely."
This time it was Jian Suiying who was stunned. "What did you say? Hey? Li Yu, talk to me. Hang in there."
Jian Suiying couldn't describe his feelings at that moment. He couldn't figure out what was going on.
Li Yu seemed somewhat more lucid now, speaking in broken sentences: "I... I should still be at the construction site... Something hit me, knocked me out, and then... I woke up..."
Just then, Xiao Zhou arrived in a hurry. The three of them compared notes and realized everyone had returned except
Li Yu had been left behind.
Xiao Zhou looked utterly distraught. "We didn't see him when we left. We all thought he'd come back with your vehicle."
Jian Suiying felt dizzy and lightheaded, as if her soul had been sucked out. An indescribable anxiety gripped her heart.
The other two paced anxiously, unable to fathom what could happen to someone with a head injury, abandoned on a construction site exposed to the typhoon with no shelter.
. What could happen? How bad could it get? No one dared say.
"Why don't we call the police? Or an ambulance?"
"No use. They'll wait until the typhoon passes before coming out. It's dangerous for anyone to go out now."
Jian Suiying asked, "Is anyone else still at the construction site?"
The man shook his head. "In this weather? No one would be here." Jian Suiying clenched her jaw. "Give me your car keys."
Xiao Zhou stared at him in shock. "Mr. Jian, what are you doing?" "I'm going back to find him."
Both men nearly blurted out, "Are you out of your mind?" They quickly stopped themselves: "Mr. Jian, you can't. Absolutely not."
. You've never lived in the south. You don't know how dangerous it is to go out in a typhoon. Forget about being wrapped in a metal car—
in a tank... a tank would be fine... but a car definitely won't. If a big tree falls, it'll crush both you and the car."
."
Li Yu whispered, "I'm okay... just a bit cold..." Jian Suiying grabbed the keys from the table and started to leave.
Two men grabbed hold of Jian Suiying. "Mr. Jian, you absolutely, absolutely cannot go. We won't let you go no matter what.
What if something happens? Who'll take responsibility?"
"I'll take responsibility myself!" Jian Suiying shoved him aside abruptly. "I'll also take care of your car. Don't tell anyone about this. I'll be fine."
"I'm not worried about the car... Mr. Jian!"
Jian Suiying's face bore not a trace of emotion, appearing solemn yet utterly composed. Only he knew how terrified he truly was.
When his father hung him by the neck to beat him as a child, when a swarm of bees chased and stung him, when his company faced operational setbacks and financial distress—
He had never been afraid.
He always believed these were hurdles he could bear and overcome.
But now he was truly afraid. For life and death were not matters he could reverse through effort or ability alone.
—it was in the hands of heaven, not man.
That was Li Yu, the one he cherished above all else.
Jian Suiying prepared everything at an astonishing speed, grabbed what he needed from the front desk, and headed straight for the underground parking garage.
The call between him and Li Yu had remained connected. Only after getting into the car did Jian Suiying have a moment to speak to him, repeating over and over
"Li Yu, don't fall asleep. Wait for me to get there. I'll be there soon. Wait for me."