Chapter 19: The Lament of Life and Death
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Qing’er crouched on the floor, her eyes vacant and bewildered, as though her soul had already drifted away from her body.
The cold exchange between He Lingfeng and the security guards was like blades of ice slicing through the winter wind, cutting into her consciousness one stroke at a time and rousing her from despair. In an instant, she realized that she had been drawn into this dangerous whirlpool.
She shuddered violently and struggled to sit up. With trembling hands, she fumbled for the clothes that had been torn to shreds and hurriedly pulled them over herself. Then, almost crawling, she slowly dragged herself to He Lingfeng’s feet. Her eyes, filled with terror and helplessness, remained fixed on him.
“I…I’m innocent. Please, please spare my life!” Qing’er’s voice was choked with sobs, every word squeezed from the depths of her throat in desperate pleading.
He Lingfeng narrowed his eyes slightly and surveyed Qing’er with the cold scrutiny of a hunter examining its prey. Then he cast a glance at the three men behind her, all watching her menacingly.
One of them immediately stepped forward with an ingratiating smile. “Mr. He, this woman was beside the security guard at the time. We were afraid she might cause complications, so we had no choice but to bring her along.”
He Lingfeng did not answer at once. Instead, he continued studying Qing’er.
Feeling his scorching gaze upon her, Qing’er clutched the hem of his trousers with both hands, as though it were a lifeline. She was terrified that the moment she let go, the darkness would swallow her whole.
“I truly don’t know you. Please, let me go!” Her voice trembled with sobs as she tried to appear as obedient and innocent as possible, hoping to win herself a sliver of survival.
The driver, however, seemed unconvinced. He hurried to He Lingfeng’s side and whispered urgently, “Boss, you can’t afford to be softhearted! If this woman goes out and starts talking, and the police get involved, we’ll be in serious trouble!”
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Qing’er’s heart clenched at his words. She shook her head frantically, tears welling in her eyes.
“No! I swear, I absolutely won’t tell anyone! I truly have no idea what grievances exist between you. Please spare my life!”
As she spoke, Qing’er pressed her palms together, her eyes filled with fear and supplication.
He Lingfeng looked at her, a complicated light flickering in his deep-set eyes.
The air was thick with tension and unease, and Qing’er’s breathing grew increasingly rapid.
She understood that her life or death now rested entirely in He Lingfeng’s hands.
The air seemed to have frozen solid, so heavy that breathing was almost impossible.
Every so often, a drop of water fell from the ceiling, striking the floor with a crisp, eerie sound. The steady dripping was like the Grim Reaper’s countdown, each drop hammering against Qing’er’s taut nerves.
Qing’er’s eyes widened as she stared intently at He Lingfeng’s lips. Her fists clenched unconsciously, her knuckles paling from the strain. Her nails dug deeply into her palms, yet she felt no pain.
“Fine. You may leave. But if you utter even half a word about what was said here today, you’ll lose your life.”
At last, He Lingfeng’s words fell like a massive gate slowly opening, releasing the tension that had wound itself tight within Qing’er.
“Thank you, thank you! I promise I’ll keep my mouth shut!”
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She let out a long breath, relief flashing through her eyes at having survived the ordeal. She thanked him repeatedly, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
Click, click, click…
Suddenly, the sharp tapping of high heels approached from a distance.
A seductive figure slowly entered the room. Her twisting silhouette was reflected on the floor, like a snake gliding through the darkness.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the doorway at once.
Quan Duoduo wore a tight-fitting golden-yellow dress, with sparkling diamond earrings dangling from her ears.
Her long, loose hair bounced gently with every step, swaying with alluring grace.
When her flawless, breathtakingly beautiful face appeared before them, the air seemed to freeze. Several men stared at her without blinking, unable to tear their eyes away from her mesmerizing allure.
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