Chapter 30: Shadows

The wind on the rooftop was fierce. As soon as they stepped out, the rush of air howled in their ears. Lin Chuan and Yuan Ye followed behind President Liu and two police officers, and across the rooftop, at the very edge, they saw a man perched precariously on the railing. He appeared refined, in his thirties, wearing glasses, but his emotions were in turmoil—one leg dangled over the side, the other still on the rooftop.

Even so, it was perilous; the slightest misstep and he would fall. Seeing his frail frame, Lin Chuan worried that a stronger gust might simply blow him off.

This man was He Peng, the one threatening to leap to his death.

“Captain!”

As Lin Chuan’s group approached, the officers who had been trying to talk He Peng down turned with concern.

“How is it? He’s still unstable?” The middle-aged captain’s face was grim as he glanced at He Peng, voice low and steady.

“Captain, He Peng seems deeply shaken. No matter what we say, he ignores us and insists on seeing the boss of this company!” reported a young officer, his brow furrowed.

“Are the fire crew and ambulance here? Are the rescue measures ready?” the captain asked, shifting his focus.

“They’re here, but—” The young officer left his sentence unfinished, but everyone understood. Even with the fire department and medics present, their usefulness was limited. This was the twenty-fifth floor—if He Peng jumped, there would be no chance of survival.

The captain’s face was heavy as he looked at President Liu, who was usually so arrogant but now seemed utterly deflated, trembling not only from the biting wind but perhaps from the terror of the scene.

“President Liu, do you know him?” the captain asked.

“Yes… yes, I do. That’s He Peng,” Liu answered, nodding quickly.

“Lives are at stake here. Whatever grievances exist between you, I need you to do everything you can to calm He Peng down,” the captain said, his tone polite but brooking no argument.

President Liu nodded. Though he detested getting involved with He Peng, he had no choice. If He Peng really jumped, Liu feared he could be held responsible for ‘indirect manslaughter.’

His company might not be a giant, but it provided him a life of ease and luxury for the rest of his days. He wasn’t about to jeopardize his future over someone irrelevant to him.

Forcing a grim smile, Liu stepped forward. “He… He Peng, it’s me, Liu Dashan. Don’t get worked up, please, come down first, we can talk this out. There’s no need for things to go this far.”

“Liu Dashan, you bastard! Give me back my money! Give me back my wife!” At the sight of Liu, He Peng grew even more agitated.

As he spoke, his body swayed dangerously, making everyone present tense with fear, dreading the moment he might slip.

“I’ll pay you back, I swear. But, brother, how can I give your wife back?” Liu Dashan replied with a bitter smile.

“Liar! Why did my wife run away? Isn’t it because you withheld my wages and still refuse to pay me? Liu Dashan, if you don’t give me back my wife, I’ll haunt you even in death!” He Peng shouted, edging closer to the brink.

Liu Dashan and the officers hurried forward, shouting, “No, no, brother, don’t do anything rash! It’s just a woman—come down, and I’ll make sure you can have a different one every day!”

No sooner had these words left his mouth than all the young officers shot him fierce glares. Several of them hadn’t even found wives, or even girlfriends. Just because he was wealthy, did he think women grew on trees?

“I don’t want that! I only want my pay and my wife. Liu Dashan, if today you—” He Peng, on the verge of collapse, repeated himself over and over.

Lin Chuan and Yuan Ye watched the harrowing scene, their hearts in their throats.

“Miss, what’s going on? Why does President Liu owe He Peng money?” Yuan Ye, unable to contain his curiosity, sidled up to the finance director and probed.

To reach such a position, she was hardly simple—her experience and shrewdness were not ordinary. She eyed Yuan Ye warily, saying nothing.

Usually, Yuan Ye’s looks got him information easily, but the finance director was immune, leaving him awkward.

“Excuse me, what exactly is the dispute between President Liu and He Peng? If you tell us the truth, we can find a safer way to persuade him,” the captain said, approaching as Yuan Ye backed off.

The finance director might stonewall Yuan Ye, but she dared not lie to the police. After a moment’s hesitation, she began to explain.

He Peng was an employee at Manfu Company’s factory in the west of the city. In recent years, the company’s performance had declined, and to reduce expenses, management decided unanimously to close the factory.

But before that, He Peng had gone an entire year without being paid. Now, with the factory about to shut down, he naturally demanded his wages.

At first, those responsible for payroll made excuses and refused payment. He Peng, honest and good-natured, was angry but kept his peace. After all, many colleagues hadn’t been paid either—the company couldn’t possibly withhold everyone’s money forever, could it?

Gradually, he stopped bringing it up, convinced he’d get his money eventually. But with an ailing father and a daughter just starting school, He Peng had to shoulder the household, taking odd jobs to get by.

But such meager earnings were a drop in the bucket. His wife began to complain constantly, fighting with him at every turn.

A few days earlier, unable to bear it any longer, she ran off with a lover she’d been seeing for more than a year, abandoning even their daughter.

After hearing the story, the captain stood in silence, his face dark and stormy.

Lin Chuan and Yuan Ye were seething, barely restraining the urge to kick Liu Dashan off the roof. But that was only a fantasy.

“How much does your company owe He Peng? Can’t you even pay that?” the captain demanded, clearly upset.

“It’s… not that much, just fifty thousand yuan, but we’re employees too. If the boss doesn’t approve, we can’t…” the finance director replied helplessly.

“Brother, calm down, you must calm down! Don’t do anything you’ll regret!” Suddenly, Liu Dashan’s voice rose, tinged with desperation.

Lin Chuan and Yuan Ye turned—He Peng was leaning out even further, about to jump.

Clearly, Liu Dashan’s attempts at persuasion had only aggravated the situation.

In a moment of urgency, Lin Chuan strode forward and spoke coldly: “He Peng, are you a man?”

Everyone stared in shock. At a time like this, wasn’t everyone supposed to offer comfort, not taunts?

“Lin Chuan, please, don’t say anything. If he jumps, the company and I are finished!” Liu Dashan pleaded.

Lin Chuan ignored him—he found even a single word to this scoundrel repulsive. Now he was afraid? Where was his conscience when he withheld wages? People like him deserved no mercy.

He Peng clung to the railing, stunned by Lin Chuan’s words.

“If you’re a man, He Peng, have you thought about what will happen if you jump? Sure, you’ll be free—no more worries about family or wages. But what about your daughter? What about your elderly, sick father? What will they do?” Lin Chuan fired off his questions relentlessly.

Silence.

Everyone on the rooftop fell silent, even Liu Dashan and He Peng, all staring at Lin Chuan.

Perhaps Lin Chuan’s words struck a chord, because He Peng’s lips trembled and tears began to flow.

“I… I’ve failed my father, I’ve failed Yingying. But even if I live, what can I change? My wife is gone, I have nothing left…” He Peng sobbed bitterly.

“Nonsense! What do you mean you have nothing because your wife left? If I’m not mistaken, Yingying is your daughter, isn’t she? You gave her life—you must take responsibility for her, no matter what. Choosing death only proves you’re a coward. Maybe your wife was right to leave!” Lin Chuan’s anger mounted. If he could, he’d have punched He Peng to wake him up.

Because just now, he saw a reflection of himself in He Peng.

Just like the time when Lin Yiyang’s mother left, he drowned himself in drink, neglecting his child entirely—sometimes not even knowing whether the child had eaten or was hungry.

That Lin Yiyang survived was nothing short of a miracle.