**Chapter 1: Yueyue, Come Down!**

"Bang!"

Another bottle of red wine was popped open by Shen Fei. The top-tier wine was poured down his throat like cheap beer at a street stall.

Stumbling, he walked to the giant floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out over the city.

On the glass curtain wall across from him, banners celebrating the IPO of Xinyue Group's subsidiary were looping on display.

This was the fourth company under Shen Fei's name to go public.

*Xinyue Group* was his life's work.

*Xin* stood for his late wife, Han Xinyan.

*Yue* was for his daughter, Shen Jiayue.

The two most important women in his life—one was his eternal pain, and the other, his treasure to protect with everything he had.

"Xinyan, are you doing well in that world?"

"Today is your birthday. I didn't forget."

As he stood in a daze, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

It was his daughter.

He pulled himself together and answered the call.

"Yueyue, why are you calling Daddy today?" he asked with a smile.

"Daddy, stop pretending. I know you're sad. Today is Mommy's birthday—you wouldn't forget that."

Her mischievous giggle came through the phone.

Her words caught Shen Fei, the CEO of a trillion-dollar company, completely off guard. He stammered anxiously, "I'm sorry, Yueyue. It's all Daddy's fault…"

"Daddy…" Yueyue's soft voice interrupted him.

She hesitated before speaking gently, "Daddy, can you come to my school? I want to see you. I'll wait for you for half an hour, just half an hour."

Shen Jiayue smiled as she spoke. She was sitting on the balcony, glancing down at her pale, delicate hands—and the ten-story drop below.

Cold concrete lay beneath, a lifeless void, a final release.

For her, it wasn't despair—it was freedom. It was hope.

She couldn't wait any longer.

On the other end of the call, Shen Fei suddenly shivered.

Years ago, when Han Xinyan had passed, she had said something similarly strange before she left.

Then, he noticed the faint sound of wind howling through the phone, mixed with distant shouts—someone was screaming her name.

His teeth chattered as panic overwhelmed him, and the alcohol in his system instantly dissipated.

"Yueyue, be good. Daddy is coming right now! Please… don't do anything foolish!"

Shen Fei shoved his phone into his pocket and bolted out the door, not even stopping for his coat.

Moments later, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom tore through the city streets at full speed. Inside, Shen Fei was on edge, frantically dialing his daughter's phone, but there was no answer—over and over.

The sinking feeling in his gut grew stronger. He barked at the driver to accelerate, ignoring all traffic lights.

His mind was in chaos.

To outsiders, Shen Fei was a success. But deep down, in the darkness of countless nights, he loathed himself.

If it weren't for him, his wife Han Xinyan wouldn't have jumped.

If it weren't for him, Yueyue would have grown up in a complete family.

It was his fault. Twenty years ago, he had driven his wife to her death.

That night, Han Xinyan had also called him with strange words—just like Yueyue had now.

Not long after, news of her suicide had arrived.

The thought twisted his heart like a knife. What would he do without Yueyue?

The car sped onto the campus grounds.

Shen Fei snapped back to reality as he noticed the crowd gathered outside the building. He jumped out of the car, shouting, "I'm Shen Jiayue's father! Where is she? Where's Yueyue?"

At that moment, on the rooftop of the teaching building—

Shen Jiayue sat on the railing.

She wore a white dress that fluttered in the wind. Her bare feet dangled, swaying gently.

Her long black hair was tousled by the wind, but she smiled brightly, like a blooming flower.

After one last glance at her phone, she heard a commotion below.

"Her father's here! Make way! Let him through!"

"Quickly! Everyone, move back!"

"Don't block the path!"

"Daddy, you're here?"

Shen Jiayue smiled radiantly, flashing a big smile at Shen Fei.

Shen Fei's heart clenched violently, his pupils contracting. His fists tightened as he stared up at his daughter.

"Yueyue! Come down now!" he roared.

His head buzzed, and all his thoughts blurred into chaos.

Why was she up there?

Why?

Shen Fei's legs moved instinctively, and he rushed toward the stairs.

But Yueyue's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Daddy, don't come up, or I'll jump right now!"

Shen Jiayue's voice was cheerful, but her words were chilling.

Shen Fei froze completely. His body stiffened, unsure how to respond.

"Daddy, I miss Mommy so much."

"Ever since she left, I've thought about her every day."

"Other kids have their parents take them to school, but I never did."

"Other kids have their parents comfort them when they fall, but I never did."

"I grew up alone, trying my best to live. But I realized… God really loves to play cruel jokes on me."

Shen Jiayue smiled at him, tears streaming down her cheeks, carried away by the howling wind.

"I was diagnosed with depression a long time ago."

"I tried to fight it. I wanted to win. But…"

"It won."

As she spoke, her body leaned over the railing. The wind whipped her dress into a frenzy.

"Daddy, I love you! If there's a next life, let's all be together as a family!"

She shouted with a smile—then let go.

Her white figure plummeted before him, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Red and white intertwined, blossoming into a vivid, scorching spray of blood.

Shen Fei's eyes widened, his temples throbbing violently. He let out an earth-shattering scream.

"Yueyue! No! No!!!"

His strength drained from him as he fell to his knees. The screams and chaos around him vanished into silence.

He clenched his fists, pressing them into the ground as his world collapsed into darkness.

It was over.

His wife was gone.

Now Yueyue was gone too.

He had nothing left.

"Why… Why didn't I notice sooner?"

"Why didn't I even know Yueyue had depression?"

"What's the point of all my money? What's the point?!"

Shen Fei roared in anguish, his chest heaving violently. Blood surged to his throat, and he coughed up a mouthful of it.

The world turned black as his consciousness faded.

Before he fell, his trembling hand reached out to hold Shen Jiayue's.

Cold.

Bone-chillingly cold.