The city was a labyrinth of steel and glass, its towering skyscrapers casting long shadows over the streets below. Liu Jian stood on the rooftop of a modest office building, staring out at the endless sea of lights. The wind tugged at his coat, carrying with it the faint hum of traffic and the distant wail of sirens. It was a sound he had grown accustomed to over the years—a constant reminder of the chaos that defined urban life.
But tonight, the noise felt different. It was louder, more oppressive, as if the city itself were mocking him.
Liu Jian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He had come to this city with dreams of success, of building a life that would make his family proud. But now, standing on the edge of failure, those dreams felt like a cruel joke.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out with trembling hands. The screen lit up with a notification from his bank:
[Account Balance: -¥82,350.67]
He stared at the number, his stomach churning. It wasn't just the debt that weighed on him—it was the shame. The shame of losing his job, of being unable to pay his rent, of disappointing everyone who had ever believed in him.
"Liu Jian!" a voice called from behind him.
He turned to see his former boss, Mr. Zhang, striding toward him. The man's face was flushed with anger, his tie loosened and his shirt sleeves rolled up. In his hand, he clutched a stack of papers.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Mr. Zhang demanded, thrusting the papers into Liu Jian's chest. "You single-handedly ruined the biggest deal of the year! Do you know how much money we've lost because of your incompetence?"
Liu Jian opened his mouth to defend himself, but no words came out. What could he say? He had made a mistake—a costly one—and there was no undoing it.
"You're finished in this industry," Mr. Zhang spat. "No one will hire you after this. You're a liability."
The words hit Liu Jian like a punch to the gut. He had always prided himself on his work ethic, on his ability to rise above challenges. But now, faced with the reality of his failure, he felt utterly defeated.
Mr. Zhang turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Liu Jian alone on the rooftop. The wind picked up, carrying with it the faint scent of rain. Liu Jian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing thoughts.
He had no job, no savings, and no prospects. The city that had once seemed full of promise now felt like a prison. He couldn't stay here—not like this.
As he turned to leave, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from his mother:
[Mom: Jian, your grandfather's farm is still there. If you ever need a place to start over, it's waiting for you.]
Liu Jian stared at the message, his heart aching. He hadn't been back to his hometown in years, not since he left to chase his dreams in the city. The farm had always been a symbol of the past, of a simpler life he thought he had outgrown.
But now, as he stood on the precipice of despair, the idea of returning felt like a lifeline.
He didn't know what awaited him there. He didn't know if he could rebuild his life from nothing. But one thing was certain: he couldn't stay here.
With a heavy heart, Liu Jian made his decision. He would leave the city behind and return to the place where it all began. It wasn't the future he had envisioned, but it was a chance—a chance to start over, to find a new purpose.
As he stepped off the rooftop and into the elevator, he felt a strange sense of relief. The weight of his failure was still there, but it no longer felt suffocating. For the first time in months, he had a direction.
Little did he know, his journey was about to take a turn he could never have imagined.