The stormy sky poured relentless rain...

Qian Yu stood on the edge of the rooftop parapet, raindrops pelting her skin. Her unfocused gaze drifted to the bustling crowd below.

Fear and timidity had long vanished from her heart—only hatred remained...

*It’s all their fault I ended up like this!!*

*Just wait! Every one of you who ever bullied me—I’ll haunt you even as a ghost! I’ll sear the image of my corpse into your minds!*

*Mom... I’m coming to you...*

As she leaned forward to jump, a trembling, familiar voice cut through the downpour.

“Xiao Yu... what are you doing?”

The rain nearly drowned the words, but Qian Yu heard them clearly.

She froze, then turned instinctively. Ten steps away stood a pretty girl with a single ponytail, drenched head to toe. No umbrella shielded her. Heavy-lidded eyes lifted wearily, sorrow etched into her gaze.

“Mo Qianyu... how did you get here...” Qian Yu’s hollow eyes flickered with life at the sight of her.

“How could I *not* come?!” Qianyu rushed forward, panic sharpening her voice. “Xiao Yu, get down from there! It’s dangerous!”

“Why am I up here? Isn’t it obvious? I’m... jumping.” A bitter smile twisted Qian Yu’s lips.

“Because you’re tired of being bullied? Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you from now on. Just come down...” Qianyu pleaded, voice raw.

“It’s not about that...” Qian Yu shook her head, staring at the gloomy sky.

Qianyu faltered, confusion clouding her face. Seeing it—and knowing her own time was short—Qian Yu spoke without restraint.

“Mo Qianyu... yesterday was my birthday.”

*Birthday?*

Qianyu hadn’t known. Not after Qian Yu had been shaken down by thugs just yesterday. But now wasn’t the time for “Happy Birthday.”

Qian Yu didn’t wait for a reply. Her face crumpled.

“You’re surprised... I didn’t expect it either. We’re so poor—I still owe school fees... But my mom... yes, *that* disabled woman in the wheelchair... she secretly bought me a birthday cake with her last savings.” A shaky laugh escaped her. “So stupid. Buying useless things when we had nothing... And the cruelest joke...”

Her voice broke. Tears mixed with rain as they streamed down her cheeks.

“...The cruelest joke was her getting hit by a drunk driver on her way home with that cake! Hahaha! She always followed traffic rules! Crushed beyond recognition—her and the cake! Hilarious, isn’t it?!”

Qian Yu threw her head back, laughter sharp and unhinged. Qianyu’s heart sank.

The rooftop was a stage. The rain, a curtain. Qian Yu—a clown performing madness.

This was grief lashing out. But beneath the rage lay raw, unbreakable sorrow.

Qian Yu had always felt life’s cruelty: a broken home, school bullies, wages stolen by thugs. *Why me? I never hurt anyone!*

Only her mother had kept her from ending it all.

Now, even that light was gone.

*What’s left for me alone in this world?*

“Xiao Yu...” Qianyu’s chest ached. She knew this pain—losing the only warmth in a cold world. Her own mother had left her young.

*That’s why I can stop you.*

“But suicide won’t fix anything. Your mom... she’d be heartbroken to see you like this...” Qianyu pressed, teeth clenched.

“What do *you* know?!” Qian Yu screamed. “You’ve lived in comfort your whole life! How could you understand? You have no right to stop me!”

*Unworthy?*

Qianyu flinched as if struck. Her fists tightened. Then, a choked cry tore from her throat:

“How do you know I’m unworthy?!”

Qian Yu recoiled, stunned into silence.

Qianyu took a shuddering breath, forcing calm into her trembling voice.

“I never told you, Xiao Yu... My mom... she was raped. And I... I’m the child of that rapist.”

Qian Yu froze.

“And she killed herself when I was little. Too young to even understand ‘goodbye’ meant forever...” Qianyu’s voice grew thick, raspy.

Neighbors had spat at her mother:

*“Shameless—keeping a rapist’s bastard!”*

*“Such a pure face... hiding such filth.”*

Worse came later:

*“Miss Mo Yao, raising a kid alone must be hard. Come out with me—I’ll pay well.”*

When her mother refused, they snarled:

*“Fucking raped whore playing saint! Who do you think you are?”*

Her mother faced it all alone. Little Qianyu could only tremble until her mother whispered:

*“Don’t be scared, Qianyu. Mom’s here...”*

Back then, she’d believed her mother was strong. Only later did she realize it was armor—armor that shattered.

*Maybe... she held me not just to comfort me, but to steal warmth for herself. I was all she had.*

Qianyu still couldn’t claim her mother’s belongings. *I wasn’t there when she needed me most.*

But now—now she could save someone.

Tears cut through the rain on Qianyu’s face as she smiled through sobs.

“Xiao Yu... we’re not so different. I survived. I’m living well. Miracles only happen if you stay alive. Death ends everything. Please... come down.”

Qian Yu didn’t argue this time. Only silence answered, broken by the drumming rain.

Finally, her voice floated softly over the downpour:

“I don’t know if your story’s true. If it is... I’m sorry. But that’s all. Your pain isn’t reason enough for me to live...”

“I’ve lost everything, Mo Qianyu... I have no right to exist anymore.”

Her whisper vanished instantly—swallowed by the pouring rain.