"With nothing left, I’ve long lost the right to cling to life in this world, Mo Qian Yu..."

In the heavy rain, the girl’s words declared her resolve to die.

Enough was enough. Guan Jinyu had truly lived long enough.

People stay alive only because they have something to hold onto. Without that, there’s no need to keep living.

This world isn’t kind. For Guan Jinyu, it had always been hostile. She couldn’t understand why fate kept heaping suffering on her and her mom. Had she destroyed the world in a past life?

But even if that were true, why punish only me? Why take my mom away!

All along, she and her mother had clung to each other, surviving on the faint warmth of their bond. But now, even that last warmth had faded...

Leaving only cold emptiness behind.

Her lower body was already paralyzed! Heaven, couldn’t you spare her?

Guan Jinyu had planned to repay her mom’s kindness when she grew up. But before she could care for her, her mom was already gone.

Heh. So, there was no point in clinging to life anymore.

"Little Fish, I—"

Qian Yu seemed to be gathering her words, but Guan Jinyu cut her off.

"Mo Qian Yu, stop talking. I truly have no reason to live. Just leave. I don’t want you to see me jump..."

Guan Jinyu whispered softly as she turned away. Her eyes, filled with despair, held no other light.

She wasn’t stupid. She knew Mo Qian Yu had always meant well. Probably the only person in this world who’d ever been kind to her. So she didn’t want her dying image haunting Qian Yu’s mind.

The rain grew heavier. Dark clouds hid the blue sky completely. Guan Jinyu stood under the curtain of rain, her eyes blank as she stared at the crowd below.

She didn’t jump yet. She was waiting for Qian Yu to leave.

But after ten seconds, no footsteps faded away. Only the pattering rain echoed in her ears.

Finally, she couldn’t help but turn back, frowning.

"Mo Qian Yu, why haven’t you left?"

Seeing Guan Jinyu turn, Qian Yu wasn’t surprised. She gave a lonely smile and said:

"Little Fish, you really are a good kid... Even now, you’re still worrying about me..."

"Who’s worrying about you? Just get out of here..."

Guan Jinyu, who had already resolved to die, felt a tsundere impulse at Qian Yu’s smile. She looked away and muttered coldly.

"What are you saying now, Little Fish? I’m not leaving. Watch you die? Sorry, I can’t do that..."

Qian Yu said, her eyes downcast, as she stepped closer to Guan Jinyu.

"Wait! Stop right there! Or I’ll jump!"

Panicked by Qian Yu’s approach, Guan Jinyu threatened hastily.

Qian Yu obeyed the threat and stopped immediately.

As the girl’s outline grew clearer, Qian Yu smiled through her tears. Her voice was hoarse with sobs as she spoke:

"Hey, Little Fish, my mom died too. When I was little, I couldn’t even support myself... Do you know how I survived?"

"I don’t know, and I don’t care. Just go!!"

Guan Jinyu said coldly, her face stern.

But Qian Yu ignored her resistance and continued:

"I met this reckless guy. Just a high schooler, not even financially independent, yet he wanted to take care of a kid. Isn’t he an idiot...

But he did it well. He gave me his best. Even when he had nothing to eat, he made sure I was full. Honestly, he’s hopeless. We’re not even related. If raising me was so hard, why not abandon me?"

Those hard days were unforgettable. At their poorest, Qian Yu and Xia Chuan had only a few yuan. To last till payday, they shared two steamed buns a day—she ate one and a half, he only half...

"But he didn’t. Like my mom, no matter how much he suffered outside, he was always gentle with me... It’s strange. I was just a stray..."

Only after growing up did Qian Yu realize that despite no blood ties, their mutual dependence had forged an unbreakable bond.

This time, Guan Jinyu didn’t resist. She stood quietly at the edge of the rooftop, listening with downcast eyes.

"Little Fish, I’m not telling you this to boast about my suffering... I just want you to know this world isn’t as cold as you think. There are kind people. If you live on, someday you’ll find someone to rely on too. Maybe it sounds naive...

But... if you don’t mind, I can be your family. I can be your support. So, come down, Little Fish..."

In the wind and rain, Qian Yu’s dark hair fluttered. Tears mixed with rain on her cheeks. She forced a smile, stepped forward, and reached out her slender hand, as if to pull Guan Jinyu off the parapet.

Family...

At that word, Guan Jinyu felt a strange daze. Could she still have family?

Mo Qian Yu, you really are strange... A shining campus idol like you, offering to be family to a sewer rat like me? Are you serious?

Honestly, she thought Qian Yu’s words were absurd...

But...

Looking at those slender fingers, like tender shoots, she felt an inexplicable urge to grasp them...

No one wants to die, not even Guan Jinyu. Her mom’s accidental death shouldn’t be a reason to jump...

If she could hold that hand, even someone like her could cling to life, right?

In a daze, Guan Jinyu slowly reached out, as if to grasp the girl’s hand. But hesitation made her shrink back.

Qian Yu didn’t rush to clasp her hand. She just stood there, arm outstretched, waiting...

Come on, Little Fish...

Boom!

Just as Qian Yu thought things would end well, disaster struck! The silent clouds suddenly roared with thunder!

Even Qian Yu jumped. Let alone Guan Jinyu, who was always timid.

The thunderclap startled Guan Jinyu badly. She instinctively stepped back. But she was on the parapet—this step made her lose footing...

Feeling her balance slip, Guan Jinyu fell backward. In that instant, her mind was crystal clear.

Am I... dying?

Right. I shouldn’t have dreamed of unrealistic things. Even if Mo Qian Yu accepted me, my personality would only trouble her...

Indeed, dying is better...

Mom, your daughter is coming to you...

With that thought, Guan Jinyu slowly closed her eyes, waiting for death...

But suddenly, she felt skin on skin at her wrist. A powerful pull yanked her, leaving her dangling in midair.

Guan Jinyu froze in shock. Instinctively, she looked up. Mo Qian Yu had rushed to the edge, pulling with all her might to keep her from falling.

Honestly, Qian Yu never expected this accident.

Actually, on her way, she’d planned to stabilize Guan Jinyu. From thanking the principal and coming without an umbrella, the plan had started.

She refused the umbrella not because she enjoyed rain, but to create equality. A jumper in rain, a persuader with an umbrella—this could breed resentment and tragedy.

Her stories weren’t just to stop the suicide. They also distracted and bought time for the police to arrive.

Qian Yu wasn’t a pro. This was all she could do. Just as success seemed near, things took a turn.

Luckily, during their talk, she kept inching closer. So she could grab Guan Jinyu in time.

But now, the situation wasn’t great.

As mentioned, Qian Yu’s strength was above average for a girl, but weak compared to boys. Holding one person with one anchor point was exhausting.

To prevent Guan Jinyu’s fall, Qian Yu strained with all her might. Just holding on was her limit, let alone pulling her up...

The only option was to call the teachers behind the rooftop door. But she was far from it. Ignoring the rain’s noise and door insulation, Qian Yu had no strength left to shout...

Seeing Qian Yu’s strain, Guan Jinyu cried out sadly:

"Mo Qian Yu! If you keep this up, you might fall too! You’re not like me. You still have family... I have nothing left. So—"

But before she finished, Qian Yu interrupted with her last strength:

"Are you an idiot? You have me!"