She lowered Mr. Sheng's clothes with a blush, but again and again, as if possessed, she cherished even his clothes, holding them to her chest. The clothes she had just taken off still held a residual warmth, as if she were embracing Mr. Sheng himself.
Mr. Sheng lived in a spacious, river-view apartment. The decor clearly indicated high-end taste and considerable expense. His food and clothing were all top-tier. Once, she saw the price of a new outfit Mr. Sheng had bought, and it made her legs go weak; it was her entire year's salary.
Following Mr. Sheng, she lived each day in peace and comfort. Mr. Sheng didn't return every day. Aside from washing clothes, cooking, grocery shopping, and cleaning, she had nothing else to do. She could even play on her phone, watch TV, or movies.
She wasn't very educated and couldn't understand the books Mr. Sheng read. So, she watched the movies Mr. Sheng watched, all foreign films. If she didn't understand them, she'd watch them repeatedly until she did.
Before coming to Huo Tingyun's side, she had been with Sheng Yuchen and lived a very happy period.
Her favorite time was when Mr. Sheng got drunk. Every time he stumbled home drunk and collapsed on the sofa, fast asleep, she would take a warm towel and sit beside the sofa, gently wiping his face and body. Touching his skin, she would even boldly steal a kiss on his lips, just for a fleeting second, before quickly straightening up, pretending nothing had happened, and continuing to wipe his body as if nothing were amiss, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She could even hear the booming rhythm of her heart.
After a long while, she dared to steal a glance at the man. Seeing that he was still fast asleep, she let out a sigh of relief, wiped her face and hands, removed his jacket, and went to prepare the hangover soup.
He was drunk all night, and she sat by the sofa, propping her chin on her hand, watching the man all night.
Under the dim, yellow light, the man's face appeared very soft, his features exquisite.
Back in the factory, there was a very handsome guy. Her friends all said he was handsome, but she didn't think so. Were there any men in this world more handsome than Mr. Sheng?
She knew she was just an ant, and Mr. Sheng was a divine being from the heavens. She didn't deserve Mr. Sheng and didn't expect to be with him. In her heart, Mr. Sheng was her savior.
She didn't expect any outcome with Mr. Sheng; she only hoped he could be safe and happy, and that she could stay by his side. That was enough.
But now, it seemed even staying by Mr. Sheng's side was a luxury.
Li Caiyi shifted her steps and slowly walked towards the edge of the rooftop.
Sheng Shi Group was the tallest skyscraper in Shencheng, a full three hundred meters high. Three hundred meters from the ground, standing on tiptoe, she felt as if she could touch the sky, as if embraced by clouds. Looking down, falling would surely shatter her into pieces.
Her tears had already been dried by the wind. It was evening, the sun was setting, gradually retracting its last rays of light. The surroundings grew dim, as if the end of the world were at hand.
It was about to rain.
Mr. Sheng, where are you?
Did you remember to bring an umbrella?
Did you take care of yourself?
Please remember to bring an umbrella.
Please don't catch a cold.
Sheng Yuchen, Sheng Yuchen, Sheng Yuchen.
This was the most beautiful name she had ever heard in her life.
The most painful thing in the world is not being at the ends of the earth, but being right before your eyes, yet unable to touch.
Mr. Sheng was the man she could never touch in her life.
She could never be with Mr. Sheng in this life.
Now, she had discovered an even more cruel truth.
She was merely Mr. Sheng's tool, a pawn.
Someone who could be discarded once her purpose was served.
So this was the heart-wrenching feeling described in TV dramas.
So this was the taste of wishing one were dead rather than alive.
Li Caiyi slowly climbed onto the rooftop railing. The wind blew past her, very cold, but she felt nothing.
Her heart was filled with an unprecedented peace.
Sheng Yuchen, we cannot be together in this life.
In the next life, I must meet you.
Her entire life had been like a bird trapped in a cage, never truly being herself, never soaring in the sky, never knowing freedom.
Behind her lay hell and darkness, endless suffering, insurmountable debts, and younger siblings to raise. Her entire life had been lived for others.
This time, she didn't want to suffer. She just wanted to live well for herself.
With a leap, she felt as if she had become a free bird, with colorful wings, soaring through the sky.
In that instant, the world seemed to become beautiful, vibrant, and colorful.
As she plummeted rapidly, accompanied by the disappearance of the last ray of sunlight, she smiled faintly.
Mr. Sheng, take care.
She was finally free.
Sheng Yuchen sat in the Lincoln car heading back to the company. This road was always congested during rush hour, but today it was particularly bad. There was some accident ahead. "It seems someone jumped from the building, Mr. Sheng." The driver glanced ahead at the crowd blocking the road, indicating a serious incident.
"To jump from the Sheng Shi Group building, how fearless of pain! Three hundred meters up, falling would turn someone into unrecognizable pulp, leaving no complete body!"
The driver and the assistant in the front passenger seat were discussing it.
Sheng Yuchen's heart skipped a beat, and he felt an inexplicable irritation.
He opened his phone and saw many missed calls from Li Caiyi.
He had been in a meeting earlier with his phone on silent. Now, opening his phone, he saw Li Caiyi's missed calls.
Dozens of calls, one after another.
What urgent matter could have prompted so many calls?
Sheng Yuchen tapped on Li Caiyi's contact and dialed her number back.
The call automatically disconnected, and there was still no answer.
Strange. He had missed calls before, and when he called back, Li Caiyi would always answer immediately. Why wasn't she answering this time?
Sheng Yuchen frowned and, as if guided by an unseen force, turned his head to look at the onlookers. "Go and see who jumped."
The assistant was taken aback. "President, why are you suddenly gossiping?"
"Let's go and see." Sheng Yuchen's lips were pressed together, his brow furrowed, as he stared in the direction surrounded by the crowd.
His heart felt a chill, though he didn't know why. His heart was beating erratically in his chest, giving him a bad premonition.
He wasn't sure if it was the car's air conditioning being set too low, but his hands and feet felt somewhat cold.
The assistant no longer asked questions. He opened the car door and walked towards the crowd of onlookers.
The scene was chaotic. It was the peak hour for commuting, and this was an office district with dozens of office buildings, employing thousands of people. They were all gathered to watch. The assistant had to exert considerable effort to push his way through.