Li Weiyi slowly stood up. Zhang Jingchan said, “Are you alright? Is there anything I can help with?”

Li Weiyi said softly, “My sister died. She was only 32 years old, harmed by someone until her family was destroyed.”

However, the man before her—meticulous even down to his collar and cuff buttons—showed neither surprise nor sympathy. His jet-black pupils remained calm and undisturbed. He simply shifted the umbrella a bit more over her head, his voice low and steady: “My condolences.”

As if he had seen enough of the world’s suffering, and she was just another ordinary case among many.

Tears welled up in Li Weiyi’s eyes again. She lowered her head and wiped them repeatedly with her sleeve.

The man beside her remained silent, only keeping the umbrella steady over both their heads.

Li Weiyi’s sobbing gradually subsided. She said, “Thank you.”

Zhang Jingchan’s voice was as light as misty rain: “Have you cried enough?”

Li Weiyi nodded.

“Do you have any family or friends in Xiangcheng? Can you contact them to pick you up?” Zhang Jingchan looked at her complexion and added, “With this heavy rain, I’m afraid you won’t be able to get a taxi. If you trust me, tell me your address and I’ll drive you home.”

Li Weiyi truly had no other option. The subway and buses had stopped running by now. She said quietly, “Thank you, Director Zhang,” then gave him her address.

Zhang Jingchan glanced at her.

Li Weiyi explained, “I’m in finance at Muchen Group’s branch office. I saw you at headquarters once and heard colleagues mention your name.”

Zhang Jingchan smiled slightly. Li Weiyi felt there was a hint of self-mockery in that smile, yet also a sense of complete indifference—as if he didn’t care at all that people might gossip about him behind his back.

The two walked toward where the car was parked.

“My name is Li Weiyi,” Li Weiyi said softly.

He gave no response either way.

Fortunately, the black umbrella was large enough that even sheltering two strangers, they could maintain sufficient distance without any overly awkward feeling.

Li Weiyi’s emotions had calmed somewhat. The icy wind and rain swept in from beneath the umbrella’s edge, leaving her mind feeling empty and cold. Yet the man beside her, even in such harsh conditions, walked at an unhurried pace with his spine always perfectly straight.

Li Weiyi asked, “Why… are you helping me?”

He truly belonged to a completely different world from hers. Even in debt, the people he met with were all on the level of her group’s big bosses. Moreover, he didn’t seem like someone who meddled in others’ affairs.

Zhang Jingchan gazed ahead, the corner of his mouth twitching as he said, “Perhaps because… I also lost a family member today.”

Li Weiyi’s heart jolted. She asked, “Who… did you lose?”

“My father. Since you’ve heard of me, you should have heard of him too. He passed away this morning—drank a bottle of pesticide. They couldn’t save him. But look at me, tonight I’m already out dining with investors and big bosses, entertaining them and discussing business deals. Heh…” He still showed no expression. That face appeared extremely clear under the streetlights, his neckline disappearing into his crisp suit collar, his Adam’s apple moving slightly.

Yet Li Weiyi’s heart surged with empathetic grief, even though he hadn’t said a single word about being heartbroken.

“My condolences,” she said.

“Everyone is alive,” Zhang Jingchan said slowly. “He owed a lot of debts—to banks, business partners, employees, relatives… Back then he cleared everyone else and shouldered all the debt himself. Now everyone is alive—creditors, rivals, executives who borrowed money with him back then. Some of them later embezzled and broke the law and went to prison. One was just released three days ago, and my father kindly gave him a thousand yuan. Others now have fortunes worth billions. Now, only he is dead. Perhaps that’s what he deserved.”

Li Weiyi hadn’t expected him to tell her this. Or perhaps it was because this rainy night was truly bone-chillingly cold, or perhaps because on this road, there were only the two of them.

“Then… will you continue repaying the remaining debts for him?”

Zhang Jingchan glanced at her: “Yes.”

Li Weiyi’s heart trembled.

They had already reached the car. Li Weiyi was soaked through and hesitated as she looked at the vehicle before her. Zhang Jingchan pressed the umbrella into her hands. Li Weiyi protested, “That won’t do, you should hold it…” He said, “Take it.” Li Weiyi couldn’t refuse.

He opened the trunk. Li Weiyi hurried over and held the umbrella over him. He said nothing, rummaging through to pull out a tote bag and a small blanket. The blanket was thin and soft, a goose-yellow color.

“The blanket is what my mother occasionally uses in the car. It’s been washed clean.” He stuffed both the bag and blanket into her arms, then took back the umbrella. “Take off your coat and put it in the bag. Use the blanket to dry yourself off.”

Li Weiyi nodded quickly: “Thank you, thank you!”

They got in the car.

Zhang Jingchan started the vehicle and turned the heat up to maximum. After she had folded her drenched coat neatly and used the blanket to roughly dry the water from her head and body, Zhang Jingchan took off his overcoat and tossed it to her: “Put it on.”

Li Weiyi could tell at a glance that the black cashmere coat must be extremely expensive. She said, “No need, no need. I’m not cold.”

Zhang Jingchan glanced at her in the rearview mirror. Her form-fitting sweater was thoroughly soaked, outlining the girl’s graceful figure. He looked straight ahead, loosened his tie and tossed it onto the passenger seat, saying, “Might as well finish what I started. It’s just a piece of clothing. Wear it.”

Li Weiyi was silent for a moment, then put on his coat. He was much taller than her, and this coat could cover even her calves. She immediately felt much more comfortable. The coat smelled very clean. Li Weiyi had only ever worn Xie Zhilu’s clothes before. This felt completely different—very unfamiliar, yet very secure.

“Thank you very much.”

He said nothing more.

The night was already very late. The rain had lessened somewhat. There were hardly any people visible on this stretch of road. Li Weiyi gazed at the constantly moving windshield wipers and the trails of water on the car windows, feeling alternately cold and hot, with her head beginning to ache. She knew she was about to catch a cold and would likely develop a fever.

The car interior was truly too warm and too quiet, shutting out all the wind, rain, cold, pain, and despair, making one drowsy. She rested her head against the car door.

She said, “Actually, my boyfriend dumped me a few days ago. And today, I lost my job too.”

Zhang Jingchan drove the car into an underwater tunnel. All around were gray walls and soft lighting. Li Weiyi looked at his hands on the steering wheel—the black suit fabric making those hands appear pale, thin, and strong, just like their owner, possessing mountain-like willpower.

Only then did Zhang Jingchan speak: “I too once went from heaven to hell in a single day. Actually, I don’t really possess anything even now.”

A tear slowly slid from Li Weiyi’s eyes, but at this moment she no longer felt despair. She only felt that everything inside the car was so peaceful.

“Yes!” She suddenly sat up straight, wrapped herself more securely in his coat, sniffled heavily, and said, “Thank you for your encouragement and help! I won’t give up. First thing tomorrow morning, I’m going back to my hometown to see my sister one last time. Then, together with my parents, I’m going to fight for custody of my niece. I’m going to collect evidence of that beast’s domestic violence and make it public, so that even after death he’ll bear infamy, so his accomplice parents can never hold their heads up again for the rest of their lives! So my sister can rest in peace!

I’m also going to find work. What does it matter if Muchen fired me? That’s their loss! I’ll definitely find a job that’s no worse than theirs, maybe even better. Heaven never bars one’s way. Heaven gave birth to me, so I must be useful for something!”

Li Weiyi reached out and lightly patted his shoulder: “Director Zhang, once I’ve finished all these things, I’ll treat you to a big meal to thank you! And buy you a new coat to replace this one!”

After she finished speaking with such magnificent spirit, the car fell completely silent. Zhang Jingchan acted as if he hadn’t heard anything. The car drove steadily and swiftly. There was only the sound of the wipers striking the glass, over and over.