Qian Hongming’s life was ruined.

Even though Cui Bingbing had just woken up with sleepy eyes, after hearing Liu Jun’s full account, her immediate response was unusually cold: “I wonder how much the underworld is offering for Qian Hongming’s silence fee.”

“Why are those people so impatient? Give Hongming some time, and perhaps there will be light at the end of the tunnel. This is a classic prisoner’s dilemma phenomenon – everyone only thinking of their escape, resulting in everyone trapped in desperate straits.”

“Why should people trust Hongming the way they trust you? At critical moments, we still determine credibility based on tangible assets. Let’s eat out for lunch. I slept until my limbs were sore and I had no strength to cook.”

Dandan objected: “Daddy cook, daddy make sweet and sour ribs, make steak.”

Cui Bingbing’s features scrunched together: “Oh my, this little meat master, what to do? Will she become fat like me in the future? Let’s eat out. Your dad is distracted today – cooking would get him burned by hot oil. Too painful, daddy would cry.”

Seeing Cui Bingbing ready to go out in loose flowing robes, Liu Jun could only look skyward but didn’t want to turn a blind eye. “Mm, your complexion looks especially good after sleeping, your skin can compare with Dandan’s now. I remember just bringing you a…”

“I know.” Cui Bingbing ground her teeth fiercely as she turned back to change clothes. Coming out again, she finally looked somewhat human. “Can’t even be comfortable on rest days.”

Dandan said shamelessly, “Mommy is still prettier than Dandan. Dandan will let you hold her.”

“My status at home is low – everyone can ride on my head.” Cui Bingbing continued grinding her teeth, letting Dandan jump and tumble in her arms, ruining a silk dress. When the family of three climbed out of the car, Liu Jun already regretted having his wife change into silk.

The three emerged from another exit of the parking garage and saw crowds gathered excitedly watching something. Getting closer, they heard someone say it was another jumping show, with others loudly shouting “Jump! Jump!” Of course, there were concerned people too, but those excitedly fanning the flames seemed to be the majority. Liu Jun looked up – wasn’t this the building where Qian Hongming’s company was located? He saw a platform on the tenth-something floor with a person standing on it, looking tiny from below, as if they could be blown down by wind at any moment. Liu Jun had a feeling and said to Cui Bingbing: “Those who lent money to Hongming – who knows how many have the same jumping thoughts as migrant workers demanding wages.”

“Willing to gamble, willing to lose. Such high-interest lending is gambling itself. Everyone thought they were brilliant beforehand, but it’s too late for jumping afterward.”

Before Cui Bingbing finished speaking, amid gasps from the crowd, the jumper ignored police persuasion from the window and jumped straight down. The inflatable cushion below wasn’t even fully inflated yet when the person hit the ground with a dull thud. The couple quickly took Dandan away, ducking into a nearby restaurant to avoid frightening her. Although Dandan didn’t take it seriously and even thought it was Superman, people at the next table were enthusiastically discussing the incident while looking out the window. The couple heard clearly that the jumper wasn’t a migrant worker demanding wages, but precisely a creditor who had lent money to Qian Hongming. Liu Jun felt mixed emotions beyond words. Lunch was eaten absent-mindedly, and they didn’t dare discuss it in front of Dandan.

By the time they finished eating, the onlookers had long dispersed, and the incident site had been cleaned up. The disappearance of a life seemed like nothing had happened after just over an hour. While driving, they received another call from Jiali, which Cui Bingbing helped answer. Jiali said she was worried and had already bought plane tickets, would depart soon and arrive in Shanghai tomorrow morning. Her parents would pick her up at the airport and take Xiao Suihua away while she came alone.

“I expected you couldn’t possibly ignore your missing husband here, but I must remind you – someone just jumped from a building here, one of Hongming’s creditors, jumped from over ten floors and died on the spot.” Cui Bingbing had to choose her words carefully to avoid saying “death” in front of Dandan. “You can imagine how those creditors who didn’t jump will treat you when you appear here. Whether to come is your decision, but giving Xiao Suihua to your parents is right.”

Knowing eavesdropping was easy, Cui Bingbing ultimately didn’t dare repeat Qian Hongying’s words. Jiali on the other end was determined to return, without grand declarations or emotional appeals – she said she just wanted to be closer to Hongming.

Cui Bingbing still didn’t mince words with Jiali: “I guess Hongming should be hiding somewhere. He’s smart and should be hiding well. But if you come back and get surrounded, or face even more terrible things, wouldn’t you become the best bait for some people to fish for Hongming? You can’t go home. If you stay in hotels, it’s unsafe, and you can’t afford it with your money. Stay with friends – friends would welcome you, but you need to calmly consider for your friends that this would bring trouble to their doorstep. So, what are you coming back for? Pure troublemaking. You still have hours before takeoff – hurry and think carefully about Hongming’s intention in sending you mother and daughter to Australia.”

“I’ve considered carefully. I’m mentally prepared. I’ve also researched the law over the past days. Hongming fears losing, fears prison, but he must take responsibility for his mistakes. I’ll accompany him and wait for him. Don’t worry, I won’t implicate you.”

Cui Bingbing felt frustrated, unable to explain over the phone. She and Liu Jun only needed to mention the beginning to know the end, but explaining to Jiali was difficult, especially when the call might not be secure. She continued trying to persuade through indirect means, naturally unable to scratch the itch. She also truly understood Jiali’s desire to return home – if it were her husband in trouble, she would have rushed home the day she heard the news, impossible to listen to others’ advice. Of course, she also had reasons – she had capabilities. She said to her driving husband, “Jiali is determined to come back. Since she’s coming, we can’t ignore her. Sigh. Dandan will stay at Grandma’s starting tomorrow. Sigh, what to do?”

Liu Jun was equally worried and couldn’t think of solutions. Cui Bingbing had already said so much, yet Jiali remained stubborn. What could they do? After all, they were separated by a phone line, and many issues couldn’t be discussed openly. “I have a client coming tonight. With business so tight now, I don’t dare willfully leave and ignore clients. But tomorrow when Jiali arrives…”

“You accompany the client. I’ll drive to Shanghai later, sleep tonight, and have energy to return tomorrow.”

“I’m most worried about you driving, especially in these troubled times. Any car could mess with you casually on the highway, and you’d be in trouble. I’ll send the driver.”

“When Hongming was around, we managed pickups and drop-offs. Now that Hongming has just disappeared, you’re only sending a driver when she returns. She’ll overthink – better not let her think we’re cold once the tea cools. I’ll go, or the driver drives while I escort.”

“You’ve been so hard-working these days, just recovering. I feel sorry for you.”

“Completely for Hongming’s sake. Thinking of that jumper, I’m still shaken. Hongming knows best that you’re unguarded toward him. At least he treated you…”

Both had nothing to say, especially having just seen a living person jump to their death. Although there’s the old saying about willing gambling and losing, when gambling results in death, Qian Hongming could no longer be righteous about it. Back home, Liu Jun said: “Very strange – local newspapers didn’t report such a major incident. By rights, smashing a company and a headquarters with so many witnesses should have made the evening paper. Today, someone jumped – wonder how newspapers will report it. This matter is unfathomable.”

“The more silent the media, the more it strengthens my conviction – we only help friends, absolutely won’t interfere with the case.”

“Be careful on the road. Always stay alert with the driver about surrounding vehicles, watch speed… Forget it, I’ll go instead. You help me meet the client – I believe you can do it.”

“It’s not that scary. It’s just Jiali, not Hongming or Qian Hongying.”

But they embraced like a young couple for a while before parting. Both knew in their hearts that the unpredictable was most frightening.

Cui Bingbing went to Shanghai while Liu Jun went to the local airport. To show importance, he personally drove to pick up the client, dropping Dandan at his mother-in-law’s house and arranging that he couldn’t pick up his daughter for several days. The client was naturally pleased seeing such courtesy. During dinner, he finally received news of Cui Bingbing’s safe arrival. Liu Jun breathed a sigh of relief, telling his wife to rest early and conserve energy.

Being in the same industry, the client inevitably asked about news of that rising star who had left Liu Jun’s company. Industry rumors said that the company was debt-ridden, with the boss’s phone always off. The client asked if it was true. Liu Jun said it was true – the First Industrial and Commercial Bank suddenly acted, recalling all loans from the rising star when they matured, but wouldn’t renew them. This blow was extraordinary. Other banks immediately followed suit, with private lenders being most active, reportedly tracking the rising star daily, watching to seize money for repayment whenever available.

The client asked Liu Jun, “Is Liu’s side still doing well? You coastal people are bold in business methods.”

Liu Jun smiled: “If my phone doesn’t start turning on and off intermittently, then definitely no problems. Several of our friends say that recently, even when lying in the hospital for surgery, we don’t dare turn off our phones. Once phones are off, people suspect financial problems. Fortunately, except for being aggressive when investing in technology, I’m conservative otherwise. These days, cash is king.”

“We’re also very careful now. For long-cycle business, we’d rather divide into small pieces to avoid suddenly finding phones unreachable, people unfindable, and advance payments lost. Choosing business partners… sigh, such headaches. Can only come to see personally to avoid mishaps.”

The client’s visit wasn’t for show but a real inspection. On this Saturday night, after eating and drinking well, the client proposed visiting the company. Liu Jun immediately broke into a cold sweat. Saturday, and evening too – normally rest time. Under the current insufficient operating conditions, factories were rightfully shut down on weekends. Saturday night would be pitch black. But the client insisted, saying on the surface that having finally found time to come, he must seize the opportunity to tour Liu’s factory, otherwise leaving tomorrow morning would be regrettable. Liu Jun couldn’t refuse. Thinking that Tengfei’s heat treatment workshop couldn’t stop fires and would have people, he took the client to Tengfei.

The client was an old expert who had fought his way up in this industry, very familiar with operations. Besides the heat treatment workshop, even with the entire factory empty, the client could tell from various details whether the company showed signs of defeat. This was why he had to personally investigate during these dire times.

Liu Jun personally accompanied, chatting and walking. Liu Jun could see what corners the client cared about. While examining an imported machine tool, the client casually touched the windowsill. Walking far away, he brought the topic around: “You’ve probably had workers pull weeds and clean windows during recent downtime. Our workers all call me a fascist for making them pull weeds in such hot weather. Recently, our company’s hygiene has improved dramatically. They say next I’ll be absurd enough to order them to clean chimney interiors. Haha.”

“We haven’t reached that point yet – just no more weekend overtime. If we ever have to work three days and rest four in a week, I’ll learn your method, though I’m more likely to organize technical competitions, seizing time to build internal skills. Factories have momentum – this momentum must never be allowed to slacken. Even in extraordinary times when we can’t provide enough business to keep workshops fed, we must find ways to keep workers’ minds from idling. Cleaning chimneys wouldn’t be surprising.”

“Oh, about technical competitions you mentioned, do you have plans…”

From Tengfei, they discussed Tengda, then from Tengda deliberately appeared at the rising star’s new company entrance in the middle of the night. Two industry experts just looked through the electric gate by the streetlight for a while and felt the thick aura of decay inside. The completeness of streetlights, what garbage was on the road, and the demeanor of gate security – all were answers. Different, just different. Everyone was struggling now in the same industry – no one should pretend to be fat. But different enterprises had different responses, and different responses reflected managers’ confidence. When managers kept their composure, subordinate enterprises had survival chances. Because such composure required financial backing. These days, probably few still believe in spiritual victory.

After a big circle, it was already dawn. The client was very practical, pulling Liu Jun to discuss contract details. At daybreak, they agreed on-site to divide into small pieces, but if cooperation went smoothly, especially if financial exchanges went smoothly, they could connect into larger phased contracts. Both were extremely cautious – no one dared be bold. In such times, each step should be steady, without any missteps. Already facing business decline and reduced operating rates from external factors, they couldn’t let unnecessary internal mistakes become the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Having reached an agreement, the client cheerfully told Liu Jun not to see him off – everyone should sleep peacefully. He’d have the hotel wake him and take a taxi to the airport, since they’d be cooperating with a long future ahead. Liu Jun wasn’t polite either, but leaving, he thought of Cui Bingbing handling Jiali’s return alone and felt worried. At the hotel front desk, he learned there was an early flight to Pudong Airport, so he headed straight to the airport against the dawn glow. He groggily made his way from domestic to international departures, arriving well ahead of Cui Bingbing.

Cui Bingbing understood Liu Jun’s worry. She patted her shoulder and smiled: “Come on, lean on me and sleep. Now you have solid me here.”

“Since you’re here, I won’t stand. I’ll go sit and sleep over there. Wake me when people come.”

Cui Bingbing removed all valuable items from Liu Jun before letting him sleep. She stood alone outside the line waiting for Jiali, knowing that after international flights reported arrival, there’d still be quite a wait before seeing people. But she didn’t expect to wait so long without seeing anyone, though the arrival display clearly showed the flight had arrived nearly an hour ago. Cui Bingbing lost patience and went to the service desk to ask if that flight’s passengers had all left. But turning around, she saw Jiali coming out with Xiao Suihua and three men. Even from far away, Cui Bingbing could smell the strong official atmosphere on those three men. Cui Bingbing consciously stopped, watching Jiali look around and finally spot her, but neither greeted the other. Jiali walked straight to her parents, handed Xiao Suihua to them, and left with those three men.

Cui Bingbing watched all this dumbfounded. Turning back to sit beside Liu Jun, she considered for a while before waking him and explaining the situation. They didn’t dare linger, immediately starting home. Cui Bingbing didn’t know what Jiali was thinking now – telling her not to come back, don’t come back, but insisting on coming. Now she should regret it. Though possibly, someone like Jiali might think this was meaningful, sharing hardships with her husband.

Liu Jun continued sleeping on the road, lying comfortably in the business car’s back seat. With things having reached this point, he actually set down one worry.