Yue Qingci appeared accustomed to visiting the shooting range, yet it seemed like he had arranged a meeting with someone for a conversation and departed hastily. Initially, Jiang Xiaochuan had no intention of establishing close contact with him, but he felt a sense of relief when Yue Qingci left.

It was eleven o’clock in the morning when Jiang Xiaochuan left the shooting range. He planned to return home and spend more time with Jiang Encheng.

As he boarded the bus, Jiang Xiaochuan experienced an unexpected tranquility. The love that had once consumed him in a previous life had dwindled to the point where not even ashes remained.

His heart felt remarkably composed, as if it would never waver again.

Jiang Xiaochuan found himself surprised by his newfound indifference and inner calm. It was as if he had transitioned into an old man’s state of mind.

Sitting in his seat, he gazed out the window at the swiftly passing scenery. The bus arrived at Xinshe Road, a bustling commercial street in Chengzhou. Despite the usual weekday hustle and bustle, Rong Family’s Club was nearby.

When the bus reached its stop, passengers naturally began to disembark. Outside the window, the scenery was vivid. The commercial street was typically vibrant with people coming and going, but today, something felt different.

The crowd was dense, and everyone had their eyes fixed on the high-rise building towering over the commercial street—Rong Family’s Club.

Jiang Xiaochuan’s eyelids twitched, and a sense of foreboding gripped his heart. He promptly stood up and exited the bus as others disembarked.

As he left the bus, he overheard a few passengers talking:

“I suspect that old man is doing this for his son.”

“It’s a pity. Who would dare to challenge Rong Family’s Club? I doubt we’ll ever see justice…”

“Exactly! In today’s world…”

What kind of world was it today? Jiang Xiaochuan pondered, equally unsure.

He navigated through the crowd, which seethed like boiling water. Jumping from high-rise buildings, once a common sight among unpaid migrant workers in China, had become rare in recent years.

Yet, encountering it now left Jiang Xiaochuan at a loss for words and thoughts.

He spotted the elderly man standing on the rooftop of Rong Family’s Club’s annex building, his head wrapped in white gauze. Suddenly, it dawned on him who this person was—the elderly man he had encountered waiting outside the Petition Office that day.

Why was he here at Rong Family’s Club?

Jiang Xiaochuan delved into his recollections from his previous life, and suddenly a memory resurfaced. It was true that an old man had once threatened to jump off a building to confront Rong Family’s Club. At the time, he hadn’t paid much attention because he had delegated the matter to his subordinates and hadn’t read the report thoroughly.

During that period, his dealings with Rong Family’s Club went beyond the surface. He had merely called Rong Shaobai to handle the situation, and it appeared to have been resolved, as no one had come to petition afterward.

But what could Rong Shaobai use to suppress such a matter?

The Rong family was a well-known underworld powerhouse in Chengzhou. What other methods could they employ?

Even regular citizens were aware of the underworld’s influence in the city. How could he, living his second life, not recognize this?

In Chengzhou, the provincial capital city, there were three major underworld factions: the Rong family, the Qingtuan family, and the Hong family. Of these, the Rong family was the largest. However, the Qingtuan family and the Hong family had also prospered in recent years.

The Rong family’s traditional money-making methods had grown outdated and less successful, leading to a decline. Yet, the old head of the Rong family had recognized this and handed control to the young and ambitious Rong Shaobai. Under Rong Shaobai’s leadership, the Rong family saw significant improvements and nearly dominated Chengzhou during Jiang Xiaochuan’s tenure as governor.

However, Jiang Xiaochuan’s governorship was short-lived, ending within a few months of his appointment, and it seemed that the Rong family had also faced challenges. As for Rong Shaobai’s fate, Jiang Xiaochuan remained uncertain, but he had heard that it was far from pleasant.

In reality, how many people who had close connections with him in his previous life had met favorable outcomes?

Jiang Xiaochuan, like everyone else, gazed up at the rooftop. Luckily, the sun wasn’t blinding, and he could make out the scene relatively clearly.

The elderly man appeared anguished and desolate.

Perhaps there was truly nowhere for him to seek justice for his grievances?

Jiang Xiaochuan turned and began walking toward the entrance of Rong Family’s Club. The opulent decor was blinding, making his eyes struggle to adjust. However, before he could enter, he was halted by one of the club’s security guards.

Now, with news of the incident, reporters were rushing to the scene.

Who knew if this man was a reporter as well?

The security guard was thinking rather simplistically, but the situation was much more complex.

At this moment, someone had already called the police, and both the security team and the police had arrived. When the police captain learned that it was related to Rong Family’s family club, he rushed over, concerned that the situation could escalate into a major problem.

After all, the Rong family held significant sway in Chengzhou, making them a source of trepidation for both the police and security personnel.

Yet, upon arriving and surveying the scene before him, the police captain was perplexed. Wasn’t that Deputy Mayor Jiang, the official overseeing their jurisdiction?

Momentarily stunned, a police officer behind him tugged at his arm. “Chief, what’s wrong?”

He regained his composure and suddenly felt the situation held potential.

Jiang Xiaochuan was the newly appointed deputy mayor who also happened to be in charge of the armed police. They had met briefly at a previous meeting with government departments, but there hadn’t been a chance to speak.

Now, this was an opportune moment. If he handled this well, he could leave a positive impression on Deputy Mayor Jiang, potentially paving the way for future promotions.

He promptly approached to intervene with the security guard who had initially stopped Jiang Xiaochuan, scolding him angrily, “Do you know who you’re stopping? This is our mayor Jiang!”

Jiang Xiaochuan was momentarily taken aback, not wanting everyone around to know his identity, but the police captain’s voice was too loud. Fortunately, the surrounding noise masked the conversation.

He turned his attention to the police captain in front of him, he remembered the man, “Are you Lu Xiu?”

“Mayor Jiang can remember my name; it’s truly remarkable,” the police captain praised. He understood that Jiang Xiaochuan appreciated people who got things done.

They had crossed paths when he worked in the judicial department, and his assertiveness was clear from the way he quickly reported the situation, “We received a report from a concerned citizen that someone has jumped from this building. We rushed here, but we don’t know the exact reason yet. The top priority is to prevent the old man up there from harm and ensure his safety…”

Jiang Xiaochuan was aware that while the police captain might not have the purest motives but he was effective in his job. In his previous life, Jiang had valued this individual’s capabilities and had provided him with promotion opportunities.

However, it later emerged that this person had colluded with the Rong family, involving himself in drug-related activities, leading to his dismissal and investigation. That was all in the future, though, and for now, the police captain remained committed. After listening to his report, Jiang nodded, “You and your team go up, I’ll follow, and the other officers will handle the details.”

“Yes!” Lu Xiu responded loudly. The officers behind him recognized the deputy mayor and sensed the opportunity to earn merit. Their energy surged.

The security guard who had initially stopped Jiang Xiaochuan was somewhat flustered. Another security guard approached with a phone in hand and took the initiative to explain, “Apologies, Mayor Jiang. They didn’t recognize you, and their intent was mainly to maintain order and prevent further chaos. People were waiting to go up and calm the old man. We genuinely don’t understand why he’s up there at our club.”

Jiang Xiaochuan didn’t engage in lengthy discussions with him and simply nodded, saying, “Rong Family’s Club has consistently adhered to laws and regulations and serves as a model establishment.”

In his previous life, his predecessor had even awarded the club with a plaque. Jiang Xiaochuan found it ironic and couldn’t help but reflect on the ridiculous things he had done in his previous life. He briefly felt absurd.

Following the guide, they promptly arrived at the annex building. The elderly man was on the 19th-floor rooftop. Rong Family’s Club had a main building and two auxiliary buildings. The main structure was the tallest, exceeding ninety floors, while the auxiliary building had just over thirty floors and had a modern design.

At the rooftop entrance, some club members seemed to be planning something. When they saw the leader of the security team approaching, they appeared momentarily surprised.

The leader offered a knowing look, waved them aside, continued to lead Jiang Xiaochuan and the others, and stopped at the entrance.

Several club staff members were attempting to persuade the old man, but he remained unresponsive, tensely perched on the edge of the parapet, a highly precarious position.

Having seen numerous individuals on television create a commotion about jumping off buildings, Jiang Xiaochuan noticed that this elderly man was astonishingly calm, which raised his concerns.

He stood to the side and listened to the police team’s discussions on how to convince the man to return safely.

The police team had brought a negotiator, an educated-looking man who approached the elderly man and engaged in an extended conversation. However, the only response they elicited from the old man was a shout, “Give me my son back!”

Jiang Xiaochuan immediately recalled the news he had heard upon alighting from the bus.

Was this elderly man seeking justice for his son?

He recollected that, in his previous life, he had come across a report about an unexpected death at Rong Family’s Club, which a forensic doctor had attributed to a sudden heart attack. Nevertheless, the deceased’s father had continued to cause disturbances.

He turned around to find the leader of the security team who had guided them earlier. The security team leader was standing in the corner of the stairwell, engrossed in a phone call. As Jiang Xiaochuan took a couple of steps closer, he seemed to overhear the leader saying “President,” leading him to surmise that the call was meant for Rong Shaobai.

After the security team leader finished his call, he turned around and saw Jiang Xiaochuan standing on the stairs behind him. There was a momentary flicker of fear in his expression, and he asked, “Mayor Jiang, what can I do for you?”

“Has the old man’s son passed away in your club?” Jiang Xiaochuan inquired directly.

The head of the security team forced a smile, “Are you joking? Even if his son has passed away, it’s not the fault of our Rong Family’s Club. The results of the forensic examination have already been released. In accordance with our commitment to peace of mind, we’ll provide assistance. He’s a lonely old man. We’ve agreed to compensate him with 100,000 yuan. However, he insists on causing trouble, and now he’s attempting this dramatic act, which severely affects our Rong Family’s Club’s business. He might not have an easy time ahead!”

It was a strongly worded statement.

Forensic examination results?

Jiang Xiaochuan was well aware of the situation, but he knew that the Rong family was still implicated in this matter. His immediate concern was persuading the elderly man on the rooftop to come down, so he didn’t press the issue further.

He had intended to inquire if the old man had anyone close to him, but he heard commotion from behind. It seemed that the screams from onlookers were coming from downstairs. When he turned around, he saw the old man gripping the railing, making gestures as if preparing to jump.

The negotiator had turned pale and was frantically waving his hands, exclaiming, “Stop, don’t jump! I won’t say anything else. Just stay calm. We’ll arrange for President Rong to speak with you immediately!”

Jiang Xiaochuan paid no attention.

He rushed to the rooftop, continuously reassuring, “Uncle, don’t overthink it. This can be resolved. I am Deputy Mayor Jiang Xiaochuan. If you have any concerns, please tell me. The President Rong has been notified and is on the way. Please don’t act impulsively.”

The old man looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, and the wrinkles on his face reflected the trials of time he had endured. He seemed to remember Jiang Xiaochuan, saying, “You… you were there yesterday…”

“Yes, it’s me. Where’s the young man who was with you that day? I didn’t see him.” Jiang Xiaochuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that the situation had taken a positive turn. He intended to engage in a conversation with the man to divert his attention. The negotiator glanced at Jiang Xiaochuan and motioned for him to continue.

“He’s my son’s friend. He accompanied me during the petition yesterday, but the officials upstairs ignored us and didn’t listen to our grievances… a bunch of worthless officials! Mayor, I know you’re a good person. You had a government worker bring us water; could you contact Xiao Xue? Please ask him to come…” The old man gazed skyward, tears streaming down his face.

“My son… you died so unjustly…”

Jiang Xiaochuan observed the desperation in the old man’s expression and thought of his own elderly father. He felt an inexplicable pang in his heart and offered a forced smile, “Don’t worry, don’t worry. Tell me more about it. Who is Xiao Xue, and how can we reach him?”

“His name is Xue Yan, and he’s interning at the TV station. Please call him. I beg you, sir, have him come…”

Jiang Xiaochuan was momentarily stunned when he heard that the person’s name was Xue Yan and that he was interning at the TV station. The name Xue Yan was all too familiar to him.

His entire downfall began with that name.

Xue Yan was the one reported about the Huaxin Group’s bidding to the superior department. This one report had triggered the chain of events that led to Jiang Xiaochuan’s downfall. However, at that time, Xue Yan was not working at a TV station but was with the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Jiang Xiaochuan had only heard of Xue Yan’s name later. He had never even met the man in person. It was only after his arrest that he learned it was Xue Yan who had reported and initiated the investigation against him. As he contemplated this, he wondered if Xue Yan might be taking the civil service examination when the government announced its recruitment.

It was as if everything had its roots in this very moment.

Jiang Xiaochuan couldn’t quite collect his thoughts for a while. The sound of expensive leather shoes on the marble floor approached from behind, exuding an air of opulence and authority.

“President?”

“Where is Mayor Jiang?”