Zhu Xingzhi's words clearly shocked everyone. It was one thing to demand An Nuan state her reasons for firing him, but to also insist the daughter of An Group's chairman kneel and apologize was perhaps going too far!
Yet no one dared say a word, afraid that provoking Zhu Xingzhi would truly make him jump. That would make them villains for eternity.
In the tense silence, Zhu Xingzhi suddenly spoke again, leaving no room for doubt: “If An Nuan doesn't do as I say, I'll jump right now!”
He made as if to leap off the edge.
“An Nuan!” Chang Deyue spoke righteously, “Hurry and explain to Zhu Xingzhi why you dismissed him and transferred him from his post. Go on, tell him!”
An Nuan glanced at Chang Deyue. She turned back to Zhu Xingzhi, “Didn't I already tell you? What more explanation do you need from me?!”
“An Nuan, you go too far!” Zhu Xingzhi was furious.
Chang Deyue yelled at An Nuan, “Are you crazy? You're still provoking him! Do you have no humanity left?!”
“Zhu Xingzhi, come down and I'll explain properly to you,” said An Nuan, her voice far too calm, even cold-blooded.
“I'm not coming down!” Zhu Xingzhi said fiercely, “Unless you give me an explanation and kneel before me, I'll die right here!”
An Nuan's expression darkened.
Just as she was about to speak...
“Chairman!” Chang Deyue now turned his spear toward An Yanyuan. “The daughter you raised wants to ruin our An Group! I've said my piece and she won't listen. As her father and An Group's chairman, can you not show some backbone? Staying silent to protect your daughter now, don't you feel ashamed of failing in your duties as chairman?!”
An Yanyuan was indeed shamed by Chang Deyue's reproach.
He looked toward An Nuan, also lacking confidence, unsure of An Nuan's plans. Would she really disregard a human life?
“Shame or not, who feels it, we'll soon find out.” An Nuan gave a cold laugh.
In that moment, she suddenly strode toward Zhu Xingzhi.
“Stay back!” Seeing An Nuan approach, Zhu Xingzhi became extremely agitated. “Take one more step and I'll jump!”
An Nuan halted.
“Kneel and apologize right now, and I'll come down. If you keep pushing me, I really will end it all!” Zhu Xingzhi yelled loudly.
“I promised Director Chang earlier, if you die, I'll repay your life with mine.” An Nuan's footsteps carried her forward again.
Zhu Xingzhi was clearly frightened.
Everyone present was also shocked.
“An Nuan, have you lost your mind?!” Chang Deyue shouted anxiously. “Come back here! Come back!”
An Nuan ignored him, steadily approaching Zhu Xingzhi.
Zhu Xingzhi glanced back, then at An Nuan.
At this reckless woman drawing ever closer.
He didn't dare actually jump.
All of today had been about shaming An Nuan, teaching her a lesson.
This was his and Chang Deyue's scheme.
Today, An Nuan had to be humiliated.
Best to go too far, make her too ashamed to stay at An Group.
But he hadn't expected this woman to disregard all reason, backing him into a corner instead.
“Don't come over, don't come over!” Zhu Xingzhi was terrified.
Sweat poured down his forehead.
Far from stopping, An Nuan even gave a cold laugh.
Her smile seemed utterly heartless.
Naturally, Chang Deyue didn't want An Nuan to succeed. He knew Zhu Xingzhi wouldn't really jump, it was just a threat to An Nuan. If An Nuan went over and Zhu Xingzhi still didn't jump, it would clearly expose Zhu Xingzhi's act, leaving him a laughingstock in the end.
He hurried to grab An Nuan.
But Hu Feng, by An Nuan's side, reacted swiftly to block Chang Deyue.
The sudden action drew everyone's gaze.
An Nuan also glanced back.
She knew Chang Deyue's tricks all too well, so had instructed Hu Feng earlier to stop anyone who approached her.
She was truly grateful to Ye Jinghuai right then.
It seemed he knew Hu Feng would be useful to her.
“An Nuan, stop right there!” Blocked, Chang Deyue could only yell angrily at An Nuan.
An Nuan ignored him.
She halted before Zhu Xingzhi.
Zhu Xingzhi was now shaking all over.
Shaking uncontrollably.
Clearly terrified.
An Nuan didn't reach out to pull Zhu Xingzhi down.
Instead, she suddenly climbed onto the roof edge herself.
Her action shocked everyone.
An Yanyuan was clearly badly frightened. “Nuan Nuan!”
She had only to pull Zhu Xingzhi down, since he clearly didn't dare jump. There was no need to climb up herself now.
An Nuan disregarded their stares. She faced Zhu Xingzhi directly. “Not afraid to die?”
“You, you...” Zhu Xingzhi pointed a shaking finger at An Nuan, drenched in sweat, trembling all over.
“You jump, I jump with you.” An Nuan enunciated clearly.
“Don't think I don't dare, don't think I...”
“I didn't say you don't dare. I'm telling you, jump if you want, I won't stop you. In fact, if you do, I'll repay your life with mine. I keep my word!” An Nuan was resolute.
For a moment, Zhu Xingzhi even considered just jumping.
Couldn't let An Nuan threaten him. But facing her determination, he instantly lost his nerve.
He stared fiercely at An Nuan, unable to speak.
“I'll count to three. We either jump together, or go down together. Your choice.” An Nuan's voice was icy.
Zhu Xingzhi looked at her.
He still struggled to steel himself. “Don't threaten me. I'm old enough not to fear death.”
“Three,” said An Nuan, not bothering to argue.
Zhu Xingzhi watched her apprehensively.
Everyone held their breaths.
“Two.” An Nuan counted down.
Zhu Xingzhi was incredibly tense.
“One!”