I slowly drove my car out of the parking lot. At the parking garage’s toll booth, I honked the horn. The toll attendant came over, impatiently saying, “I’m coming.” <br><br>While handing over the money, I asked, “There’s a car with a Sichuan Plate V down below. Not sure which part of Sichuan it's from. Its headlights aren’t turned off, and they’re blinking.” <br><br>The old man tore the receipt as he replied, “It came this morning, someone from Seda in Garze Prefecture said the landslide from road construction hit someone here, and it’s still a fugitive. The Public Security Bureau transferred it here for a death confirmation. I’ll check on it later; if the lights stay on, the car’s battery will go dead.” <br><br>I hastily returned to my house by the riverside. As I drove, I glanced into the rearview mirror occasionally, checking if any car was tailing me on this secluded road home. Every time I came back, I would always take a loop on this left-turn path; there were fewer cars turning left here, and it was easier to notice if someone was following. If I spotted a suspicious car, I would loop twice; if it was still behind me, I would slowly pull over. If they also stopped, I’d immediately call the police. This was Xiahe’s method; she said, “If you’re being followed, this is the most prudent way to handle it: stay calm, probe slowly, don’t panic, or you’ll unsettle yourself.” <br><br>Yes, I must stay calm and drive slowly. My home is just ahead. Oh, but maybe it’s no longer my home. Back in March, I already mortgaged it to the loan company. <br><br>After parking the car, I weakly got out and leaned against the imposing white double doors, fumbling with what little strength I had to pull out my keys. The door opened, and a piece of paper wedged in the gap fell to the ground. I picked it up and read it: <br><br>“Your dad's phone is always off, and you’re not answering yours. Remember this—by the end of the month, the 27th, you must repay the debt. Unless you’re dead, every cent of the 2 million you owe me must be paid back! Inherited Burden! The account details are with Accountant Li! – Wang Changji.” <br><br>I crumpled the note and tossed it into the air! To hell with Wang Changji, a person I don’t even know! <br><br>In just a few short months, I had lost my father, and I became someone burdened with billions in debt, strangled by creditors, loan sharks, and credit cards. The places I frequented were now the Public Security Bureau, detention centers, hospitals, and cemeteries. But before today, I had someone with me; now, these places are left for me alone to visit. <br><br>Because today, I lost Xiahe too. <br><br>What do I have left? <br><br>I sat down on the carpet in a daze, crossing my legs. I needed to think. My mind was blank. What should I do? I was in the dark, at the darkest moment. It should be dawn now; I’d reached Threshold Zero. Yes, yes! It must be. <br><br>Wait, wait. It must be time for a rebound now. With all the ceilings crashing down, I should be able to jump up. <br><br>I pulled out my phone and dialed Zai Ge’s number: “Zai Ge, it’s Yichuan. Are you at the company? My stuff’s ready, and the money is in place. I’ll head over to sign the contract soon.” <br><br>I stood up, ready to put on my coat and head out. Turning around, I suddenly saw a black-and-white photo of my father and me above the entrance hall. <br><br>It was taken below Pride’s Summit, where we looked full of vigor. I picked up the photo frame and stared at it: it must have been winter back then. He was wearing a khaki-colored thick jacket. One of us stood while the other sat at the edge of the cliff on the mountain peak. I stood in front of him, pointing into the distance, a child with a wooden toy gun tucked into my waist. At our feet was an aluminum lunchbox. I still remember it held steamed buns and eggs from the canteen. Behind us were layers of white clouds, with some wildflowers of an unknown kind in the lower right corner of the frame. Back then, I must have been around 7 or 8 years old, and my father was still a dashing middle-aged man. Yes, he was that gentlemanly and clean man, with his curls, who wore clothes that smelled faintly of antiseptic. <br><br>In a sudden daze, my hand slipped, and the old picture frame shattered into fragments on the ground. Bending down, I picked up the photo and noticed a line of small words on the back, written in bold, powerful strokes by my father: “To my son Chuan: Already a Frozen Cliff, yet also a proud branch of blossoms.” <br><br>Hugging the photo to my chest, I felt as if my father had written these words over twenty years ago, specifically for me now. Indeed, I have become a Frozen Cliff! Father, Father, should I hate you or love you? You plunged me into this predicament. How do I get out? How do I find release? Who will save me? <br><br>Ding-dong, my phone rang. <br><br>I took it out. The Timeless Mage had updated their Weibo: “Friday’s announcement of halting the IPO will ignite the long-suppressed bullish sentiment in the stock market, and it will undoubtedly charge forward. Storms see spring off, snow greets it anew!” <br><br>I quietly continued the verse: “Already a Frozen Cliff, yet also a proud branch of blossoms.” <br><br>The same verse, and you’re giving me the same message. It’s a metaphor. A metaphor for salvation. It must be that God has heard my prayers and delivered this message to me. I must believe in my destiny. <br><br>Without hesitation, I grabbed my car keys and stepped out the door. I got into the car, glanced at the yellow bag in the rearview mirror, and said, “Xiahe, you’ll accompany me one last time to handle this matter that can set everything right. Can you hear the war drums beating? We can’t just let ourselves be surrounded like this! You have to come with me. After I finish this, we’ll set off to bring you back home.” <br><br>Sit tight, Xiahe! I’m driving.")
