Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group Chapter 1218 - 1193: So Proud, Yet So Fallen

"Where could he be?" the bespectacled man questioned, scratching his head.

"Probably that delivery fellow is in a hurry to complete his rounds," chimed in someone nearby with a chuckle.

The bespectacled man found this explanation quite plausible. After all, seeing Ye Chen clad in a delivery uniform, it seemed only natural to expect him to be busy. Still, survival is paramount.

After all, how can one sustain life without earning a living?

Yet, no one could have possibly foreseen that the very delivery person they were discussing was, at that moment, making his way towards the rooftop.

Upon entering the structure, Ye Chen was disheartened to discover the elevator was out of service, leaving him no alternative but to ascend via the stairwell.

This edifice boasted over twenty stories, necessitating a climb floor by tedious floor. Including the rooftop, the total count reached twenty-one levels.

With his very existence on the line, Ye Chen ascended as swiftly as his legs could carry him. On the rooftop, he found Wang Qiang.

Observing the overweight man before him, Ye Chen surmised that Wang Qiang had recently indulged excessively in fine dining, a lifestyle that had transformed his formerly slender physique.

Ye Chen recalled Wang Qiang being quite thin previously, but now he resembled a sphere.

Indeed, describing Wang Qiang as ball-like was hardly an exaggeration. He was already short, and with his body expanding horizontally, 'ball' was the most fitting descriptor.

Wang Qiang, meanwhile, observed the rescuers below shouting as they entered the building, warning, "Stay back, or I'll truly jump!"

"Please don't jump! Don't let a moment's impulse lead you to do something irreversible," the rescuers implored from below.

Hearing their pleas, Wang Qiang vehemently shook his head, murmuring to himself, "It's over, completely finished. I've failed my parents, my wife, and my children."

"If you die, what becomes of them? Wouldn't that be an even greater failure?" Ye Chen inquired calmly.

At this, Wang Qiang became aware of another presence behind him.

He spun around abruptly, his eyes landing on a familiar face – it was indeed his college classmate, Ye Chen.

"Ye Chen, what are you doing up here?" Wang Qiang exclaimed, his voice laced with shock.

"Naturally, I've come to witness you jump," Ye Chen replied with a faint smile.

Rather than appearing surprised, Wang Qiang offered a self-deprecating laugh. "I suppose that's true. Now that you see me in this state, are you satisfied?"

He then recollected their prior encounter.

On one occasion, Wang Qiang had spotted Ye Chen on the street, riding a scooter and wearing his delivery attire. Instead of greeting an old classmate with warmth, Wang Qiang had merely sneered.

Now, facing dire circumstances, he wasn't surprised by Ye Chen's seemingly retributive presence.

"Satisfied, immensely satisfied. It just goes to show, one should always remain humble," Ye Chen advised gently.

"Ye Chen, you're correct. It's my own arrogance. People hailed me as a business prodigy, making a significant mark in the corporate world at a young age, and I lost sight of myself, hurting many good people along the way."

"I always believed I possessed an innate talent for investment and aimed for one more grand success. Recently, I poured my entire fortune into a stock called Donghua Pharmaceutical, even encouraging close friends to invest. But it resulted in a complete loss. The company went bankrupt, I'm now buried under a mountain of debt, and I truly lack the will to continue living."

Wang Qiang poured out his story to Ye Chen, revealing the reasons behind his suicidal contemplation.

Life's trajectory is indeed unpredictable; it's akin to the old saying—thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west.

Some individuals may achieve overnight riches, while others plummet into poverty just as rapidly. Therefore, maintaining modesty during times of prosperity is crucial.

Wang Qiang serves as a stark illustration. He looked down on others when wealth was his, and now, in utter despair, he contemplates a fatal leap from a building.

His life is unfolding like a dramatic play; as the adage goes, life mirrors a play, and a play reflects life.

"Wang Qiang, you were always a person of strong will back in college. Are you truly prepared to end it all? Is this the outcome you desire?" Ye Chen continued to probe, using words to subtly challenge the man.

Most individuals would typically avoid such an approach, fearing it might push a person already contemplating suicide to take the fatal step.

However, Ye Chen possessed the unique ability of mind-reading and knew Wang Qiang intimately, sensing that he wouldn't actually jump.

Wang Qiang harbored a desire to jump, yet his inner resolve was wavering, his decision not yet firm.

"What good comes from dissatisfaction? I've lost everything. Creditors will soon be here. I've let my family down, and my friends too. If it weren't for my hubris, I wouldn't be in this predicament," Wang Qiang lamented, tears streaming down his face.

"System, please assist me by fetching information on the Donghua Pharmaceutical stock," Ye Chen commanded inwardly.

System: "Host, the stock market has been rather volatile recently. This particular stock has plummeted from its initial price of 55 yuan to a mere 5 yuan."

Ye Chen quickly understood Wang Qiang's despair upon learning of the stock's drastic fall, which had seemingly wiped out his entire fortune and years of hard work overnight.

It was understandable that anyone accustomed to luxury would find such a devastating blow unbearable.

"However, after careful analysis, this stock is projected to rebound and reach a high of 66 yuan," the system interjected.

Internally, Ye Chen couldn't help but acknowledge Wang Qiang's brilliance as a business prodigy, possessing an exceptional instinct for investments.

From Ye Chen's perspective, Wang Qiang hadn't truly failed in his investment; the timing was simply not yet right.

This situation merely highlighted Wang Qiang's fragile psychological fortitude, likely due to a life that had been too smooth, leaving him ill-equipped to handle severe setbacks and outright failure.

Furthermore, in Ye Chen's eyes, Wang Qiang hadn't truly met his end.

Armed with the system's knowledge of the impending stock surge, Ye Chen saw an unmissable opportunity to make a fortune.

A smile playing on his lips, Ye Chen addressed Wang Qiang, saying, "You truly are a business prodigy; your investment foresight is impeccable. You made an outstanding choice with this stock."

Wang Qiang, however, perceived Ye Chen's words as mere attempts at consolation. He shook his head, replying, "Ye Chen, there's no need to comfort me. I am fully aware that I am utterly defeated and beyond recovery."

He understood that even liquidating his assets wouldn't be enough to cover his substantial debts, leaving him to wonder how he would possibly rebuild his life.

While transitioning from poverty to wealth is challenging, the descent from affluence to destitution proved far more difficult to accept and adapt to.

Having grown accustomed to a life of extravagance, Wang Qiang found the prospect of starting from scratch unbearable.

He believed that death offered a definitive end to all his troubles, and importantly, his demise would prevent his family from being entangled in his financial ruin.

"I am not trying to comfort you. Having heard about this particular stock, I've decided to invest a substantial 2 billion yuan into it," Ye Chen declared with a grin.

"Ye Chen, you must be jesting! You're merely a delivery person; how could you possibly possess 2 billion yuan?" Wang Qiang questioned, his expression one of pure disbelief.

Gazing at Ye Chen, Wang Qiang let out a sigh, his face etched with shame as he confessed, "Ye Chen, I apologize; I was mistaken earlier. Despite your profession as a delivery guy, I had no right to mock you. Now, I find myself inferior to you. Please, do accept my sincere apology."