The Rooftop Beneath My Feet

Name: The Rooftop Beneath My Feet
ISBN: 9787215090774

尚攀Henan People's Publishing House · ChinaAug 2026

3.0

Word count: 152K words
Chapters: 29
ISBN: 9787215090774

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Summary

This collection gathers more than ten novellas and short stories from Shang Pan’s recent work, including such representative pieces as The Rooftop Beneath His Feet, My Best Friend’s Story, Love in the Weibo Era, and Fellow Traveler.

The Rooftop Beneath His Feet: a boy who skips class and exams, sitting on the edge of the rooftop—then he disappears.

My Best Friend’s Story: “I” have a rich-kid friend, Li Er, who changes girlfriends like clothes—until he meets his first love. But her mother is the woman he once hit on in a bar.

Love in the Weibo Era: Ye Qiu keeps running to the hospital for his wife’s IVF, then dies forever in a drunk-driving accident.

Fellow Traveler: a middle-aged man meets a girl on a long-distance bus, thinking it is a chance romance—never knowing it has all been designed.

Rehearsal: on the eve of graduation, a boy falls in love with the story unfolding during play rehearsals.

Washed Lead: a woman working at a bathhouse decides to give up her trade.

Editor's review

Shang Pan’s collection of novellas and short stories turns its lens on the gaps and fissures in contemporary urban life and emotion. The more than ten pieces vary in subject yet share a cool, restrained narrative temperament. The title story, The Rooftop Beneath His Feet, writes in a suspended key of a boy adrift from the order of school—no explanation, no sentimentality, leaving a large silence for readers to fill. My Best Friend’s Story wraps the sharp edge of moral dislocation in the flippant shell of a rich kid changing girlfriends; reading it produces an absurd kind of pain. Love in the Weibo Era sets fertility anxiety alongside death by drunk driving, creating a strong contrast between everyday exhaustion and sudden finality. Fellow Traveler completes a carefully designed reversal within the enclosed space of a long-distance bus. These stories do not aim for the grand; they excel at creating emotional落差 and moral ambiguity within a short span, in clean language and crisp pacing. Suitable for reading one piece at a time on a commute or before sleep; after each, pause a moment to feel the blank the author leaves at the end. For readers who like contemporary urban subjects and restrained narrative, this is a collection with aftertaste.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers of contemporary urban short fiction
Literary readers who appreciate restrained narration and open endings
Office workers looking for short single-piece reads to fill fragmented time
Readers interested in young people's emotional and ethical dilemmas

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a full-length novel with a clear ending
Readers who prefer warm, healing stories with clear plots
Readers sensitive to real-world issues such as drunk driving and emotional boundary-crossing

Reading tips

Start with the title story "The Rooftop Beneath My Feet" to get a feel for the author's narrative tone before moving on to other pieces.
Pause for a few minutes after each story to savor the open ending; there is no need to read them all in one sitting.
Read "Fellow Travelers" alongside "My Best Friend's Story" to compare how the author handles reversals and ethical dislocations.
Keep a pen handy and jot brief notes where something moves you, so you can revisit your reading impressions later.

About the publisher

Henan People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1949

Henan People's Publishing House focuses on publications in politics, economics, philosophy, culture and education, and history, forming three main areas: thematic publishing, academic publishing, and distinctive publishing. Based on the books in our catalog, its publishing scope covers literary appreciation, classic works, prose and essays, modern poetry, and social novels. Representative titles include Lectures on Chinese Classical Literature, Notes on a Beautiful Woman, The Labyrinth Spider, Old Nanyang: Vague Memories of the Past, Old Nanyang: Enduring Charm, Consort Meng Arrives, The Eternal Village, and The Terrace Beneath One's Feet. Authors include Luo Yuming, Wu Yu, Mo Liu, Yin Dejie, Lian Qiao, August Sky, Shang Pan, and Zhang Yong. The press balances academic popularization with general reading, with titles in literary appreciation, regional cultural prose, and genre fiction. Public information is limited, so this introduction emphasizes the publishing directions reflected in the books in our catalog.

版权信息
第1章总序
第2章脚下的路从内心展开（序）
第3章《我最好朋友的故事》1
第4章《我最好朋友的故事》2
第5章《我最好朋友的故事》3
第6章《我最好朋友的故事》4
第7章《我最好朋友的故事》5
第8章《我最好朋友的故事》6
第9章《我最好朋友的故事》7
第10章《同路人》1
第11章《同路人》2
第12章《同路人》3
第13章《同路人》4
第14章《脚下的天台》1
第15章《脚下的天台》2
第16章《脚下的天台》3
第17章《微博时期的爱情》1
第18章《微博时期的爱情》2
第19章《寻欢记》1
第20章《寻欢记》2
第21章《创业简史》1
第22章《创业简史》2
第23章《创业简史》3
第24章《爱情的感觉》1
第25章《爱情的感觉》2
第26章《排练》
第27章《铅华》
第28章回忆之路（代跋）

FAQ

Is this book a novel or a short story collection?

It is a collection of novellas and short stories, gathering more than ten pieces the author wrote in recent years. Each story stands alone, with no continuous subject matter or characters, so they can be read in any order—ideal for fragmented reading.

What is the title story "The Rooftop Beneath My Feet" about?

It tells of a boy who skips class and exams and sits on the edge of a rooftop; later, he disappears. The story presents the character's sense of detachment in a suspended manner, offering no clear explanation; the open ending is left for readers to interpret themselves.

Is it suitable for middle school students?

The book touches on adult real-world issues such as death by drunk driving and emotional boundary-crossing. The narration is restrained but the themes are rather heavy, making it more suitable for adult readers; for middle school students, parents or teachers are advised to look through it first before deciding.

Do I need to know the author beforehand to read this book?

No. Each story is independent, so you can go straight into the text. Author Shang Pan's narrative style is consistent and restrained; after one or two stories you will be attuned to its rhythm, with no background knowledge needed.

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About the author

尚攀 Author

Shang Pan is an author about whom limited public information is available. What can be confirmed is that four works appear under this name: Youth Break, Bright as the Moon, The Rooftop Beneath Our Feet, and Short Song. On the site, these works are commonly grouped under social fiction, classic works, and modern romance, suggesting that the writing centres on everyday life and emotional relationships while combining social observation with accessible storytelling. Titles such as Youth Break and Bright as the Moon hint at an interest in youth, life circumstances, and idealised love, while The Rooftop Beneath Our Feet shows the author's attention to how people find themselves in concrete settings. Because details such as nationality, dates of birth and death, education, and awards cannot be verified, biographical background remains unavailable, and readers come to know this author mainly through the four works mentioned above.