Forty-Six

 Resigning wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Su Hao had previously signed an unusual contract, so General Zeng asked her to stay in the office and gave her a heartfelt plea.

Not only General Zeng, but even Qi Lin came over. The two big shots sat on the sofa, brewing tea while trying to persuade her. “You’ve been working here almost a year now. If you can just stick it out for another two years, it’ll be over before you know it.”

“Yeah, and you’re doing a good job. If you could also handle the accounting part, you’d become a big shot in the finance department.” They mixed praise with temptation, even subtly making such promises.

“Besides, you were brought in by Mr. Zhou. It’s not ideal to leave suddenly. He’s currently on a business trip and won’t be back for a while. Why not reconsider?” Then they brought up Mr. Zhou. Seeing Su Hao’s expression, and noticing she was unmoved, they immediately stopped pushing.

“Is it that you have issues with your treatment? We can discuss it.” Qi Lin poured tea for Su Hao, making her feel overwhelmed. Su Hao quickly reached out to take it, “Mr. Qi, I’ll handle it myself. I don’t have any issues with the treatment, but I have other career plans.”

“What other career plans? Tell us about it. Maybe we can help,” Qi Lin said with a smile, exuding politeness. As long as Su Hao spoke up, they could arrange any position for her.

Su Hao shook her head. “There’s no direction for my development here at our company.”

“No direction? That’s alright. Mr. Zhou has several companies under his name. There must be a position that suits what you’re looking for.” Qi Lin was determined to keep Su Hao, thinking of every possible way to persuade her. General Zeng also nodded frequently. Mr. Zhou’s business trip was very important, and the people he met were crucial. He couldn’t return immediately, so Su Hao definitely couldn’t leave the company during this period. Otherwise, both of them would be in trouble with Mr. Zhou.

Su Hao still shook her head. She took a light sip of the tea before setting it down.

“Even if you don’t want to discuss it, resigning now is such a loss,” General Zeng said anxiously, flipping through the contract. “Look at this, it’s a huge loss. Plus, you’ve recently become the company’s spokesperson. This is something others can’t even ask for. You managed to do it effortlessly just with your looks. Isn’t that impressive?”

“I don’t know. If I leave, just replace me with someone else,” Su Hao said. Although her tone wasn’t forceful or very resolute, it was like a solid wall. No matter how the two of them tried, they couldn’t gauge her thoughts. Qi Lin glanced at General Zeng.

General Zeng frowned as well.

Su Hao had always appeared gentle and virtuous. Who would have thought her mind was so resolute?

This was quite impressive.

She wanted to leave just like that, without any negotiation! Not to mention, she was indifferent even regarding her treatment. Such a talented person was indeed admirable.

“Then wait a moment, I need to handle something.” General Zeng put down the contract, picked up his phone, and turned to leave the office.

Inside, only Su Hao and Qi Lin were left. Qi Lin continued to make tea. Su Hao felt a bit awkward and said softly, “Mr. Qi, let me do it.”

As she spoke, she reached for the teapot.

Qi Lin, not wanting to argue, let go.

Women handle tea differently from men. The steam rose, and her delicate fingers moved gracefully among it, with slender joints and a fair wrist, like a painting.

Her downcast eyes inevitably reminded one of her elegance when she wore the qipao. If she were performing the tea ceremony in a qipao, it would have been exquisitely beautiful.

Qi Lin, lost in thought, shifted his gaze away.

When General Zeng returned, he sat in the chair and was surprised to see Su Hao making tea. The two big shots sitting together made the office atmosphere feel transformed.

After waiting for a while, Su Hao’s phone still hadn’t rung, but she had drunk a few cups of tea. General Zeng, anxious, frequently glanced at Su Hao’s phone. Suddenly, his own phone rang.

General Zeng picked it up, looked at it in surprise, and then quickly answered. After listening for a moment, his face showed confusion. He moved the phone away and handed it to Su Hao. “Su Hao.”

Su Hao looked at the incoming call on the screen.

She hesitated for a moment.

“Answer it, Su Hao.” General Zeng reminded her in a low voice.

With two people watching, Su Hao wiped her hand with a tissue and answered the call. The back of the phone was a bit hot, and Su Hao held it to her ear. “Hello, Mr. Zhou.”

Her voice was still gentle but carried a hint of detachment.

The image of the two of them close together that night suddenly flashed in her mind. Zhou Yang winced slightly, frowning and speaking in a low voice, “Leaving at this time is irrational.”

“Didn’t we say we were no longer involved? Now Qi Lin is in charge, and you can consider it as working for a new company. You only have a few months of work experience. Leaving Feijie makes it hard to find another job.”

He was actually considering her situation.

Su Hao’s expression softened a bit. She responded, “It’s not because of you.”

Zhou Yang fell silent.

Su Hao continued, “I have my own plans, which is why I’m resigning.”

"Am I not the trigger?" Zhou Yang held back for a few seconds before speaking.

"Kind of," Su Hao replied, "but it’s not inevitable."

! She remained unyielding once again.

There was silence on the other end.

After a few seconds, Zhou Yang spoke in a low voice, "Give the phone to Zeng Xiao."

"Mr. Zhou."

"Do whatever it takes to keep her."

General Zeng coughed, "Su Hao is quite resolute. Although she appears so delicate, she’s surprisingly determined. I think she’s made up her mind to leave."

"I don’t want to hear this."

He just hoped that Zhou Yang would return soon and handle the situation himself.

For a while, no one could reach Zhou Yang, and Su Hao’s resignation process was also quite difficult. Many people in the company knew she was leaving.

However, the approval for her resignation had been delayed, but no one knew the exact reason. Some speculated that Qi Lin was interested in Su Hao and wanted her to stay.

Rumors were rampant.

General Zeng kept hoping to delay Su Hao’s departure until Zhou Yang came back. Zhou Yang was supposed to be away for over a month, almost the same length as Su Hao’s resignation period. However, unexpectedly, today brought an unexpected visitor: Zhou Qinkai.

The former president.

This startled him greatly.

"Mr. Zhou, it’s been a long time since you last visited Feijie, hasn’t it? The last time was at the end of the year before last." General Zeng personally made coffee. Zhou Qinkai, dressed in a suit and tie, looked elegant as he glanced around the office. He took a sip of coffee and said, "Yes, it has been quite a while. I’m surprised to see Feijie developed like this."

Feijie was a new media company.

When it was acquired, it was on the verge of collapse. When Zhou Qinkai handed it over to Zhou Yang, he only intended to use it as a facade for the group headquarters and the unremovable relatives of the imperial family. However, Zhou Yang had high hopes for the industry, so he opened branches in other cities and mainly developed the headquarters here.

Now, Feijie had established a foothold in the new media industry and was expected to be listed next year.

"Young President Zhou is exceptionally capable; you can rest assured," General Zeng said with a smile. He was originally with the Zhou family headquarters and had worked with Zhou Qinkai for a period of time.

"Yes, his skills are even better than mine as a father," Zhou Qinkai said with a hint of pride. He put down his coffee cup and said to General Zeng, "I came today to discuss something."

"Mr. Zhou, please go ahead."

"Su Hao’s resignation has been approved."

Zhou Qinkai tapped the table, "Can’t you hear clearly? I’m saying, if Su Hao wants to leave, let her go."

General Zeng said, "But Young President Zhou..."

"Are my words useless now?"

General Zeng replied, "No, that’s not..."

Damn.

Zhou Yang, you’re in a bad spot.

As Su Hao exited the elevator, she immediately saw Tang Rui standing by the door, looking at his phone with his hands in his pockets. She paused, and the ambiguous glances from around her already swept over. Tang Yu patted Su Hao’s shoulder, "Handsome Tang is here again."

Su Hao felt helpless and walked to the door.

Tang Rui put away his phone and looked at her. Su Hao went down the steps, and he followed, "Haohao, are you going out for dinner tonight?"

He was very patient.

This was the fifth day he had come to ask her out for dinner.

She had never agreed to any of his invitations, but he asked every time.

Originally, the two of them had topics to discuss and would chat on WeChat. However, once his intention was clear, the conversation dried up. Su Hao walked ahead, stopped, and looked back at him.

Tang Rui had his hands in his pockets, standing tall and upright. Despite having spent years in a place like Wall Street, he carried no trace of oiliness, instead exuding a fresh and clean aura. Except for his occasionally worldly eyes, he sometimes gave off the impression of someone who had just gotten married. Su Hao asked, "What’s this all about?"

"Following my heart," Tang Rui said, lowering his gaze, "These years..."

I have always regretted it.

He hesitated, not finishing his sentence.

Even if he didn’t say the rest, Su Hao could guess. She smiled, "Actually, it would suit us better if we were more like friends."

"Why do you always want to break the status quo?" Su Hao said, feeling that sometimes these men could be quite amusing. She tightened her small bag and walked towards the main road, heading to the sidewalk.

Tang Rui immediately followed, "Su Hao, are you looking for a job? I know some people. Let me introduce you."

"No need, I’m not in a situation where I can't find a job." Su Hao responded as she walked ahead. Her hair was tied up, with a few strands falling loose. She wore a suit dress and small heels, her well-proportioned figure quite eye-catching. Tang Rui walked a couple of steps faster to be by her side, "Do you have a target now?"

Su Hao glanced at him.

She didn’t answer.

She directly walked towards the underpass, and he followed.

"We can start over."

"This time, I will definitely not give up on you."

Su Hao smiled.

At least Tang Rui remained polite.

"Move aside."

Tang Rui hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside.

Su Hao walked past him and up the stairs.

Men fear entanglements, and so do women. Su Hao now felt a bit nervous when she saw him and didn’t know how to respond. Once inside, Cheng Ling came out with dishes and asked, pretending to be casual, "Did he send you back again?"

Su Hao glanced at the kitchen window.

It was pushed open. Cheng Ling must have been standing there watching just now.

Su Hao put down her small bag and nodded.

"Alright then." Cheng Ling’s expression softened a bit. Tang Rui’s abandonment of Su Hao was a pain in her heart, a pain that even made her resent her own husband. Now, with Tang Rui showing regret and clear intentions, some of the tension was beginning to dissipate.

Su Hao went to wash her hands, brought out the soup, and sat at the dining table. She said, "Tomorrow is my last day at work. The day after tomorrow, I have an interview."

Cheng Ling nodded, "Alright."

After Zhou Qinkai visited the company, General Zeng immediately approved the resignation letter. The HR department promptly arranged for recruitment, and the new cashier started a couple of days ago. Su Hao was finishing her handover these days. Her online resume also received responses; her strong English skills made her suitable for foreign sales roles, and she had targeted a new company for a tryout.

Cheng Ling had actually been against her resignation.

But seeing how well Tang Rui is doing now, Cheng Ling was somewhat dissatisfied. Su Hao noticed this dissatisfaction and discussed the benefits of resigning with her, even outlining some future prospects, such as possibly starting her own company. For the sake of this potential opportunity, Cheng Ling decided not to oppose Su Hao’s resignation any longer.

Research and Development Room at Cangyuan Mountain.

After reviewing the blueprints on the table, Zhou Yang picked up a model gun and began to play with it. Nie Kui, dressed in uniform and standing straight, reached out and twisted Zhou Yang’s wrist. "You seem a bit distracted. What are you thinking about?"

Adjusting his wrist, Zhou Yang walked over, pressed a few buttons on the red board, and then stopped. The casual demeanor he showed outside was replaced by coldness here. His narrow eyes were inscrutable, and his imposing presence seemed out of place with his distracted state. He put down the gun and shook his head. "Nothing much."

"Clearly, you have something on your mind," Nie Kui said with a click of his tongue.

"Is it about romance?" Nie Kui walked over to stand beside him, holding up the blueprints. "The materials are a bit hard to find; you might need to put in some effort."

"Don’t worry," Zhou Yang replied, "Will it bring military merit if it's done well?"

"You’re already in the military technology field. Military merit is not an issue anymore," Nie Kui said.

Zhou Yang scoffed.

His narrow eyes were fixed on a certain spot, seemingly lost in thought.

Assistant Lu came in with coffee and approached the two. Nie Kui pointed to Zhou Yang and asked Assistant Lu, "What’s wrong with him?"

He wasn’t sure either.

Four days later, the private plane landed at the helipad. Zhou Yang and Lu Qi walked out of the deep mountains and boarded the plane. This time, there were two new flight attendants, replacing the previous ones. After they were seated, Assistant Lu opened a tablet, and Zhou Yang flipped through the documents in his hand. The phones of both men gradually powered on.

Assistant Lu was the first to check WeChat.

He received a message from Zeng Xiao.

"Lu Qi, you need to inform Zhou Yang that Su Hao has already left."

Assistant Lu’s scalp tingled. In just half a month, things had changed drastically? It was only a few days of communication disruption. He clenched the tablet tightly and slowly pushed it towards Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang glanced at it. His long fingers that were holding the documents paused slightly before relaxing, letting the documents fall lightly.

A few seconds later.

Zhou Yang reached out and took the tablet.

He flipped through it repeatedly.

He neither replied to Zeng Xiao’s message nor checked other incoming messages. His eyes were fixed on the company forum, flipping through page after page.

There were many posts.

Various speculations about Su Hao’s departure were circulating.

Some mentioned that Old Zhou was coming over.

Finally, he saw a post.

It said that Gao Lin’s operator was pursuing Su Hao. Were they once married?

The tablet was turned off.

Zhou Yang leaned back, his forehead throbbing.

She left, so what?

What’s the rush?

Why does the frustration in his chest feel so unsettled and painful?

Lu Qi watched Zhou Yang in silence, not daring to make a sound. Even when the flight attendant brought coffee, Lu Qi was afraid of disturbing or angering Zhou Yang. He quickly gestured to place it on the side, and the flight attendant, after hesitating for a moment, obediently set it down and glanced at Zhou Yang, who had his eyes closed and collar open.

The plane arrived in Li City.

Assistant Lu drove the black Hummer to deliver Zhou Yang to Feijie. Zhou Yang adjusted his shirt sleeves, watched the elevator numbers ascend, and reached the sixteenth floor.

He exited the elevator.

"Hello, Mr. Zhou."

Zhou Yang remained silent, arriving at the finance office door. He paused slightly, standing with his hands in his pockets, looking at the seat where Su Hao used to sit.

It was occupied by someone else.

The new person’s appearance was unclear, and their figure was not as impressive as hers.

"Mr. Zhou?" Lu Mimi, holding a notebook, turned around and saw him, her eyes lighting up.

Zhang Xian, hearing the commotion, also stood up and greeted warmly, "Mr. Zhou."

Zhou Yang’s narrow eyes swept over them like a blade. After a few seconds, he pointed at the two of them. "Fire them all!"

"And you," Zhou Yang pointed to the newly hired person.

Lu Mimi turned pale.

Zhang Xian fell back into her chair.

The others present were stunned, with expressions of shock.

General Zeng rushed out, stumbling a few steps, his forehead dripping with sweat.

"Mr. Zhou, on what grounds are you firing me?" Lu Mimi, coming back to her senses, protested and rushed out to ask.

Zhou Yang gave her a cold glance. “You had the courage to bully Su Hao, but now you don’t have the courage to face being fired?”

“Mr. Zhou, what do you mean? How did we bully her?” Lu Mimi was still unwilling to accept, instinctively moving forward. Zeng Xiao immediately stopped her, his voice cold. “Shut up.”

“Mr. Zhou! Clarify this! On what grounds?” Lu Mimi’s eyes were red, and she was anxiously trying to move forward. Being fired in front of so many people was humiliating.

Zhou Yang looked down at her with narrowed eyes, silent and aloof.

Lu Mimi's words stuck in her throat.

It felt as if someone had grabbed her by the neck.

The farce ended, and several people surrounded Zhou Yang as they headed to the conference room. Zeng Xiao asked Assistant Lu in a low voice, “Mr. Zhou, is he taking his anger out on people?”

Assistant Lu replied, “Not entirely. He saw the company forum.”

Zeng Xiao was taken aback.

He understood better now.

The forum had many posts about Lu Mimi and Zhang Xian isolating Su Hao.

After the meeting, it was already dark outside. The group came out of the conference room, went downstairs, and arrived at the lobby. Zhou Yang lowered his head to light a cigarette, while Assistant Lu went to get the car and parked it at his feet.

Zhou Yang glanced at him and gestured for him to leave first.

Assistant Lu acknowledged with a nod, got out of the car, and closed the door. He said, “Mr. Zhou, I’ll head back now.”

“Hmm.”

Su Qian sent a few messages.

Su Qian: Is Su Hao still not home?

Su Qian: Tang Rui has been pursuing Su Hao with so much patience lately. Cheng Ling is even moved by it.

Su Qian: Good thing you and Su Hao didn’t work out.

With clear, defined fingers, Zhou Yang pressed a button on the side of his phone, darkening the screen, which showed his narrow eyes and the cigarette dangling from his mouth.

He put the phone back into his pocket, descended the steps, and walked around to open the car door. The black Hummer reversed, turned around, and then drove out onto the main road. Zhou Yang rubbed his lips.

When he came to his senses, the car stopped at the entrance of Huahui Community.

His expression immediately turned cold.

"Damn it."

The surroundings were bustling.

People came and went; the supermarket entrance was busy, brightly lit.

Night snack stalls had set up tents.

Zhou Yang glanced around, then took out his cigarette, snuffed it out, grasped the steering wheel, and prepared to leave. Just then, a woman emerged from the sidewalk, her long hair flowing, wearing a black dress that revealed her fair shoulders. She was looking at her phone, and the dress cinched tightly at her waist.

Then she looked up at the entrance of Huahui Community, showing a slight smile, with dimples appearing.

She looked down again, her eyes gentle and serene, with only a trace of a smile left at the corners of her lips.

Who was she smiling at?

Who was she thinking of?

Before he could think more, the shutter clicked.

Under the night sky, Zhou Yang got out of the car, walked towards Su Hao, grabbed her hand, and looked at her. The words he was about to say lost their confidence when he saw her beautiful eyes. “Su Hao...”

..................................................................................................................

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