Chapter Twelve: Big Yellow Next Door

"Ah Kuan, are there any other women around your boss?" Ruan Mianmian's sudden question left Ah Kuan momentarily stunned. Fortunately, he had a strong psychological constitution, so he didn't lose his composure on the spot.

He quickly replied, "Absolutely not! I remember even the girl next door almost got sent away by our boss—let alone any other woman getting close to him!"

Our boss has eyes and heart only for you! Ah Kuan roared inwardly. All these years, he's been busy proving his loyalty to you, living through drought and desolation—how could he ever let another woman appear by his side? That would only make things worse for himself.

Ruan Mianmian lifted her head and asked, "The girl next door... who is that? Don't tell me it's who I think it is?"

"Next door's Da Huang is a purebred golden retriever, majestic and spirited—but unfortunately, she's female." That's why our boss resisted for so long...

Of course, Ah Kuan dared not say the latter part out loud.

Ruan Mianmian fell silent. What on earth—Da Huang, the dog?

As he spoke, Ah Kuan watched Ruan Mianmian's reaction through the rearview mirror, feeling secretly delighted. He thought, Our boss has done so much for you—why don't you see it?

Maybe, just maybe, he could use this chance to help bring them together.

But Ruan Mianmian didn't respond, nor did she show much reaction. Emboldened, Ah Kuan ventured to ask, "Miss Ruan, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." Really, he wanted to ask on his boss's behalf, and was already scheming in his mind.

Without looking up, Ruan Mianmian shot back, "You want to ask why I like Jian Yanzhi and not your boss, don't you?"

Ah Kuan felt a flush of embarrassment. He had planned to phrase it more delicately, but she went straight to the point.

"Haha... Miss Ruan, you certainly don't mince words," he said, trying to save face.

Ruan Mianmian sighed. "I suppose I was just blind in the past."

"Mm."

"Mm?" Blind? What does that mean? Could it be that Miss Ruan regrets her choice? Does that mean our boss still has a chance?

Ah Kuan repeated himself, each "mm" growing louder. He seemed to sense something unusual in her words, and joy flickered across his face. "Miss Ruan, what do you mean by that? Do you regret—"

Before he could finish, Ruan Mianmian interrupted, "We're almost there. Let's head to the underground parking lot first."

"Oh, alright!" Ah Kuan answered quickly, steering into the garage.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the security camera, someone waited in anxious silence for Ruan Mianmian's answer. For the first time, eagerness showed in his gaze, but her reply never came, and the video feed froze.

Ruan Mianmian got out, with Ah Kuan close behind. The two of them walked toward the elevator. With her employee card, Ruan Mianmian moved unhindered, taking the elevator straight to the 32nd floor.

The 32nd floor, aside from Jian Yanzhi's office, housed several other managers and supervisors. Ruan Mianmian's own desk was among them.

As she reached the entrance, mocking laughter drifted out, followed by a round of gossip:

"See? What did I say? She came crawling back, didn't she?"

"Just like a stubborn patch, can't peel her off no matter what."

"At least this time she stayed away for a couple of days. Last time, I think it was less than half a day, right?"

"Hahaha! Exactly!"

The jeers buzzed into Ruan Mianmian's ears like a swarm of flies—she'd long grown used to such words. In the past, she might have snapped back in anger, but now, she couldn't care less about these people.

"The weather's getting hot, and flies are buzzing everywhere. The droning is truly tiresome," she said, pointedly, rolling her eyes at her tormentors and walking right past them.

"Ruan Mianmian, who are you calling a fly?" One of them, unwilling to let it go, stepped up to block her way.

Ruan Mianmian turned with a smile. "Whoever answers must be the one. If you're that self-aware, why even ask?"

"You!" Xiang Jie glared furiously, but Ruan Mianmian's retort left her speechless.

Seeing things take a turn, the others quickly fell silent.

"Damn! Since when did Ruan Mianmian change her stripes? Is this still the meek, timid girl I used to know?"

"I bet she's just embarrassed. Who doesn't have a temper?"

As the others whispered, Xiang Jie shot them a reproachful look, as if blaming them for not backing her up.

"What are you bickering about? Don't you have work to do?"

A stern, irritable voice cut through the office, and silence fell at once. Even Xiang Jie, who'd been eager to give Ruan Mianmian a hard time, fell quiet and stepped aside. Judging from the authority in her tone, the newcomer had to be at least a manager. Ruan Mianmian didn't even need to turn around to guess who it was.

Shen Ting appeared in a fitted pencil skirt, immaculate makeup accentuating her sharp features, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Arms crossed, she looked Ruan Mianmian up and down with a mocking smile.

"Well, now, who do we have here?" Shen Ting's voice dripped with contempt as she laughed.

Ruan Mianmian turned and met her gaze head-on, her presence undiminished.

"It's me."

Shen Ting was momentarily taken aback. If she hadn't known Ruan Mianmian's old ways, that look alone might have intimidated her. Since when did Ruan Mianmian acquire such a commanding aura?

"Isn't this Miss Ruan Mianmian? What brings you here today?" Shen Ting deliberately offered her a way out, hoping she'd lose face. The others watched in silence, relishing the spectacle.

Ruan Mianmian arched a brow, fully aware Shen Ting was trying to embarrass her. But she was no longer the timid woman they once bullied—she was not someone to be humiliated so easily.

"I'm an employee here. I come and go as I please. What's it to you?" she replied with disdain.

"An employee?" Shen Ting sneered. "Funny, I seem to recall Miss Ruan skipping work and about to be fired. Or am I mistaken?"

Shen Ting seized on this point, thinking she had Ruan Mianmian by the throat—surely, a threat would make her beg for forgiveness.

Another wave of ridicule rippled through the office. Everyone waited for the show to unfold.

"That's right, I don't intend to work here anymore—but it's not because you fired me. I'm leaving of my own accord," Ruan Mianmian said.

Everyone froze, as if the script they'd imagined had suddenly gone off track.

Then Ruan Mianmian allowed herself a cold smile. "But even if I leave my post, I'm still the company's largest shareholder. I can drop by to visit my colleagues any time I please."

What? The largest shareholder? Everyone was struck dumb.