Chapter 122: Must You Really Leave?

As soon as her figure appeared at the entrance of the seventeenth floor, the room fell abruptly silent. All eyes in the office soon converged on Ruan Mianmian like a flock.

Jian Yanzhi, trailing behind, slowly lifted his head amid the strange atmosphere. His deep-set eyes traveled across the distance and finally rested on Ruan Mianmian’s face.

With graceful steps, Ruan Mianmian maintained her poise as she walked to her workstation under the watchful gazes of everyone present.

Xiang Nuan sprang up eagerly, as if to offer her seat to Ruan Mianmian, then took the opportunity to slip away.

“Why are you here?” Ruan Mianmian asked casually, but Jian Yanzhi fell silent, staring at her.

“Let’s talk in the office,” he said abruptly, withdrawing his gaze. Without waiting for her reaction, he stood and strode toward the door.

Though puzzled, Ruan Mianmian obediently followed.

Before leaving, she turned back to instruct A-Kuan to stay behind and pack things up.

She then followed Jian Yanzhi into his office.

Jian Yanzhi remained silent, his expression dark and tense, his black eyes sharp and piercing.

“What’s wrong? What do you want to say?” Ruan Mianmian asked directly.

His fingers intertwined on the desk, betraying his irritation.

Lowering his head, he asked, “Are you really leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Why so suddenly?”

Ruan Mianmian explained, “Actually, it’s not sudden. I wanted to leave last time too, but then I went to the design department unexpectedly.”

Jian Yanzhi raised an eyebrow, “Because of Wang Yue and the others? You weren’t happy in the design department?”

“No. Thinking about it, I didn’t have much conflict with them. After I leave, those past incidents won’t matter anymore.”

She shook her head and said, “I’m leaving because I don’t like this job. I’m just idling here anyway. I’d rather do something I enjoy.”

“What do you like then?”

Jian Yanzhi’s tone carried an unmistakable obsessive edge, as if he wouldn’t relent until he got an answer.

Ruan Mianmian frowned. “Can you not be like this? It feels awkward.”

He seemed unconsciously fixated on her, making her feel uneasy.

In truth, she felt somewhat embarrassed about this whole matter.

He and Song Chenxi were such a perfect match, yet things had turned out this way.

And, inexplicably, he had grown fond of her.

But Ruan Mianmian never accepted that as true affection.

She thought Jian Yanzhi simply hadn’t adjusted yet to her sudden departure.

He sighed deeply, his voice tinged with loneliness. “I don’t understand either. I wasn’t like this before, but now things keep spiraling beyond my control.”

Ruan Mianmian glanced at him and continued, “Weren’t you the one who wanted me to stay away from you? To stop liking and bothering you? Now that your wish is fulfilled, why are you still tangled up in the past?”

“Yeah, I guess I just gave myself another hard problem,” Jian Yanzhi said with a bitter smile. “Forget it. Since you want to leave, I won’t force you. But I still mean what I said—we’re still friends, childhood friends.”

“Okay.”

Ruan Mianmian smiled, feeling a sudden sense of relief.

“Leave the snacks in the drawer. Consider it a little employee benefit,” Jian Yanzhi said, preparing to pinch her stash.

Feigning a frown, she laughed, “It’s nothing.”

With that, she turned and walked out.

Afterwards, Ruan Mianmian stopped by the director’s office next door to gather her things. After saying her final goodbyes to her colleagues, she headed downstairs to meet A-Kuan.

As she left, Xiang Nuan followed her, pouting pitifully against the elevator wall, reluctant to part.

Ruan Mianmian couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t worry, Wang Yue won’t make you watch the water dispenser anymore.”

“Really?”

Xiang Nuan’s eyes lit up with surprise, only to dim moments later.

“Maybe now that you’re gone, my good days are over.”

“Don’t worry.”

Ruan Mianmian lifted her phone, showing a message Wang Yue had just sent.

“Didn’t you submit a plan yesterday?”

Ruan Mianmian asked.

Xiang Nuan nodded vaguely, “A plan? That was just to meet the quota.”

During the internal meeting for Kaiyue Group, all attendees had to submit a proposal afterward.

Though Xiang Nuan felt it was just for formality, she had done her work conscientiously.

Ruan Mianmian smiled. “Wang Yue said your proposal was good. She’s planning to promote you to a full-time employee.”

Happiness overwhelmed Xiang Nuan, who felt like screaming.

Just then, the elevator arrived. Ruan Mianmian and A-Kuan entered one after the other.

She looked again at Xiang Nuan. “Alright, get back to work. Good luck!”

“Okay, take care, Director!”

Downstairs, A-Kuan suddenly grabbed all the things from Ruan Mianmian’s hands.

She was momentarily startled, then smiled. “It’s fine. No need to be so polite. Let’s carry them to the car together.”

Unexpectedly, A-Kuan shook his head mysteriously. “Boss said he’s taking you to dinner. I’ll take these home first.”

“Jiang Ce is here?”

Ruan Mianmian was surprised; Jiang Ce hadn’t mentioned going to dinner with her.

A-Kuan shot her a sidelong glance. “Ruan Ge, you’re already together. Why do you still call him ‘Jiang Ce’?”

“What else should I call him?”

“Call him ‘husband’!”

“...”

Ruan Mianmian flicked A-Kuan’s forehead with a finger, rolling her eyes. “Gross!”

With his arms full, A-Kuan couldn’t block her playful attack and had to endure.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened, as if spotting reinforcements.

“Boss!”

Hearing the voice, Ruan Mianmian withdrew her hands and obediently placed them behind her back.

Jiang Ce cast a dark glance at Ruan Mianmian, then looked at A-Kuan. “You can go home first.”

“Got it!”

A-Kuan happily headed toward the parking garage with the things.

Ruan Mianmian asked, “Where’s your car? Where are we going to eat?”

Jiang Ce didn’t answer her question. Instead, he suddenly leaned in, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

His deep, rich voice whispered in her ear, “What will you call me?”