Chapter Ninety: Playing the Lute to a Cow

The next morning, Ruan Mianmian got up for work as usual. After thinking things through the previous night, she had decided it was best to part ways with Hanhai on good terms.

To her surprise, she wasn’t the only one rushing to the HR department to request a resignation form that day.

Shen Ting, with dark circles under her eyes, clearly hadn’t rested well these past days either.

Ruan Mianmian waited quietly behind her until she finished her conversation with Zhou Xin, the HR manager.

“Director Ruan, what brings you here?” Zhou Xin, spotting her presence by chance, stood up with warmth and greeted her.

Ruan Mianmian noticed Shen Ting’s back stiffen, and a complicated expression flickered across her face.

Shen Ting glanced back at Ruan Mianmian but said nothing.

Ruan Mianmian stepped forward and replied, “I have something to take care of, but it’s not urgent. Please finish what you’re doing first.”

“Alright, alright, just a moment.” Zhou Xin quickly agreed and sped up her work, then silently handed the form to Shen Ting.

Shen Ting accepted the form, nodded her thanks to Zhou Xin, and left the HR department without another word.

“Director, is there something you need?” Zhou Xin asked attentively.

Ruan Mianmian stepped closer and said directly, “I’d like a resignation application form.”

“What? You want a resignation form too?” Zhou Xin’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Ruan Mianmian nodded calmly. “Yes.”

Zhou Xin’s bewildered gaze darted around, unsure where to look. She hesitated and asked, “Director, have you spoken to the general manager about this?”

Ruan Mianmian paused, then smiled. “Not yet. I’ll talk to him in a bit. Just hand me the form for now.”

“Director, maybe you should inform President Jian first. I really can’t process this without his approval,” Zhou Xin insisted.

Ruan Mianmian’s position was second only to the general manager’s in the company. Even as HR manager, Zhou Xin couldn’t handle such a matter without informing Jian Yanzhi—especially since everyone knew about the delicate relationship between him and the director. No one dared make this decision lightly.

Ruan Mianmian was silent for a moment. She hadn’t considered this, but seeing Zhou Xin’s difficulty, she realized she should indeed speak to Jian Yanzhi first.

Yet after everything that happened last night, she felt awkward about seeing him now. Still, there seemed to be no other way.

Reluctantly, she nodded. “Alright, I’ll go inform the general manager first.”

Leaving HR, Ruan Mianmian went straight to the 32nd floor, heading to Jian Yanzhi’s office without hesitation.

The door was slightly ajar. Without thinking much, she pushed it open and entered.

Unexpectedly, Shen Ting was there as well.

Ruan Mianmian bit her tongue, nearly forgetting about Shen Ting. With an apologetic look, she made to retreat, but Jian Yanzhi suddenly spoke up.

“Wait! What’s wrong?”

Ruan Mianmian glanced at Shen Ting and replied, “It’s nothing. You go ahead with your business. I’ll come back later.”

With that, she withdrew from the office, closing the door behind her.

Back in her own office, she received a call from Wu Ketian.

Wu Ketian told her that the doctor said Xiao Jing was showing signs of waking up!

This news was an immense relief for Wu Ketian.

Ruan Mianmian laughed with her. “Good, then stay at the hospital and look after him. Don’t worry about the company.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Mianmian,” Wu Ketian said gratefully.

A gentle knock interrupted Ruan Mianmian’s thoughts. She quickly wrapped up the call.

When she opened the door, Jian Yanzhi’s tall, cold figure was standing at her office entrance.

“Come in,” she said, stepping aside to let him in. He closed the door behind him.

“What did you want to see me about?” Jian Yanzhi’s tone was impatient, and his gaze held a hint of anticipation, as if hoping for something.

Ruan Mianmian raised her brows, immediately noticing the implication in his words.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m not here to explain anything to you.”

His eyes instantly dimmed at her words.

Ruan Mianmian turned and sat on the sofa, and Jian Yanzhi followed suit.

She continued, “I just wanted to let you know something.”

“Go ahead,” he said, his tone somewhat dejected.

Ruan Mianmian ignored his mood and said crisply, “I’d like to resign. HR told me I needed to notify you first.”

“What?” Jian Yanzhi stared at her in shock. “Why? Why are you leaving all of a sudden?”

Ruan Mianmian smiled. “It’s not like I’m anything more than a figurehead here. My presence or absence hardly matters!”

“It’s not the same!” Jian Yanzhi asked, almost flustered. “Is it because of what I said last night? Are you really so eager to draw a line between us?”

“You’ve got it wrong.”

“Got what wrong?” Jian Yanzhi stood up, fixing his gaze on her. “Haven’t I been tolerant enough with you? How long are you going to keep making a scene? Is it really so hard to come back to me?”

“…”

Ruan Mianmian could hear the frustration in his voice, as if speaking to a brick wall.

“Didn’t I make myself clear last night? Can you just stop obsessing over this?” she said, frowning.

Jian Yanzhi pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation, then looked at her and asked, “Why do you want to leave? Tell me the truth.”

She had nothing to hide. “Jian Yanzhi, you know very well—I only joined Hanhai in the first place not because I liked or was good at this job. I just don’t want to waste any more time here.”

He didn’t believe her. “Is it really that simple?”

“It’s really that simple,” she replied.

Except, of course, for her original plan to get back at Shen Ting, that was all.

Jian Yanzhi fell silent, feeling helpless. He had always thought himself eloquent, but whenever it came to matters concerning Ruan Mianmian, he found himself at a loss, unable to achieve what he wanted.

The room grew quiet, and Ruan Mianmian grew restless.

“So, what does your silence mean? I’ve informed you, haven’t I? Should I just go get the form from HR now?”

At her words, Jian Yanzhi’s cool gaze fixed sharply on her, a hidden storm brewing beneath the surface.

“What if I don’t approve?”

Ruan Mianmian shrugged. “I could just walk out anyway. Whether you approve or not doesn’t really matter.”

“…”

Then what’s the point of talking at all!

Jian Yanzhi forced down his rising emotions and sat, watching her quietly. He ventured, “I know you might still have some misunderstanding about me right now. Can we give each other a chance? Even if it’s just as ordinary friends?”