Chapter 2 "Are you leaving again?"
1660 Words
As for the matter of resignation, Jiang Qingyan mentioned that he would give it careful thought.
Wen Ruan had given him a deadline. With only a month left until the New Year, she would wait for him only for that long. After the New Year, she would leave Rongli, and by then, it would be either she leaves on her own or they both leave together.
The following week passed relatively peacefully for Wen Ruan.
Yao Man seemed to have suddenly changed her nature; she no longer caused trouble or targeted her. Instead, her gaze toward Wen Ruan was filled with even more provocation and pride.
It seemed that she felt the victory was within her grasp.
Wen Ruan couldn't be bothered to respond, as long as Yao Man kept to herself.
On Friday, it rained again in Haicheng. The drizzle was fine and continuous, showing no signs of letting up.
At three in the afternoon, at Rongli Capital, the meeting had just ended. As Wen Ruan was organizing the documents, Lin Yue, the director of the investment division, scooted her chair closer, resting her hand on Wen Ruan’s shoulder.
"Wen Ruan, do you think Baibao won’t fail, will it?"
Today was the day for Baibao International’s merger and acquisition of Fuqi Technology to be reviewed.
A two-billion-dollar deal, which had occupied Wen Ruan all year, and if successful, it would sustain the company for years. Everyone was waiting for the results.
Recently, a vice president position had opened up at the investment management center, and during the meeting, it was clear that if Baibao succeeded today, the position would be Wen Ruan's.
As her competitor, Lin Yue, of course, hoped for Baibao's failure.
It was already three in the afternoon, six hours had passed, and there was still no news.
Everyone else had left the conference room, leaving just the two of them. Lin Yue didn't even try to hide her schadenfreude.
"It’s failed… Probably failed…”
Before Wen Ruan could speak, her phone rang. She swatted Lin Yue's hand off her shoulder and swiped at the screen.
"It’s done!" As soon as the call connected, the voice on the other end erupted in jubilant shouts. "It’s done! It’s done!"
It was a congratulatory call from Baibao’s project lead.
Baibao had passed the review successfully.
After hanging up, Wen Ruan turned to Lin Yue, mimicking her previous tone of gloating.
"Sorry to disappoint you again."
The single word "again" stirred Lin Yue's frustration and jealousy, making her feel that once again, she would be overshadowed, and her chance to shine was slipping away.
How infuriating!
Actually, when Wen Ruan first arrived, Lin Yue hadn't seen her as a threat.
Wen Ruan had graduated from a prestigious university, holding dual master’s degrees in mathematics and economics—her resume was certainly impressive, but Rongli Capital was backed by Haicheng's leading conglomerate, Rongli Group, the top player in the industry. A high degree was merely the baseline.
There were many highly educated people, and Wen Ruan, with her striking beauty—fair skin, beautiful features, and long legs—left the impression of just being a pretty face.
Who could have imagined that this quiet "flower vase" would end up being the most remarkable talent!
Rongli's promotion system was harsh, cruel, and borderline brutal, with the average age of investment directors being thirty-five.
Lin Yue was highly educated, capable, and had a close uncle in the company’s upper echelons, yet it took her until she was thirty to secure a director position. Wen Ruan, with no background, had reached an equal footing with her by the age of twenty-seven.
Many people resented it, especially Lin Yue, but there was nothing they could do.
After all, Wen Ruan was a prodigy.
From assistant analyst to director of Investment Division II, Wen Ruan had consistently been at the top of the department's performance chart, breaking company records year after year. Every project she handled turned out to be a huge success, with astonishing returns. The unicorn projects she invested in also flourished.
Quiet yet highly capable, her career had been on an unstoppable rise, with promotions granted against the norm.
In the past few years, only two people had received such exceptional promotions.
One was Jiang Qingyan, the general manager of the investment management center, and the other was Wen Ruan.
Thinking of Jiang Qingyan, Lin Yue suddenly recalled something. She kicked Wen Ruan's chair, her smile strange.
"Do you think Jiang Qingyan would choose his career over love?"
Wen Ruan caught the underlying meaning in her words. "If you have something to say, say it directly. No need to smile so creepily, it’s a bit scary."
Lin Yue’s smile faltered, nearly causing internal damage. She leaned closer and whispered, "Do you think Jiang Qingyan will stick to his barren love with you, or will he marry Yao Man, become a prince consort, and reach the pinnacle of his life? Ha, so what if Baibao succeeded? Your man is about to slip away."
Who was Yao Man?
The daughter of the chairman of Rongli Group, the eldest princess of the conglomerate. From what she observed, Yao Man seemed determined to have Jiang Qingyan, and Wen Ruan, an ordinary woman, couldn’t possibly compete with the group’s princess.
If these two were to clash over Jiang Qingyan, Lin Yue would love to watch the drama unfold. Oh, it would be so amusing if they fought—better yet, let them fight!
Wen Ruan ignored her, as her phone rang again.
Upstairs, the senior executives had heard the news about Baibao passing the review, and with smiles, they called her in for tea, showering her with praise, with hints of congratulations.
It was obvious now—the vice president position at the investment management center was hers.
...
Worried about traffic, Wen Ruan left work half an hour early, taking the second exit to the elevated highway.
Tao Xiang Ju was a private restaurant known for its elegant and cozy atmosphere.
The décor combined Oriental wisdom and culture, with paper-cuttings on the windows, book-style lamps, and the soothing sounds of a guzheng, every detail offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Wen Ruan had reserved a private room two days in advance.
Today marked the third anniversary of her and Jiang Qingyan’s relationship, coincidentally the same day Baibao succeeded. A double celebration.
When Wen Ruan entered the room, Jiang Qingyan was already there, standing by the window on the phone.
He wore a sharp suit, his tall and slender figure framed by thin gold-rimmed glasses, exuding a refined, scholarly elegance that left a lasting impression.
She overheard him saying, "Your stomach isn’t good, don’t drink tonight."
His tone wasn’t overly gentle, but there was concern in it.
The conversation continued on the other end, but Jiang Qingyan’s voice turned helpless. "Don’t make a scene, I really can’t leave… Hello?"
The call ended abruptly, and when he looked up to see Wen Ruan, he instinctively put his phone away.
"You're here."
"Mhm," Wen Ruan replied. "When did you arrive?"
"Five minutes before you." Jiang Qingyan had attended a meeting at the bank earlier in the day and came directly from there.
The room was warm, and as Wen Ruan entered, she removed her coat, revealing a red dress and black boots. The hem of her skirt swayed gently, adding an alluring charm.
While waiting for the dishes, she asked, "Who has a bad stomach? Who was on the phone just now?"
Jiang Qingyan sat across from her, tapping away at his phone, casually responding, "A friend."
Tonight's private room was different from usual. Following Wen Ruan’s request, the room was decorated with flowers and ambient lighting, creating a romantic and elegant atmosphere with soft yellow lighting hanging from the ceiling.
At that moment, Wen Ruan felt that all this effort seemed wasted.
Because the man across from her paid no attention to any of it. His focus remained solely on his phone, constantly texting and unlocking the screen, clearly waiting for someone’s reply.
"A friend? Was it Yao Man? Was it her calling you just now?"
She pointed it out directly, and Jiang Qingyan finally lifted his gaze from his phone. Just as he was about to speak, the phone rang again.
He glanced at it and immediately answered.
After the call, his face fell, and he hurriedly stood up.
Wen Ruan poured herself a glass of red wine and glanced at him.
"Are you leaving again?"
She saw the name on the caller ID—Yao Man.
Jiang Qingyan’s expression was a mix of anxiety and apology. "Ruan Ruan, I’ll try to come back as soon as possible."
With that, he left. Wen Ruan didn’t stop him. She swirled her wine glass and took a sip. The taste lingered bitterly.
Outside, the soothing guzheng music filtered in through the cracks in the window, its melancholy notes reminiscent of rain beating on banana leaves.
Wen Ruan’s thoughts drifted, reminding her of their past anniversaries—one year, two years, her birthday, Valentine’s Day… It was always Jiang Qingyan who prepared surprises for her.
He would plan everything in advance, choose gifts, book restaurants, take her anywhere she wanted to go, always gentle and affectionate.
But this year, he forgot.
A few days ago, when she asked him if he had booked the restaurant, he looked completely clueless.
Today, she had made the reservation, bought the flowers, and now, with the dishes yet to arrive, the leading man had already left.
...
Wen Ruan had her candlelit dinner alone, leaving the restaurant at 8:30.
Jiang Qingyan still hadn’t replied to her messages, and no one was picking up his calls.
She bought a movie
ticket and walked into the theater alone, sitting near the exit just in case she felt like leaving halfway.
For the first time in a long while, she felt lonely.
- Writer
