Chapter 11: His White Moonlight Has Returned
1138 Words
“Director Wen, is there anything else you don’t understand? Would you like me to explain it again?”
The question dripped with coldness and shamelessness.
Wen Ruan was so enraged she couldn't speak for a moment.
She clearly remembered—when she first brought Chaocé to the investment meeting, they all voted against it. It was she who stayed up all night to revise the plan until it satisfied everyone and pledged her reputation on it. Only then did they reach today’s signing ceremony.
Now that Pan Rui had refined the technology and the contract was about to be signed, and now that they saw Chaocé’s potential, they wanted to swoop in and take everything without a word.
It was their shamelessness on full display, yet their aggressive stance made it seem as if she were the one in the wrong.
In the office, Wen Ruan gripped the agreement tightly. Her strength made the veins on the back of her hand stand out starkly.
A bruise from yesterday’s needle prick was still clearly visible.
Jiang Qingyan lowered his gaze. His eyes lingered on the back of her left hand. Her skin was pale and delicate—any mark would show glaringly.
It looked like the trace left by an IV drip.
He recalled how she had been soaked in the rain yesterday. Had she fallen ill because of it?
“You…”
“I understand perfectly well what you mean, President Jiang.”
Before he could finish, Wen Ruan raised her hand and tore the agreement in half.
“I understand it, but I refuse to go along with it.”
There was a noise at the door.
Facing the entrance, Jiang Qingyan looked up, then suddenly strode forward to grab her right wrist and stop her.
“Wen Ruan, don’t be ridiculous!”
Wen Ruan loathed his touch and struggled to free herself.
“I’m not being ridiculous. Before I came here, I’d already informed Yanhuo. The signing is off. If you want to find a sucker for your future brother-in-law, you’ll have to look elsewhere.”
Jiang Qingyan’s grip tightened. His veins rose faintly under the pressure.
“Wen Ruan, I said the contract with Chaocé must be signed today.”
The pain in her wrist turned her face pale. “Why must it be signed? Rongli doesn’t need Chaocé. That reason won’t convince me.”
Jiang Qingyan stared at her intently, his expression frozen. Wen Ruan’s gaze was even colder. As they stood in silent confrontation, a voice came from the door.
“Because of me. Qingyan’s doing this for me.”
Yao Man had arrived when Wen Ruan began tearing the agreement. She hadn’t entered immediately. Only now, hearing Wen Ruan’s challenge, did she step in.
“My status makes it impossible for me to remain Qingyan’s assistant forever. I’m preparing to lead my own projects.”
She walked to Jiang Qingyan’s side, hooked her arm around his, and looked at Wen Ruan with a cheerful smile.
“Lingyi Technology will be my first project. Director Wen, your capability is well known. I plan to build my debut success upon your achievements. That way, I’ll earn everyone’s respect. Qingyan’s just helping me.”
Wen Ruan froze.
She turned to Jiang Qingyan, catching his evasive gaze. Her reddened eyes gradually lost their glow, sinking into an ocean of numbness.
Jiang Qingyan released her wrist. The gaze beneath his gold-rimmed glasses was cold.
“On Yao Man’s first day here, she messed up a project. Because of her status, no one dared to say anything openly, but the whispers never stopped. She’s always taken it to heart.”
“You embarrassed her to protect Zhao Xinghui. So now it’s only fair that you repay that debt. Yao Man needs Chaocé—I want her to be happy.”
He added, “Besides, you’re resigning anyway.”
Wen Ruan curled her lips into a mocking smile. She even wanted to applaud them.
“Heh. Brilliant. So it’s not three birds with one stone—it’s five.”
Sacrificing Chaocé allowed Lingyi to eliminate a competitor; Rongli reaped maximum profit; Yao Tianyu got to please his girlfriend; Yao Man could step on her merits to prove herself; and Jiang Qingyan—the great lover—could offer his devotion to his white moonlight.
Such clever calculations.
But why?
Why should she be the one to pay for their happiness?
What had she done wrong?
If she hadn’t seen that video, the signing would have gone on as scheduled. She would’ve become the executioner who destroyed Yanhuo. She wouldn’t have had the face to face Zhang Tongtong ever again.
Jiang Qingyan had already ruined her love—now he wanted to sever her friendships too.
Her chest was so full of turmoil that she almost couldn’t hold it back. Just before the tears fell, she turned away swiftly.
Her mother once said, In front of someone who doesn’t love you, tears are worthless. No one will feel sorry for you. Don’t lash out hysterically either—it only makes you look more pitiful. No one loves you enough to care.
They only enjoy your humiliation.
Wen Ruan forced her tears back down. She took a deep breath, steadied her emotions, then turned back to Jiang Qingyan.
“I’m the person in charge of Chaocé. According to company policy, I have the authority to halt the project at any time. If I say it won’t be signed, then it won’t.”
“If you’re really that capable, President Jiang, go find Dong Chao and try to sign it yourself. Considering the notoriously poor relationship between Dong Chao and Yang Sheng… why don’t you guess? If Dong Chao finds out you also signed Lingyi Technology, will he still sign with you?”
Jiang Qingyan’s dark gaze settled on her face. His voice turned low and cold. “Are you threatening me?”
Wen Ruan’s eyes were sharp and clear. “If you see it as a threat, then so be it.”
“You and I are not the same, President Jiang. You’re a disloyal sycophant—I’m someone with a conscience. I can’t step on someone’s dreams to climb my way up.”
Her insult was blatant. Jiang Qingyan remained expressionless, but Yao Man couldn’t hold back.
“Wen Ruan! Who are you calling a dog?”
Wen Ruan didn’t even look at her. She tossed the torn agreement pieces into Jiang Qingyan’s face, turned to leave, but then paused as if recalling something.
“Oh, right. President Jiang just reminded me—I am about to resign. Suddenly remembered I haven’t used up this year’s paid leave. Would be a shame to waste it.”
She turned back to him and smiled—calm, composed, and utterly done.
- Writer
