Chapter 165 Persuasion

Looking at the deeply emotional Fan Yunting, I said, "President Fan, please don't get so worked up. Just listen to me until I finish."

Fan Yunting froze for a moment, then said, "Fine! Say whatever else you have to say, spit it all out right now!"

With that, she straightened her posture, waiting entirely for me to speak. I let out a soft sigh and said, "President Fan, the company has always treated me well, and I know that. My resignation isn't because I feel wronged in any way. Even if you asked me to be the general manager, I have enough self-awareness to know I'm not cut out for it, and it would only make things worse if I took the role. Even if I start my own company in the future, I won't act as the general manager; at most, I'll just be an investor. President Fan, the massive growth we've achieved over the past year or so is, fundamentally, the result of the united and hard-working efforts of every single employee in the company. Although those days were tough, I felt very happy. I never felt unhappy about anything at all. But... things are different now. Haven't you noticed? I have already become a redundant person within this company; there are many matters... that no longer require my participation. Since it has reached this point, there is really no point in me staying behind."

Fan Yunting widened her eyes in astonishment and blurted out, "This... how is that possible? Who said you were a redundant person?"

I carefully weighed my words, ultimately deciding to share the true state of affairs within the company with Fan Yunting so she could understand the true faces of her subordinates. I said, "Actually... this matter was caused by you. Think about how much you trusted me before; no matter how big or small the company's matters were, as long as I made a suggestion, you never had a second thought. And for every single one of your decisions, I gave my utmost support. Back then, we really cooperated so happily. But ever since that... night, you never sought my support again. You made decisions and carried them out on your own accord without passing them through me at all. Originally, you loved to consult me when things came up, but now you never look for me. We work in the same company, yet now, apart from meetings or the occasional accidental encounter in the hallway, we practically never see each other. Whenever you have something to say to me now, you always send Secretary Zhou to relay the message. For a partnership, this is simply too abnormal. How can this be conducive to carrying out our work? Naturally, anyone with a discerning eye saw it immediately. The trust between you and me no longer exists, and perhaps a deep rift has formed as well. You are the general manager who holds the power of life and death over everyone in the company; a smart person doesn't need to guess to know the outcome of having a conflict with you. So... do you know that everyone in the company is avoiding me now? Aside from the production department, whatever I, this vice president, say carries no weight anywhere else anymore. There's even a budding sign of the production department and other departments treating each other like strangers who will never interact again. If this goes on, I believe it will harm our internal unity. For the sake of the company, I simply have to resign."

Hearing this, Fan Yunting was stunned. She said, "Such a thing is happening? Anyone who dares to disobey your orders—why don't you just fire them outright? Why keep it all bottled up and make yourself miserable?"

I gave a bitter smile and replied, "Fire them? Ah! Everyone out there is trying to make a living, and none of it is easy. How could I just casually smash people's rice bowls? Besides, many of those individuals are your trusted aides. Even if I don't respect the monks, I still have to respect the Buddha."

Fan Yunting wore a peculiar expression as she said, "In this company, the only trusted aide I have is you, and you know that. I... I have been avoiding you these past days, but you know the reason yourself. Do you think I've had an easy time lately? What else can I do except avoid you? The entire reason is actually your own fault."

I nodded and said, "I know. That's why I want to resign. The two of us can no longer return to that state of mutual reliance and trust we once shared; if I don't leave, it won't do anyone any good."

"No!" Fan Yunting suddenly left the sofa, walked straight up to me, grabbed my hands, and squatted down. With deep affection in her eyes, she said, "You cannot leave, Tang Qian! If the company loses you, I will... lose my backbone. We survived such difficult times back then; you cannot leave just because I have feelings for you. That is completely unfair to the company. If my avoiding you is what caused the employees to misunderstand, then starting right now, I won't avoid you anymore. I will cling to you relentlessly, as long as you don't find me annoying!"

Hearing this gave me a massive headache, and I smiled bitterly, saying, "If that's the case, I have to leave even more. I've said before that we cannot mix emotional factors into our relationship when dealing with each other. That is extremely detrimental to the company's development. Now you see—whether you cling to me or avoid me, the fact remains that we can never go back to the way things were. The only solution is for one of us to leave. You are the founder of the company; you built it with your own hands, and you must never leave. That leaves a very simple choice: I must go."

Fan Yunting lowered her head, thought for a moment, then raised it again, saying with sincere earnestness, "If that's the case, let's just go back to the way things used to be. The company cannot do without you. The immense development the company enjoys now can be said to be entirely your credit. I cannot imagine what I would do in the future without you. Loving you is not my fault, but if it makes you uncomfortable, I promise I will never mention it again. This company is also your life's blood; you watched it grow day by day. Can you really bear to wash your hands of it from now on? Can you bear it?"

I remained silent for a long time. Just as Fan Yunting said, my deep affection for the company was truly second to none. Leaving the company would undoubtedly break my heart, and had I not been deeply hurt over the past two days, the thought of leaving would never have crossed my mind. Yet under the current circumstances, was it really okay for me not to leave?

I gently pulled my hand out of Fan Yunting's grip and sighed, "Is it possible? Can we really go back to the way things were?"

Fan Yunting suddenly stood up and said with firm resolve, "How is it not possible? If you don't believe me, the moment I go back, I will agree to my parents' arrangements for blind dates. As long as I have a fiancé, surely you won't be on your guard against me anymore?"

I hurriedly stood up as well and rebuked, "Nonsense! Doing something like that will only add to my psychological burden, turning a resignation that I originally hesitated about into an absolute necessity."

Hearing this, Fan Yunting beamed with joy and said, "Does that mean... you actually don't want to leave?"

I paused for a moment before lowering my voice to say, "The company is also my life's blood; unless driven to absolute desperation, how could I bear to leave? It's just that right now, my heart is utterly cold, and I truly cannot stay here any longer."

Fan Yunting grabbed my hand once more and smiled, "As long as you're reluctant to leave, everything else is easily solved. The company can do without anyone else, but it absolutely cannot do without you. Don't worry, as long as you stay, I agree to any condition you set. If you want things to be just like before, they will be just like before; if you want me not to bother you, I won't bother you. If anyone in the company dares to show you disrespect, you can fire them on the spot without even going through me. From now on, I will consult you on everything—if you disagree, I will support your disagreement; if you agree, I will support your agreement. Everything and anything will be however makes you satisfied. I only ask that you don't leave. Please stay, okay?"

Looking at President Fan's hopeful face, it was simply impossible for me not to be moved. For a company president to say such things just to retain a subordinate is truly a rare sight indeed. A trace of softening occurred in my heart, and my intention to leave was no longer as resolute.

I also managed a smile and said, "President Fan, it's not quite right for you to put it that way. I'm not a saint either, and what I say and do isn't necessarily always right. Our responsibility is to support each other's good ideas and point out each other's mistakes. Only in that way can the company experience healthy development. If everything were done unconditionally according to you just as you said, I might as well just be the general manager myself."

Sensing that my tone had softened somewhat, Fan Yunting was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Does that mean you're not leaving?"

Sighing, I smiled and said, "You've pleaded with me to this extent; if I still don't show you any respect, am I even human? Actually, my demands aren't high—just let things be as they were before. If that's the case, I won't leave!"

Fan Yunting suddenly burst into tears of joy. She called out just a single "Tang Qian..." before she was completely choked up and unable to speak further.

Regretting my rash proposal to resign, I patted her shoulder and softly murmured, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Actually, I was just being too narrow-minded, unable to bear being looked down upon by others; it had nothing to do with you. President Fan, with you treating me this way, I, Tang Qian, have no way to repay you. I am willing to pledge my life and follow you forever. I will never utter the word 'resignation' again."

Fan Yunting wiped away her tears, suddenly reached out to embrace me, and said, "There! You said it yourself—you're going to follow me forever, and you're not allowed to talk about leaving anymore!"

I stiffened at first, feeling that this was improper. Then I realized that Fan Yunting's embrace was merely an expression of extreme excitement and joy, devoid of any romantic undertones.

Hesitating for a moment, I also gave her a symbolic hug and immediately said, "Alright, you've convinced me. No need to be so emotional, let go quickly!"

Fan Yunting uttered a soft "Mhm," but instead of letting go, she rested her head gently against my shoulder and whispered, "Let me lean like this a little longer. In the future, perhaps... there won't be another chance."

I had no choice but to say, "President Fan..."

Before I could finish those two words, the doorbell to my apartment rang again. Startled, Fan Yunting immediately pulled back from my embrace and sat back down on the sofa. I let out a breath, walked over to open the door, and thought with puzzlement, *Who on earth could be coming to my place at an hour like this?*

Pulling the door open, I froze. The young woman standing before me had long, flowing hair and long legs. Although she was wearing sunglasses and a face mask, I recognized her at a single glance.

Delighted beyond expectations, I said, "Xu Shu, what... brings you here?"

Xu Shu removed her face mask, beamed a radiant smile at me, and said, "Long time no see, Tang Qian!"

Even though I was extremely familiar with Xu Shu, seeing her smile of ultimate beauty still made my heart beat wildly and disobediently. Ever since that night when I left her home, it had truly been a very, very long time since we had last met. Catching sight of her right now, a deep sense of warmth and familiarity welled up inside me.

Xu Shu then took off her sunglasses as well, looking at me with smiling, beautiful eyes, and playfully chided, "Watching me stand right here at the door, aren't you going to invite me in to sit down?"