Chapter Forty-Seven: Resignation

Hua Jingjing was holding a plate with a triangular slice of cake. She finally found me and called out as she approached, “Where did you run off to just now? Why didn’t you say anything? I’ve been looking for you forever!” I managed a forced smile and said, “President Hua, I’m not feeling well. Could you take me out of here?” Surprised, Hua Jingjing came over and touched my forehead, her concern evident. “What’s wrong? You don’t have a fever. Did you eat something bad?” Unable to give her a concrete answer, I could only mumble a vague “Mm.”

Suddenly enlightened, Hua Jingjing said, “No wonder I couldn’t find you earlier. But I didn’t see you eat anything at dinner. Was it something from lunch?” Since she misunderstood, and I couldn’t explain, I decided to let her think what she wanted. I said softly, “I really don’t feel well. Anyway, you’ve already won against your classmates and boyfriends. There’s not much point in me staying here. Why not have your driver take me home first?”

“That won’t do,” Hua Jingjing replied. “How can I let you leave alone? Wait here.” She placed the plate on the long table and hurried over to Xu Shu, who was surrounded by well-wishers. She whispered something to Xu Shu, who listened with a smile while her sharp gaze flashed over toward me. I knew she was warning me not to forget my promise to her.

When Hua Jingjing returned, she took my arm and said, “I’ve spoken to the birthday girl. I’ll take you to the hospital—your complexion really looks serious!” I forced a smile. “The hospital? That’s not necessary. It’s just a minor thing—some medicine will fix it. Don’t be so dramatic.” Hua Jingjing was insistent. “No way. Even a minor problem needs a hospital check, or I won’t be at ease. Come on, let me help you.” With that, she supported me as if I were a ninety-year-old crossing the street, carefully guiding me out of the hall.

Compared to Xu Shu’s coldness and disrespect earlier, Hua Jingjing’s warmth and concern were a welcome relief, though I found it strange. Since when had my archrival, this spoiled and headstrong heiress, been so kind to me? Had Xu Shu’s words rattled me so much that I was imagining things? But it all felt so real. And judging by her expression, she wasn’t faking it.

I had a vague inkling of what was happening, but didn’t have the energy to puzzle it out. Besides, as a grown man, how could I let a young woman support me like this? I quickly pulled my arm free and said, “It’s not that serious—I’m not on my deathbed. I can walk myself.” Without waiting for her, I strode ahead. Hua Jingjing pouted and muttered, “I’m just worried about you! You really don’t understand women at all, you blockhead!”

Seeing me already out the door, she called after me, “Hey! Don’t walk so fast, wait up—Tang Qian!”

In the parking lot, the driver was still dutifully waiting in the car. He looked surprised to see us back so early. “Miss, is the party over?” he asked. Hua Jingjing got in and closed the door. “Mr. Tang isn’t feeling well. Ah Xi, drive to Renmin Hospital.”

I protested, “There’s no need. I’m fine now. It’s just a minor thing—going to the hospital would be making a mountain out of a molehill.” Hua Jingjing replied, “We won’t know if it’s minor until the doctor checks. Ah Xi, ignore him—just drive.” The driver nodded and started the engine.

In truth, I wasn’t ill at all. Going to the hospital would be a joke. I argued with Hua Jingjing several times, trying to tell her I was fine and didn’t want to go, but she overruled me every time, insisting I needed to be checked. I had no choice but to slump in the seat, worried. I’d already promised Xu Shu I would leave Hua Jingjing. Though it seemed a bit early, maybe this was the best way to escape this awkward situation.

After a while, I coughed and said solemnly, “President Hua, there’s something I’d like you to agree to.”

Seeing my serious demeanor, Hua Jingjing was unsure what I was about to say. She hesitated, then replied, “I’ll agree to anything—except not going to the hospital.”

Her words left me speechless, but having started, I could only go on. “President Hua, I’ve fulfilled my promise to you. You’ll keep your word to me, won’t you?”

“You mean Cheng Jia?” Hua Jingjing said. “Don’t worry, I’m not that petty. As long as she does her job properly, I won’t do anything to her.”

Satisfied with her renewed promise, I nodded. “Good. Now I can leave with peace of mind.”

Hua Jingjing asked in surprise, “Leave? Where are you going?”

I replied with gravity, “President Hua, I am formally resigning. I don’t want to work at the company any longer.”

Hua Jingjing was clearly shocked, staring at me in silence for a long time. Then she suddenly smiled. “Is it that you still don’t want to be my secretary? Fine, you don’t have to. You can work in planning instead, right?” I shook my head. “No, I mean I don’t want to work in the company at all. I want to go out and challenge myself, find a path better suited to me. So I’m resigning.”

This surprised her even more. She instinctively reached out again to touch my forehead, as if checking if I was delirious. I irritably brushed her hand away. “Don’t. I’m perfectly clear-headed.”

“You’re clear-headed? Do you know what you’re doing? You’re giving up a well-paid, comfortable job to throw yourself into the hard world outside. Do you know how many people like you have ended up battered and regretful? Do you know your own abilities? With your temper and your rough edges, can you survive in society? Please, wake up!”

“How do you know I won’t survive? How can you be sure unless I try?”

“Do you really need to try? Look at your sales record—six months in a row ranked dead last in the company! With that kind of performance, you think you’ll make it outside? Please! You’re not a child anymore, don’t be so naive!”

I was speechless for a moment. That sales record was my shame but an inescapable reality.

After scolding me, Hua Jingjing softened her tone, “Alright, I know you’re talented and working here bores you. That’s fine, I’m the boss now and I value you! I know you’re not good with clients—so don’t deal with them. You don’t like planning—fine, you don’t have to do it. But you’re great at product development! You love researching and producing beverages, don’t you? I’ll let you shine in that field. Oh, and you said you have issues with the R&D manager? No problem, I’ll fire him and you can take over—you’ll do better. Under your lead, the R&D department will make huge contributions. I have faith in you!”

If she had said this to me a few days ago, I would have been as excited as a prized horse meeting its master, ready to pledge my life to her. But after all our recent clashes, I knew her character too well. When had she ever respected me? Hadn’t she always schemed against me? How could I believe that a boss who’d tried to drug me days before suddenly valued me so highly, as if the company couldn’t do without me? Maybe she still didn’t want to give up the chance to mess with me.

Yet recently, I had started to doubt even this. Since her discharge from the hospital, she hadn’t plotted against me, not counting forcing me to pose as her fake boyfriend—which, at worst, was meant to trouble Cheng Jia, not me. On the contrary, I’d often felt her genuine care and warmth. I wasn’t used to it, but I couldn’t deny this spoiled heiress had a gentle side.

I remembered my girlfriend Qiu Jieqin’s assessment: “Your boss definitely likes you!” The thought startled me: Could it be this ridiculous? Hua Jingjing likes me? That’s absurd!

Seeing me silent for so long, Hua Jingjing thought I was wavering and added, “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one in the Huasheng Group would dare mistreat you. I won’t be running Green Lady Company for long. Sooner or later, after a few years, I’ll move up to the board. If my brother doesn’t measure up, I might even become the next chair of Huasheng Group. If I become chair, do you think I’d treat you badly? Think it over.”

I looked at Hua Jingjing, thinking that despite her willfulness and sharp tongue when bickering with me, she was ambitious—a true businesswoman. At such a young age, she was already thinking about controlling a conglomerate with annual profits of twenty or thirty billion. If it were me, I wouldn’t even know where to start.

I asked, “Why? Didn’t you always hate me? Now you sound like you care about me so much.”

At my words, Hua Jingjing blushed and turned her gaze to the window, her voice low and gentle. “Yes, I hate you—a deep, intense hate. Can’t you feel it? In this lifetime, you’ll never escape my grasp. I’m going to... hold onto you forever, make sure you’re always under my thumb!”

I might not understand women’s minds, but I’m not a fool. When a woman starts talking about “forever” and “a lifetime,” there’s definitely more to it. And when Hua Jingjing spoke, her face was all shy affection, nothing like the malice her words implied.

I was startled—this was the first time I truly sensed that Hua Jingjing’s feelings for me were far more complicated than I’d imagined.

A long silence fell between us, each lost in our own thoughts, neither willing or daring to speak plainly. The quiet was finally broken by the driver, Ah Xi, who stopped the car and turned to say, “Miss, we’ve arrived at Renmin Hospital.”

“Oh!” Hua Jingjing snapped out of her reverie, grabbed my hand, and said, “Let’s get you checked first. We’ll talk about your resignation later.”

I also came to my senses, shook off her small hand, and said, “I’m really not going to the hospital. To tell you the truth, I’m not sick. I just couldn’t stand all the schmoozing at that party. And I really do want to resign. Whether I’m capable or not, whatever I face in the future, I want to give it a try. I won’t be at peace if I don’t. Tomorrow, I’ll hand you my official resignation letter.”

After all her persuasion and even revealing some of her feelings to me, Hua Jingjing was infuriated to see I still insisted on resigning. Her temper flared. “No! I said no and that’s final. Save your breath. I won’t look at your resignation letter. Write a hundred and I’ll tear up a hundred!”

I grew hard as well. “I’m trying to speak to you respectfully, as a courtesy to you and the company. If you insist on being unreasonable, then I’ll just forfeit my salary and bonuses and not show up tomorrow. What can you do about it?”

Hua Jingjing shouted, “You... Tang Qian! Are you out of your mind? You were fine all day—what happened? Did that society party rattle you so much you’d make such an irrational decision? You really do need a hospital checkup!”

The truth was, part of me no longer wanted to cling to the Hua family, living off their charity, and the other part was driven by Xu Shu. How could someone as proud as I am accept being looked down upon so? Treated like some kind of beggar to be bought off with money? To preserve my dignity, not only would I not take a cent, but even if it meant losing a lot, I was determined to leave Huasheng Group and Hua Jingjing. Otherwise, I’d never be able to swallow this bitterness for as long as I live!