Shang Zhitao’s boiling enthusiasm was doused with cold water by Luan Nian. Would she never gain his approval?

Even though she knew what he said was likely correct, she couldn’t accept it in her heart. Perhaps I should go with Alex, perhaps I should do exactly as Lumi said—cling tightly to Alex and ascend from there. If I stay, I’ll likely be eliminated by the new boss while enduring Luan Nian’s deeply-rooted contempt.

I won’t be the first person in the workplace to rise by clinging to someone powerful, nor will I be the last. This is an opportunity from fate to take a shortcut, and I should cherish it.

While she tossed and turned in bed, Alex sent her an email with an introduction to the new company—Series C funding, broad prospects. She even searched the company address and found it was near her home. From now on, she could take fewer buses, reduce commute time, and increase her happiness index. Most importantly, with a new job, Luan Nian wouldn’t be everywhere she turned. She could see him less frequently and gradually end their inappropriate relationship. She could embrace a new life.

She made many plans, and when she went to work the next day, she even had the illusion that she wouldn’t stay at Lingmei much longer.

As soon as Lumi arrived at the office, she approached Shang Zhitao and whispered, “Did he contact you?”

Shang Zhitao nodded.

“What are you thinking?”

“I want to go with him.”

Lumi was quiet for a moment before saying to Shang Zhitao, “Whether you go or stay is your personal choice. Someone as capable as you won’t do poorly anywhere.”

“Am I that capable?” Shang Zhitao asked Lumi.

“Yes, you’re excellent.” Lumi thought for a moment, then added, “But I hope your decision isn’t because of money, as that’s not rational enough. Still, I must tell you, you truly are excellent.”

Then why does Luan Nian think I’m worthless? Shang Zhitao had become sensitive, but Luan Nian wasn’t targeting her specifically. He was simply expressing his thoughts. The workplace is complex, and several employees in the marketing department could work independently. If Alex was going to battle in a new environment, he should bring more capable fighters, not Shang Zhitao. Luan Nian was only speculating; he had no evidence that Alex planned to take Shang Zhitao or anyone else. He hoped Shang Zhitao could think independently, though she likely didn’t.

Choosing Lingmei wouldn’t provide the rich cash rewards of a new job in the short term, but Lingmei was a top-tier company in the industry, making it easier to become an industry expert with persistent effort. Going to the new company would bring richer cash rewards in the short term compared to Lingmei, but also come with risks. Luan Nian always believed that only with sufficient ability could one handle any job. No matter how bosses changed, ability would ultimately help you stand firm. He hoped Shang Zhitao would understand this principle herself—no job would drop benefits from the sky.

By Wednesday, Luan Nian finally announced a marketing department meeting for Thursday. Alex’s last day was the end of the month, and he would still attend this meeting. Luan Nian asked everyone to organize their projects; he wanted to hear reports one by one.

Everyone was nervous, except for Sunny, who had already decided to follow Alex. Shang Zhitao wavered between going and staying, but regardless, she needed to prepare well for the project report. She spent all of Wednesday summarizing and reviewing her work. When she packed up to leave, it was already late at night. The light in Luan Nian’s office was still on; he was busy with something, always so busy.

Had Luan Nian also relied on powerful connections to get where he was today? Shang Zhitao suddenly asked herself. Had he relied on such connections to win industry awards, enter the board of directors, and lead the China branch? If he didn’t have backing, what had he relied on to reach this position?

Her hand rested on the elevator’s door-open button without her realizing it.

Until Luan Nian entered the elevator and looked at her hand, asking, “Waiting for me?”

“Huh?” Shang Zhitao didn’t understand his meaning, then followed his gaze to see her hand pressing the wrong button, and suddenly blushed. “No.”

“Lost your soul?”

“No.”

Seeing Shang Zhitao’s evasive eyes, Luan Nian knew his guess was correct—Alex was indeed planning to take her. The workplace was complex; he had said what needed to be said. She was an adult and should make her own decisions.

He went down to the underground garage and drove out through the normal exit, not circling to the front of the company. Luan Nian wanted to reduce the number of times he appeared before Shang Zhitao, giving her time to think independently.

He even felt that perhaps Shang Zhitao’s leaving Lingmei was a good thing, allowing them to naturally end their relationship. Sitting on his bed reading for a while, he received a call from his mother, Dr. Liang. Every aging mother was keen on arranging blind dates for their single children, and Dr. Liang was no exception. This time, the information she sent was more normal—a twenty-six-year-old woman teaching art at a university, which matched Luan Nian’s interests. Dr. Liang also sent the young woman’s photo: hair coiled at the back of her head, appearing slender and fair-skinned, with bright, expressive eyes. In Dr. Liang’s words, “It’s rare to find someone who seems so suitable for my son just from a photo.”

“Want to meet her?”

“No, not this time.”

“Why not?”

“Too busy lately. And also,” Luan Nian thought for a moment before replying to Dr. Liang, “I’m not feeling well physically.”

“What symptoms?”

“Dizziness, weakness in my limbs, no sexual or food appetite.” Luan Nian was talking nonsense, trying to divert Dr. Liang’s attention.

“Kidney deficiency, perhaps? Go to the hospital for a check-up.” Dr. Liang knew Luan Nian was making things up but didn’t expose him. Their mother-son relationship was good, and when Luan Nian talked nonsense, it meant he disliked the blind date arrangement. Dr. Liang had boundaries; it wasn’t a big deal, so she just joked and let it pass.

Luan Nian put his phone aside, recalled Shang Zhitao’s distraction, and finally called her: “Are you sure you don’t have anything to ask me? Or are you sure you don’t have anything to tell me?”

“No.” Shang Zhitao refused to mention Alex’s matter. Although Luan Nian had sent her such a strange message, indicating he had already guessed, as long as Shang Zhitao didn’t speak, he had no evidence, and Alex wouldn’t be labeled as the traitor disrupting team balance.

She understood this principle. She hadn’t noticed that she had unconsciously taken Alex’s side. At such a crucial decision point, she didn’t trust Luan Nian, nor did she choose him. Because she knew her departure and development weren’t important to him—he hadn’t even sincerely tried to keep Alex, so what was she? That cheap, obedient employee in his eyes? Such employees must be everywhere as long as Lingmei wanted them.

Her silence represented her determination, and Luan Nian understood. After thinking for a long time, he said to her, “If you want to leave, you can tell me in advance. I’ll talk to HR to arrange it as a dismissal, so you can get compensation.”

Shang Zhitao was surprised that Luan Nian could be so kind, and sincerely thanked him: “Alright, thank you, Luke. If I decide, I’ll tell you in advance.”

“So what has Alex promised you? Double salary? Promotion within a year? Success just by following him? Shang Zhitao, do you have a brain?” Luan Nian’s voice suddenly grew louder. His anger penetrated through the phone, burning Shang Zhitao’s ear, leaving her nowhere to hide.

Shang Zhitao suddenly realized she had fallen into Luan Nian’s trap. He had retreated to advance, luring her into his setup, making her unconsciously betray Alex. According to company regulations, departing executives were forbidden from taking team members with them for six months, as this constituted unfair competition and was subject to non-compete restrictions. Previous cases weren’t pursued because those weren’t Luan Nian. Luan Nian showed no mercy.

Shang Zhitao held the phone, afraid to speak. Her mind had stopped working.

Human complexity wasn’t as simple as Shang Zhitao imagined. Alex and Luan Nian’s relationship wasn’t necessarily as harmonious as it appeared on the surface. Alex originally had an opportunity for promotion; he even thought it would be him, but the board chose Luan Nian. Alex cooperated with Luan Nian at work, yet he was the first executive to leave after Luan Nian took office. No matter how well they maintained appearances, actual actions revealed true thoughts.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” Luan Nian held back his anger and said, “Do you know what your fundamental problem is, Shang Zhitao? It’s that you’re not determined enough. How old are you? You waver at the slightest temptation. Have you thought about your future? Or do you only care about immediate benefits? Is your vision really that short-sighted?”

“Money creates future,” Shang Zhitao said. She didn’t really think so, but she wanted to say it: “I make my own decisions, no need for your concern.”

“You think I want to worry about you? If you would just use your brain a little, I wouldn’t need to waste words on you!”

“I never asked you to talk to me!” Shang Zhitao had never imagined she would argue with Luan Nian. She was the obedient one among them—he taught, she learned; he decided, she followed. But Luan Nian spoke carelessly when angry, and his attitude completely pushed her away when she was wavering. She forced herself to calm down, then said, “Then I’ll tell you my decision now. I’ve decided to go with Alex. Not for any other reason except that he has stood up for me again and again, and because he has always respected me and spoken to me properly.”

Speaking properly, saying nice things, was such a humble wish for Shang Zhitao. Although she knew Luan Nian was just that kind of person, that he spoke to everyone that way. But he was also the one who had tenderly said on the phone, “Then I’ll bring flowers to see you.” It’s just that she wasn’t the person on the other end of that call.

Shang Zhitao still cared, cared thoroughly.

She hung up the phone, suddenly feeling a bit wronged. She had expected Luan Nian to try to keep her, but not like this.

But when she calmed down again, she realized that although every sentence Luan Nian spoke was unpleasant, she had indeed lacked thought, and she had indeed been unwittingly drawn into high-level conflicts. Why exactly was Alex leaving? Why exactly wasn’t Luan Nian keeping him? What did it mean to focus only on immediate benefits without thinking about the future?

Shang Zhitao was stubborn. She began to rebel against Luan Nian’s strictness. The problems between them had always existed; she just hadn’t been willing to face them before, and now they had been triggered.

“Then I wish you good luck,” Luan Nian said to her.

“I’ll need it.”

Shang Zhitao tossed and turned in bed that night. When she attended the marketing department meeting the next day, she had dark circles under her eyes. She and Lumi sat in the corner, glancing at each other, not daring to make a sound.

But Luan Nian smiled and joked, “Such a heavy atmosphere—it makes me think the marketing department has been dissolved?”