Volume One, Chapter 53: Senior, Have I Not Made Myself Clear Enough?

"You... resigned?"

During lunch break in the coffee area of the auxiliary building of Lou Corporation, Sang Wan stared at Yang Yan in surprise. "You worked so hard to reach this position. Why resign now?"

Lu Jinnian was never a tyrant. He recognized Yang Yan's abilities; they were evident to anyone, and surely clear to him as well. With Yang Yan’s skills, he was more than qualified for a vice president role within Lu Group, or even as a general manager in any subsidiary.

"How could you resign? Did something happen at home?" Sang Wan looked at him with concern.

Yang Yan grew increasingly certain his resignation was the right choice. As a subordinate, he couldn't question Lu Jinnian's decisions. But as a man, he felt ashamed of Lu Jinnian's actions. Not to mention Lin Chaochao, who had always disliked him, making things difficult for him over the past half year. Rather than wait for Lin Chaochao to gain power and openly trip him up, it was better to leave early. The capital was vast; surely, he could find a place for himself. Worst case, he could return to his hometown.

"No," Yang Yan thanked Sang Wan. "I just want a change of environment."

"Probably for the best..." Sang Wan smiled. "With your ability, you'll have no trouble wherever you go."

Inside the nearby French restaurant, Lou Ye absent-mindedly prodded the salad on his plate, his gaze drifting toward the coffee area where Sang Wan was smiling gently. The man sitting across from her wore a suit; from the back, Lou Ye couldn’t tell who it was. But judging by Sang Wan's demeanor, it seemed they were old friends.

He thought: to meet someone in the employee lounge of Lou Corporation, the visitor must be aboveboard. Yet he couldn't help but wonder about the man's purpose.

Just yesterday, Sang Wan got divorced. Today, someone couldn't wait, chasing her to Lou Corporation before the workday even ended?

Ding!

Lou Ye tossed aside his fork and strode out of the restaurant.

The barista behind the counter, spotting Lou Ye from afar, quickly brewed coffee. Lou Ye accepted the cup, turned, and paused in surprise.

"Senior, what a coincidence," he said.

Sang Wan also felt it was quite the coincidence. But then she remembered this was Lou Corporation, Lou Ye’s domain. It seemed... only natural?

In the span of a thought, Lou Ye had already walked over and sat down.

Sang Wan introduced at the right moment, "Yang Yan, this is—"

"Hello, President Lou!" Yang Yan stood up and bowed respectfully. "I'm Yang Yan, formerly Miss Sang’s subordinate."

Former. Subordinate.

Lou Ye nodded. "You’ve left Lu Group?"

Yang Yan responded.

Lou Ye continued, "What was your area of responsibility at Lu Group? Why did you quit?"

Yang Yan couldn't help glancing at Sang Wan.

His rational mind told him it was all coincidence—just happened to meet Lou Ye here. But his intuition suggested it wasn’t so simple. If you were the boss, would you so casually greet a subordinate’s guest during lunch, even if the subordinate was your senior?

He firmly shook his head internally.

Yang Yan sat upright, his attitude correct. "I was executive assistant to President Lu, responsible for overseeing the entire secretarial department, coordinating daily affairs across divisions, and managing President Lu’s schedule."

Lou Ye raised an eyebrow. "Did you make a mistake?"

That position was not for just anyone. Professional competence was essential, but so was deep trust from the president. Such people rarely entered the open market. Even the top headhunters might not be able to poach someone like Yang Yan—unless he’d committed an unforgivable error or crossed Lu Jinnian’s bottom line and been fired.

"I resigned on my own initiative," Yang Yan replied truthfully. "President Lu approved it."

Resigned, then immediately met with Sang Wan. It was either personal, or a display of loyalty. The former must be nipped in the bud. If it was the latter...

"Lou Corporation is in great need of talents like Mr. Yang. Interested in a conversation?" Lou Ye extended an olive branch.

Yang Yan was stunned.

Sang Wan was stunned as well.

A few minutes later, Rong Jing hurried over and led Yang Yan to a nearby table for a detailed discussion.

"Lou Ye..." Sang Wan’s mood was complicated. "You’re making me feel as though you’re deliberately targeting Lu Jinnian."

Lou Ye laughed. "Senior, wasn’t I obvious enough?"

Sang Wan was taken aback.

Lou Ye curled his lips. "A traitor deserves condemnation! I’m simply doing what any reasonable person would, and just happen to have the means to do it."

Sang Wan: ...

Half an hour later, Yang Yan stepped out of Lou Corporation’s building, gazing at the bright sunlight overhead, feeling as though he were still dreaming.

Just two hours ago, he’d resigned from Lu Group, his future uncertain. In the blink of an eye, he’d received an offer from Lou Corporation and was about to become an employee there.

Rong Jing had affirmed his work abilities, offering him two paths.

One: join the president’s office at Lou Corporation, starting as a mid-level administrative secretary. The promotion path was clear—Rong Jing’s present would be his future. Likewise, Rong Jing's future could be his future too.

Or, in Si City, Rong City, Lin City... He could choose a preferred city among Lou Corporation’s subsidiaries, beginning as a deputy general manager. The promotion route was equally clear—rise from deputy to general manager, excel, then transfer to headquarters as a deputy general manager there.

In short, both paths likely led to the same ultimate goal.

Rong Jing said, "You have three days to consider."

Yang Yan needed only three seconds.

Sang Wan had chosen Lu Jinnian, recommended Yang Yan to him, transforming his miserable life as a design assistant into that of the executive assistant to the president, second only to one in Lu Group.

Now Sang Wan had chosen Lou Corporation.

So he would choose Lou Corporation too.

He trusted his own ability.

He trusted Sang Wan’s judgment even more.

"Miss Sang..." He called her, voice invigorated, free from the gloom of morning. "Starting tomorrow, we’ll be colleagues. Please look after me in our future work!"

Sang Wan: !!!

"Sang Wan..."

A voice called from the doorway.

Sang Wan turned to see Lin Qiyue calling out, "Tomorrow, you’ll go with me to the municipal bidding conference!"

"Alright!" Sang Wan replied.

For this project, their department had been working diligently for months. Though she was only there to observe, with no influence over the outcome, Sang Wan felt that both the scale of Lou Corporation and her colleagues’ dedication to the project spoke volumes.

Lou Corporation was determined to win this piece of land.

Thus, the outcome for other companies eyeing the same property was obvious.

For example, Lu Group.

Sang Wan opened her stock trading account.

Not much money, just over half a million. It was scraped together from the household allowance Lu Jinnian had given her, a few thousand at a time, invested on her own over the years. Whenever the market was low, she bought a little, guided by one thought: hardship was temporary, she would endure, and together with Lu Jinnian, build Lu Group into something great.

She hadn’t expected to end up here.

Luckily, though Lu Jinnian had failed her, the Lu Group stocks she bought had treated her well. Over the years, they’d increased nearly tenfold.

Although the market had closed for the day and trading now was meaningless, after tomorrow, no one could predict the trajectory of Lu Group’s stocks.

But for her, after the divorce, everything between her and Lu Jinnian, and with Lu Group, was over.

Sang Wan clicked the mouse, selling them all.