Chapter 15

Chapter 15

One month later, the new company officially opened.

The name was Weilan.

Not to commemorate Xinglan.

But to remind me that no matter how fierce the storm, new waters will always surface.

On opening day, the weather was beautiful.

Chen Cheng burst into the office holding a bunch of sunflowers: “President Lin, President Gu sent an email. The Qingqiong Project has passed the re-bid review. We’ll sign the framework agreement tomorrow afternoon.”

I took the documents, read the last page, and signed my name.

Downstairs, the lobby had a new company sign.

The reception area, once Xinglan’s, was now redecorated to be simple and bright. The employees who stayed were busy moving materials, testing systems, and dealing with clients. No one mentioned Zhou Yan and Xu Nianchu anymore.

Not because they weren’t dramatic enough.

But because reality always moves forward.

Xu Nianchu’s case was still going through procedures. Her alternate account was deleted, and her social media feed paused on that photo in the white dress. Shen Yi was suspended by Qiming for investigation, and in an effort to regain cooperation, Qiming proactively compensated for some of the losses.

Zhou Yan left the city.

I heard he applied for a few jobs, but they all got stuck in background checks. I also heard he sold those expensive watches and started repaying the audit recovery claims.

He sent me one last message.

“If I had known back then how much you did for me, would the ending have been different?”

I didn’t reply.

Because the issue wasn’t whether he knew.

When you’re loved, the most important thing isn’t to tally what the other person has done, but not to trample on that love.

As evening fell, I stayed alone in the office.

The sunset fell on the glass windows, slicing the city into golden grids.

I took off the ring on my ring finger.

On the inside of the ring were engraved two letters, Z and W.

Zhou Yan, Jianwei.

I put it in the deepest part of the drawer, sealing it away with old contracts, old photos, and old project signs.

My phone rang.

President Gu sent a message: “President Lin, see you tomorrow.”

I replied: “See you tomorrow.”

Outside the window, the traffic lights came on.

I suddenly remembered something Zhou Yan had said.

He said I was just a hired hand, nothing but lucky.

Now, standing in my own building, listening to the new team’s keystrokes falling like rain, I finally felt that statement wasn’t entirely wrong.

I was indeed lucky.

Lucky that I didn’t wake up too late.

I once wanted love.

But I never planned to give up my career, my dignity, or the reins of my life.