Chapter 14: Leaving 01

Chapter 14

[Zhang Qi Guang: I can only professionally guarantee there are no traces of photoshopping in the photo, but the photo is quite blurred, looking like kissing, but there may be hidden circumstances!]

[Zhang Qi Guang: Actually, this blurry photo does not rule out the possibility of a misaligned kiss.]

[Zhang Qi Guang: Su Tao, are you okay?]

Xue Ge knew her emotional cleanliness obsession, afraid she would overthink it, so he kept making excuses to comfort her.

[Su Tao: Is there any evidence to prove this is a misaligned kiss?]

[Zhang Qi Guang: ...Why don't you ask Cu Jing properly?]

Su Tao smiled silently. If she could ask him, she would not have chosen to resign.

She had naively thought they could have a good breakup.

She had also thought that even if they broke up, they could still be friends.

[Zhang Qi Guang: Let's forget about this scumbag. Xue Ge will introduce someone ten thousand times better to you.]

[Zhang Qi Guang: I will definitely find someone who loves you wholeheartedly. Trust me.]

It was impossible now. She would not believe there was someone in this world who would love her wholeheartedly anymore.

There was simply no such thing as the pure feelings she wanted.

She would never believe in love again.

She didn't need it anymore either.

Su Tao's vision was blurred by tears. Big teardrops splashed on her phone screen, bursting into glistening splashes of water. She wiped and it got wet again.

She raised her phone and forcibly blinked away the tears, struggling to see the screen clearly.

[Su Tao: Xue Ge, do me a favor.]

[Su Tao: Help me arrange a car. I want to leave today. Also, can you help me arrange a fake identity?]

[Zhang Qi Guang: No problem for the car. I'll think of a way for the identity.]

[Zhang Qi Guang: Are you really determined to leave him?]

[Su Tao: Yes. He might look for me at first, but he'll get over it after some time. The identity just needs to hold up for a year.]

The car passed the bridge where they had first met.

That day, she had stood by the guardrail playing sad music on the violin her mother had given her, while he listened quietly beside her, his eyes full of her.

Perhaps, there was a moment when he had truly loved her.

Scenes from the past four years flashed by like fading old photographs, turning yellow, fading, until slowly disappearing.

-

The elevator dinged arriving on the top floor. Soon, a pink figure appeared in the president's office.

Everyone was puzzled at first. Su Tao hadn't worn pink for days. Why was she back in it?

Then looking closely, it wasn't Su Tao, but the former executive assistant, Qin Xuexi.

"Secretary Qin, why are you here?"

Everyone crowded around enthusiastically, regardless of past relations, with delighted expressions, warmly coming forward to chat.

"I'm here with President Wu for a meeting today."

Although Xie Jin hadn't let her attend the meeting.

But no one else knew that, because in the entire president's office, only Su Tao had attended the meeting.

"That's right. Secretary Qin is a big shot at Ruiqi now. You must see celebrities every day."

"To be honest, Ruiqi is better than headquarters, right? President Wu is much nicer to work with than our President Xie."

Everyone flattered Qin Xuexi, sincerely or not. No matter how good Ruiqi was, it couldn't compare with headquarters.

"It's alright. President Wu does have a better temper than President Xie, but they're about the same to me."

Her words were a bit haughty.

She meant that while President Xie had a bad temper, he had always treated her well.

Everyone smiled and secretly rolled their eyes.

As He XiaoRui was passionately scolding in the group, she didn't notice Jin Chuiwen peeking at her screen behind her.

He XiaoRui was parched from anger. She had just picked up her cup to drink some water when she saw the figure beside her, startling her into spewing water from her mouth.

Luckily she didn't spray Jin Chuiwen.

"D-Director."

He XiaoRui's mind was filled with "I'm done for". Not only was her group name exposed, she had been caught slacking off at work too.

Just as she was wondering how to apologize to mitigate her offenses, Jin Chuiwen pushed up his glasses and patted her shoulder, saying solemnly, "Well said, very enlightened, promising future."

He XiaoRui: "???"

Jin Chuiwen silently walked away, opened the group chat, and said something under his admin name "xxx".

Xxx: I bet on Su Tao, 1300 yuan.

After closing his phone, he lamented to himself that they were still too young.

-

Near the end of work, Xie Jin called Jin Chuiwen into his office and handed him a list.

Jin Chuiwen looked at the bold writing on the paper - fried dumplings, duck collarbones, sweet and sour, candied fruit...

"These are all...snacks?" Jin Chuiwen asked uncertainly.

Xie Jin put down his signing pen. His fingertips tapped the desk twice as he looked at Jin Chuiwen with oppressive eyes.

"Jin Chuiwen, have I been too lenient with you recently?"

Just like Su Tao, not learning well and actually questioning his order. "Do you need me to repeat it a second time?"

Jin Chuiwen didn't dare meet his boss's eyes. He hurriedly lowered his head and said, "Going to buy them now."

Xie Jin walked out of the office building proudly holding a pile of snacks. Colleagues looked at each other puzzled. The boss never ate these kinds of snacks before. They guessed wildly about who he was buying them for.

They seemed to recall Qin Xuexi eating these snacks before. Those who had bet on Qin Xuexi felt secretly confident.

The Maserati sped home. The aroma of the snacks in the car made Xie Jin frown slightly.

But thinking of Su Tao's delighted manner when eating snacks, he suddenly felt it was fine to let her eat some occasionally. At most he could force her to eat more nutritious food.

In early July, the days were long. The sunset's peach glow was already spreading while it was still light out.

The villa had no lights on. Su Tao wouldn't have turned on all the lights when home. She probably only turned on the bedroom or study lamp. Thinking this, Xie Jin entered the house.

Walking through the quiet living room, he went upstairs. The study door was open but there were no lights or people inside.

But Su Tao's laptop that was usually on the desk was missing.

She must have packed it when leaving, Xie Jin thought without care.

He glanced at the closed bedroom door, guessing Su Tao was probably sleeping inside.

He gently pushed open the door. The curtains weren't drawn. The bright outdoor light shone into the bedroom, illuminating the empty space.

No one was there.

"Little Taozi?"

He called out as he stepped inside, passing by the bathroom and walk-in closet. Toiletries were all there, not a single clothing item was missing. What had she packed when leaving?

She didn't even take her own things, let alone his.

Moreover, the suitcase was neatly in the closet. Had she packed at all?

He walked out of the bedroom and looked toward the other empty guest rooms. All were unoccupied. He looked up at the second floor and down at the first, then dialed Su Tao's number.

"The number you have dialed is switched off..."

Xie Jin's expression changed slightly. He went back downstairs about to check the yard when he suddenly noticed something on the coffee table.

Walking over, it was a white envelope. Inside was a phone card and post-it note.

The post-it simply said: I'm gone. Don't look for me.

Underneath was the word "Resignation Letter".

It also had his personally written "Approved" and signature on it.

The snacks in Xie Jin's hand abruptly slipped and fell to the floor, scattering into pieces.