Yan Feng was stunned. He looked at Han Lanmeng, then at Zang Ling, and said regretfully, “So… all of this was just a misunderstanding?”

“Han Lanmeng, why didn’t you say that the person you saw was Chairman Zang?”

“I didn’t know…” she answered dazedly.

“You didn’t know?!” Yan Feng was furious. She had no idea that her one sentence had completely ruined him!

He turned to face Zang Ling’s cold gaze, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, and said anxiously, “Chairman Zang…”

Zang Ling interrupted him. “I remember I warned you before. I said if you made another mistake, you would bear the consequences yourself.”

“Chairman Zang, this isn’t entirely my fault!” Yan Feng panicked and pointed at Han Lanmeng. “It’s all because this woman deceived me! She told me she was having an affair with Yan Wenshu, that’s why I believed her!”

Han Lanmeng lowered her head and said, “I’m sorry, Manager Yan. At that time, I just wanted to chat with Wenshu. I didn’t expect you to misunderstand my words like that, and I couldn’t refuse your kindness… This all started because of me. I apologize.”

Yan Feng slowly withdrew his finger, feeling a little guilty. She was being so understanding and reasonable, yet he had tried to shift the blame onto her. She must feel so hurt hearing this.

Looking at Zang Ling’s indifferent face, Yan Feng gritted his teeth and said, “Chairman Zang, Lanmeng is telling the truth. I thought she was being bullied, so I resorted to this stupid plan. I admit I was wrong.”

Suddenly, Yan Wenshu spoke up, “Han Lanmeng has a boyfriend, Yuan Haolang.”

As soon as those words fell, it stirred up a storm among the crowd.

Who was Yuan Haolang? Everyone present knew. The eldest young master of the Yuan family, who had claimed publicly that Zang Ling was his fiancée. Yet, for the two times he came to see her, one time he was carried out, the other time he was directly taken away.

This kind of man claimed openly that Chairman Zang was his woman, yet secretly had a real girlfriend.

Everyone’s gaze fell on Han Lanmeng, trying to see what was so special about her, but after scanning her from head to toe, there didn’t seem to be anything unique.

The key point was, she obviously had a boyfriend, yet when she talked about Yan Wenshu, her words were vague and ambiguous.

Han Lanmeng could feel the sharp, stabbing gazes behind her like needles on her back. She gave Yan Wenshu a resentful look. It would’ve been fine if he didn’t help her, but why did he have to expose her in front of everyone?

Wenshu — no, Yan Wenshu — was no longer the childhood friend who silently helped her with everything.

Zang Ling gave Han Lanmeng a meaningful look. She didn’t deal with her right away but instead said to Yan Feng, “This is your second mistake. Tianhai has no place for people with ulterior motives. Apologize to Yan Wenshu right now. Then pack up your things and leave this afternoon. We will pay you your due wages and compensation without delay.”

Yan Feng felt as if he had been struck by lightning. “Chairman Zang… I’ve been with Tianhai for so many years, and you’re firing me over this? I’ve already admitted my mistake! Why won’t you even give me a chance to correct it?”

“Secretary Yan! I was wrong! Please forgive me!” He turned to beg Yan Wenshu. “You’re President Zang’s boyfriend. She’ll definitely listen to you. Please, put in a good word for me. I really know I was wrong this time. Don’t let me get fired!”

Yan Wenshu lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t something I can decide.”

Yan Feng, eyes red with anger, glared at him. “What do you mean you can’t decide? You just don’t want to help me! Yan Wenshu, do you think you’re so great?! Without Zang Ling, you’re nothing!”

Xia Siyu couldn’t take it anymore. She stepped forward and reprimanded him sharply. “Xiao Yan was hired fair and square. That nonsense about getting in through the back door is completely baseless. The only reason you’ve been targeting him is because of your own petty jealousy, isn’t it? Even after everything, Xiao Yan never said a word about you. And now that you’ve made a mistake, instead of reflecting on yourself, you just keep blaming others? You should know, Xiao Yan has no obligation to help you!”

Chen Wenting poked her head out from behind Xia Siyu and echoed, “Yeah, exactly!”

Yan Feng looked around at everyone condemning him, his expression becoming numb. Yet, still clinging to a sliver of hope, he looked toward Han Lanmeng, only to see her looking back at him with an apologetic expression.

Yan Feng felt as if he had grasped a life-saving straw. Thank goodness, she was still on his side. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Alright, Chairman Zang, I can leave. But Lanmeng is innocent. She had nothing to do with this matter.”

Han Lanmeng was touched. “Manager Yan… Chairman Zang, could you let him off this time for Wenshu’s sake?”

The system couldn’t help but shake its head. [This Yan Feng must have lost his mind. He’s only known the female lead for less than a day and he’s already so protective of her. Didn’t he used to like Zang Ling? How fickle! And it’s not like the female lead actually has his best interests at heart.]

Yan Wenshu watched coldly from the side. This was the influence of a protagonist, easily changing someone’s mind without even trying.

But Zang Ling didn’t respond directly. Instead, she countered, “Then are you willing to accept the punishment on his behalf? I mean, resign in his place.”

“Would you?”

Han Lanmeng’s expression stiffened slightly. Seeing Yan Feng’s hopeful gaze, she cursed Zang Ling in her heart. The tables had turned, but she really didn’t want to leave this place. She hadn’t even reconciled with Yan Wenshu yet, how could she leave now like some pathetic loser?

“…If it means Manager Yan can stay, then I’m willing.”

Yan Feng looked at her, deeply moved. Lanmeng was nothing like that cold-hearted woman Zang Ling. She was so kind. How could he possibly let her bear the consequences for him?

He said, “There’s no need, Lanmeng. I understand your kindness. Chairman Zang, I’ll leave right now.”

With that, he turned firmly and went upstairs to pack his things and go through the resignation process.

Han Lanmeng finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then she suddenly heard Zang Ling say, “Miss Han, now let’s deal with your matter.”

“Chairman Zang, what do you mean by that?”

Zang Ling chuckled, “Even if you weren’t the mastermind, you still caused trouble for others. Shouldn’t you be held accountable too? Just now, Yan Feng already apologized to Yan Wenshu. What about you?”

Han Lanmeng replied reluctantly, “…I’m sorry.”

Yan Wenshu showed no reaction, refusing to say a word about forgiveness or pleading for leniency.

Han Lanmeng’s eyes dimmed. She just wanted to get back the big brother who once cherished her.

“Han Lanmeng, considering this is your first offense, I’ll give you another chance. Go back and write an 8,000-word reflection and hand it in. If it happens again, I’ll have no choice but to ask you to leave.”

After Zang Ling finished speaking calmly, she turned to the crowd of onlookers nearby. “What are you all still standing here for? Don’t you have work to do?”

Everyone immediately scattered.

Han Lanmeng stared at Zang Ling’s lofty and commanding presence, feeling unwilling. If she had a background like hers, why would she need to lower herself and beg anyone?

Forcing herself to swallow her anger, she said, “Thank you…”

“Miss Han, tell me, should I inform Yuan Haolang about what happened today?”

Seeing the shock on Han Lanmeng’s face, Zang Ling smiled lightly. “Relax, I have no interest in meddling in your affairs. I won’t tell him. As for whether he finds out later, that’s none of my business.”

“Alright, go back.”

Seeing the resentment in Han Lanmeng’s eyes, Yan Wenshu stepped in front of Zang Ling, blocking her line of sight, and said coldly, “Miss Han, it’s time for you to leave.”

Han Lanmeng looked at the cold and heartless man, feeling both love and hatred. Wasn’t the reason she was with Yuan Haolang because she wanted to secure a good life with Yan Wenshu once she had money? But now…

Yan Wenshu had suddenly turned against her and even hooked up with another woman. If he didn’t like her, why had he treated her so well in the first place!

——

“Yan Wenshu, I’m sorry.”

Back at the office, just as Yan Wenshu was about to walk to his desk, Zang Ling tugged on the hem of his shirt, speaking guiltily, “What happened this time was also my oversight. I let your reputation get damaged.”

Yan Wenshu turned to look at her and shook his head. “We’re both victims. No one saw this coming.”

“I’ve already deleted all the relevant chat records in the group and made an announcement. This kind of thing shouldn’t happen again.”

Zang Ling said seriously, “If it happens again, I’ll wash my hair while doing a handstand!”

Yan Wenshu replied, “Making bold statements like that might backfire.”

“Then I’ll deal with it if it does. But you’d better avoid Han Lanmeng. She seems to like you, yet she’s entangled with Yuan Haolang. It’s best to stay away from people like her.”

Yan Wenshu joked, “Then why don’t you just kick her out of Tianhai? She’s like a ticking time bomb.”

Leaning against the desk, Zang Ling looked at him seriously. “I know, but Tianhai has a rule — everyone who makes a mistake gets one chance to correct it.”

“Is that your rule too?”

Zang Ling thought for a moment. “Yes, but only if the mistake isn’t unforgivable. If it’s an irredeemable error… then there won’t be a second chance.”

“But I believe you won’t ever reach that point.”

Yan Wenshu was silent for a long time before replying, “Mm…”

Zang Ling didn’t notice his expression. Instead, something suddenly came to her mind, and she said happily, “Don’t leave after work today, wait for me.”

“I need to talk to you.”

Yan Wenshu replied softly, not even noticing that Zang Ling had already entered her office.

He sat quietly in his chair, staring at the data on his computer screen, his mind completely blank.

The system, noticing this, asked in confusion, [Host, what’s wrong?]

[Nothing.]

But you sure don’t look like nothing’s wrong. The system understood that he simply didn’t want to talk about it — a man’s thoughts were like buying a lottery ticket: impossible to guess.

Time flew by, and soon it was time to get off work.

Yan Wenshu waited outside the CEO’s office for Zang Ling. Not long after, Zang Ling came out, and he immediately walked up to her.

But Zang Ling held up a black cloth strip in front of him. “Yan Wenshu, could you please put this on first?”

Yan Wenshu froze, not understanding what she was up to.

“Hurry up,” she urged him playfully.

Yan Wenshu bent down, and Zang Ling quickly tied the black cloth over his eyes. Then she took his hand and said, her tone deliberately mysterious, “From now on, I’ll be your eyes. It’ll be quick, just bear with it for a bit.”

Yan Wenshu hated the darkness and wanted to tear off the cloth, but the woman beside him was patiently and enthusiastically guiding him every step of the way.

The way she spoke to him felt like coaxing a child.

Yan Wenshu pressed his lips together and endured it.

Ten minutes later, Yan Wenshu felt himself being led into a very quiet place. When Zang Ling pulled out a chair for him, he guessed inwardly that they were probably at a dining place.

He listened to Zang Ling’s footsteps walking back and forth, wondering curiously, what was she doing?

By now, Yan Wenshu had pretty much figured out Zang Ling’s intention. She must have prepared a surprise for him.

After a flurry of busy footsteps, Zang Ling finally sat down across from him. She carefully removed the black cloth from his face.

Yan Wenshu slowly opened his eyes, only to find complete darkness before him.

Before he could think further, Zang Ling happily said, “Yan Wenshu, happy birthday!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the sky suddenly lit up with a loud bang, and not long after, brilliant fireworks burst outside the window, illuminating Zang Ling’s bright and beautiful face and his own.

A cheerful birthday song began to play, accompanied by the woman’s gentle singing voice.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday…”

Yan Wenshu stared blankly at the birthday cake in front of him, with its candles burning brightly. It all felt like a dream.

So today… was his birthday.

So there was really someone who would remember his birthday.