Han Haoxuan stared at the words Ruolin had left on the note, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He was deeply moved by all the kindness Ruolin had shown him, and also felt somewhat remorseful for having lied to her.
But why did he lie? If he and Anxi were just old friends catching up, there wouldn't be anything wrong with him honestly telling Ruolin, right? Was he feeling guilty? Could it be that he couldn't even see his own heart clearly anymore?
Who is the person you love now? Is it Ruolin or Anxi's shadow? Han Haoxuan questioned himself.
In the morning, after leaving home, Ruolin took the bus to work.
The saying "It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality" is not without reason. She was used to taking Han Haoxuan's car to work every morning. Now, she felt a little uncomfortable taking the bus as before.
Fortunately, there were empty seats halfway through, so I didn't have to stand.
Perhaps because she hadn't slept well the night before, Ruolin fell asleep shortly after sitting down.
The brief dream accompanied this light sleep, and the recurring image in the dream was Han Haoxuan and that woman passionately kissing.
Finally, Ruolin woke up feeling breathless from being haunted by her dream.
Before I knew it, I had missed my stop.
Ruolin got off the bus and went to the other side of the road to catch a bus going in the opposite direction.
Unexpectedly, Ruolin ran into her colleague Fang Ling on this bus.
As the saying goes, enemies meet on a narrow road, and we happened to meet on the transfer bus, not a minute earlier or later.
Ruolin noticed that Fang Ling seemed a little embarrassed, since the interview program that used to be named after Fang Ling had now been renamed.
But Ruolin still greeted her with a smile: "Good morning."
Fang Ling didn't respond, but instead threw a question at Ruolin: "Why didn't Director Shen ride in Han Baima's car today, but instead condescended to take the bus?" Her tone was full of sarcasm.
Ruolin was already upset because Han Haoxuan had lied to her about being intimate with another woman. Now, when Fang Ling mentioned Han Baima, her anger surged to her chest. She desperately wanted to find an outlet for her frustration, but she told herself: Calm down, you must calm down!
She calmed her anger and tried to maintain a smile: "He has something to do today."
"Sigh, I really envy you! Finding a Prince Charming like Han Haoxuan is the ultimate dream for many women. However, it's wrong to climb over others to get ahead by using Han Haoxuan's power!"
"What's the meaning?"
"You know best what I mean, don't you, Director Shen?" Fang Ling said with a cold snort.
"I don't understand, could you explain it more clearly?"
"Are you forcing others into a corner, only to have them tear open their wounds for you to see? Is it meaningful to build your happiness on the suffering of others?" Fang Ling's face turned cold. "If it weren't for Han Haoxuan, you would at most be an unknown process editor, or you might even have been fired."
"Please don't make false accusations!" Ruolin was about to lose her temper, and her voice suddenly became much louder, causing everyone in the carriage to look in her direction.
"If you have any personal grudges, get off the bus and talk about them. Don't bother the other passengers," the ticket seller said, unable to stand it any longer.
Ruolin and Fangling glared at each other and fell silent.
They arrived at their stop soon. The two got off the train one after the other.
"Could you explain what you said in the car just now more clearly?" Ruolin pulled Fang Ling, who was walking briskly forward.
"Even now, you're still pretending to be stupid. I really don't know what to say to you. Do you even know what Han Haoxuan's father, Han Jianrong, does?" Fang Ling said impatiently.
"Isn't he a media mogul?"
"Knowing this solves everything. The father is the boss of the media industry, so the son naturally has some fame in the media industry and his words carry weight. He only needs to lift a finger to make it impossible for those of us who work in the media to make a living."
"No, he won't interfere with my work, especially since he works in e-commerce," Ruolin shook her head.
"Maybe only you know this." After saying that, Fang Ling ignored Ruolin and strode towards the company building.
After Ruolin clocked out at the company, she ran to the balcony to call Han Haoxuan. You can't blame her for being impatient; she was just too concerned about whether her current job was due to her own efforts or Han Haoxuan's encouragement.
"Ruolin, breakfast is delicious, thank you." These were the first words Han Haoxuan said after the call connected.
Ruolin hadn't heard Han Haoxuan say "thank you" in a long time, but now that he was saying it to her, his tone sounded somewhat distant. Was it because he still felt the same way about his ex after seeing her again, and that's why there was a distance between them?
"I knew I shouldn't have made breakfast for you. I don't want that damn 'thank you'!"
Ruolin's tone was a bit sharp, and Han Haoxuan could hear the displeasure in her words, so he said, "Are you still angry because I came home late last night? You left early this morning without saying a word, is that also why you're angry?"
"Yes." Ruolin didn't deny that her bad tone was related to his late return. "However, the main reason I called you was to ask you if my current position as the head of the editorial department is related to you. By the way, I don't want to hear too much of your explanation. You just need to answer yes or no."
"...No." Han Haoxuan was startled. Hadn't he told Fang Qiang not to tell anyone about this?
"Really not? My work has nothing to do with you, right?" Ruolin asked twice more, still not entirely convinced.
"Yes, I'm not interested in the media industry, you know that." Han Haoxuan would rather die than admit that he had helped Ruolin. Because helping her was just a small favor, so that Ruolin wouldn't have to work so hard, but if Ruolin knew that it was him who helped her, she might not appreciate it because of her strong sense of pride.
"That's good. Okay, that's all, I'm hanging up now."
"Ruolin!" Han Haoxuan called out before she hung up the phone.
"Okay, just say what it is, I have to go to work," Ruolin said impatiently.
"Is something on your mind that you're talking to me like this?"
"So what kind of tone do you want me to use when I talk to you? Do you want me to put my arms around your neck and whisper in your ear, 'My dear Haoxuan, my sweetheart, I can't live without you, I miss you so much'? Sorry, my life isn't just about love. I also have family, friends, and work." Ruolin said this because she was reminded of the scene she saw at the karaoke bar.
"You know perfectly well that's not what I meant!" Han Haoxuan said, sounding a little frustrated. "Besides, it's perfectly normal for men to come home late after socializing at night. Don't make a fuss about it, okay? I've almost never come home late for you now. When I was single, I came home very late almost every night..."
"Then I'll give you your freedom. You can continue your single life!" Before Han Haoxuan could finish speaking, Ruolin pressed the hang-up button forcefully.
That damn jerk! He does something wrong but doesn't know how to repent, and he's so stubborn he won't admit it!
As soon as the call ended, Han Haoxuan called back.
When Ruolin saw his name, she was instantly furious and immediately removed the phone battery: "You're still so arrogant after doing something wrong! Didn't you want to come home late? Didn't you want to get intimate with your ex-girlfriend? Fine! I won't bother with you anymore!"
Chapter Sixty-Five
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Han Haoxuan was not one to give up easily. When he couldn't get through to Ruolin's cell phone, he called Ruolin's office phone, only to be met with a busy signal.
Left with no other option, Han Haoxuan called Fang Qiang and asked him to transfer the call to Ruolin. However, Fang Qiang told him, "Ruolin said she wasn't feeling well and has already taken leave to go home and rest. What, didn't you come to pick her up?"
"What? You're not feeling well?" Han Haoxuan was also a little frustrated. Was it really necessary? Just because she came home late once, she was going to argue with him and avoid him. What was this all about?
"What? You didn't even know she wasn't feeling well? You're such a terrible boyfriend!" Fang Qiang scolded.
"I had a little disagreement with her on the phone just now. You're not teaming up with her to mess with me, are you? I really need to talk to her, so please let her answer the phone quickly." Han Haoxuan still couldn't believe that Ruolin, who was almost a workaholic, would use feeling unwell as an excuse to take a day off for such a small matter.
"Dude, do I need to lie to you? She really did take the day off, just now. I thought you were coming to pick her up!"
After hanging up the phone, Han Haoxuan collapsed onto the sofa like a deflated balloon.
Perhaps because he stayed up late and was too tired, Han Haoxuan fell asleep soon after.
He was awakened by the ringing of the doorbell.
He sat bolt upright, startled. Could it be Ruolin returning? But if it was Ruolin, she had her own key, so why didn't she open the door herself? Had she forgotten her key?
Han Haoxuan strode to the door and opened it expectantly—but standing in front of him was not Ruolin, but Anxi.
"You're home! I hope I didn't disturb you? I was just passing by and thought I'd drop by. Thank you for taking me home last night and listening to me ramble on and on." Actually, Anxi wasn't just passing by; she had come all the way to her and Han Haoxuan's former "love castle." However, ringing the doorbell was unintentional, as she hadn't expected anyone to be home during working hours.
"I need to get ready for work." Han Haoxuan made it clear that he didn't want Anxi to come into the house. In any case, this was where he and Ruolin were currently living, and he didn't want any other woman to step into this house, not even the former mistress of the house.
"Are you in such a hurry to leave? Even if you consider me a regular friend or a business partner, shouldn't you invite me in for a cup of coffee?"
“If we were just business partners, I would never tell him my home address, nor would I welcome him to visit. If you want coffee, I can take you to the best coffee shop in the city.”
Han Haoxuan turned An Qian away, and she seemed very unhappy, her face tense.
"Han Haoxuan, you've really changed. You're no longer the boy who centered his heart around An Qian." An Qian sighed and shook her head.
"Yes, I'm not a boy anymore, I'm a man. A man has to be responsible for his actions. The person I'm with now is Ruolin, and I can only be good to her. So, please get out of my sight as soon as possible. I don't want Ruolin to misunderstand me because of you." Han Haoxuan was clearly trying to get rid of him.
"Yes, no wonder you resent me so much and wish I would disappear from your sight. I brought this on myself and deserve it. If I hadn't accepted your mother's bribe, things wouldn't be like this today."
"Also, regarding that collaborative project, it's best to have someone else discuss it with me. Now, please leave. I'm about to go out," Han Haoxuan said coldly. He couldn't be as indecisive as he had been with Xinyu and Ruolin before; he needed to act decisively and cleanly.
"No! I don't want to leave you!" Anxi threw herself into Han Haoxuan's arms.
Han Haoxuan immediately pushed her away. He couldn't allow himself to repeat the foolish mistake he made last night. Although she was a woman he once deeply loved, he was now Ruolin's boyfriend. How could he accept Anxi's kiss? He must have been bewitched and lost his mind last night!
Even if he still had some love for Anxi, he shouldn't have acted like that! What a bastard! Han Haoxuan cursed himself inwardly.
Anxi gave a bitter smile: "You have such a cruel heart, you actually pushed me away from you."
"No matter how ruthless I am, I can't be as ruthless as you. It only took you a month to leave me, but it took me several years to convince myself to stop thinking about you." Han Haoxuan was telling the truth.
"I was forced to do that."
“Actually, you can completely refuse that money and not go abroad to study, so there’s no reason for you to feel wronged.” With that, Han Haoxuan pretended to close the door. “Please go back now. I’ll go inside to change my clothes and then I’ll leave.”
"Can't I really go in and take a look?" Anxi still couldn't believe that Han Haoxuan wouldn't let her "revisit the place."
“No.” Han Haoxuan said without hesitation.
“Alright, you go ahead with your work. I'll still handle the negotiations for our collaborative project, but don't worry, I won't bother you.” Anxi didn't press the matter further.
"Okay, we can discuss the project, but I won't do it myself. I'll send my account manager to talk to you."
"Han Haoxuan! You're ruthless!" Anxi said angrily, then walked away in her high heels without looking back.
Ruolin knew Han Haoxuan's personality; she knew he was a stubborn person who wouldn't give up until he achieved his goal. She also guessed that if she couldn't reach him by phone, he would call her workplace. So, she simply asked her editor-in-chief for leave and quickly escaped from the office.
Stepping out of the office building, she had no idea where to go.
He took his phone out of his pocket and put the battery back in.
She desperately wanted to confide in someone and pour out her troubles, but who should she talk to? She scrolled through her contacts and stopped when she reached Xinyu's name. But it didn't seem appropriate to confide in Xinyu about her troubles with Han Haoxuan, did it? After all, Xinyu and Han Haoxuan had once been lovers.
Ruolin skipped over the previous page and continued scrolling down. When she reached Mu Jingyan's page, she paused. An old classmate is more reliable, right? Besides, Mu Jingyan seems like someone who can keep secrets. Okay, he's the one!
Didn't he say in a text message last night that he was willing to be her emotional dumping ground? Then let's grant his wish this once.
When Mu Jingyan saw Ruolin at the "Welcome Pavilion" restaurant, he immediately noticed that her eyes were red and a little swollen. He asked worriedly, "Is something wrong, Ruolin?" He was busy at the company when he received Ruolin's call, but when Ruolin said she wanted to ask him a few questions in person and asked if he had time, he quickly said he did and put down his work to rush to the agreed location.
"You're here, Amu, please have a seat." Ruolin looked up and smiled at Mu Jingyan, but even when she pulled at the corners of her mouth, the smile felt so unnatural.
“You don’t seem to be in a good mood today,” Mu Jingyan said, staring at her.
Congratulations, you got it right!
Why are you in a bad mood?
"Answer me one question first," Ruolin said seriously.