Chapter 95 From Director to... Lover? Yan Ruozhe's New Phase
Chapter 95 From Director to... Lover? Yan Ruozhe's New Phase
The divorce of Yan Ruomin and Qian Shaowen sent ripples through the city's social scene. The reasons behind their split were hotly debated. Some whispered that Qian Shaowen, his health recovered, had simply tired of his "humble wife." Others gave credence to the rumors of Yan Ruomin's lesbianism, pointing to the recent scandal involving her alleged relationship with Li Xin, fueled by frequent paparazzi photos of the two women. A third theory suggested family pressure was the breaking point. The Qian family had, for the most part, never accepted Yan Ruomin into their fold. As Yan Ruomin's influence grew, the power struggles between her and the Qian family intensified, ultimately leading to her resignation from the company's board of directors. Regardless of the specific cause, the outcome was clear: Yan Ruomin and Qian Shaowen were officially divorced. Their Cinderella-and-prince story had reached its end, shattering the aspirations of many women hoping to climb the social ladder.
In the immediate aftermath of the divorce, other members of the Qian family tried to force Yan Ruomin out of the company entirely. Although Qian Shaowen reportedly attempted to resist this pressure and keep her on, Yan Ruomin felt her position had become untenable and that she no longer belonged. She proactively submitted her resignation to the board. Yan Ruomin understood the adage that "when the tea cools, the guests leave" once someone loses power, they are quickly forgotten. As she exited the Qian family building, she glanced back at the towering structure, a complex mix of emotions swirling within her. Her rigorous reforms had transformed a once-disorganized family business into a well-oiled machine. Though it was no longer her responsibility, a sense of reluctance lingered.
"Director Yan, what are your plans for the future? If you join another company, please take me with you," said Zhao Shouhong, the HR manager Yan Ruomin had personally promoted. Zhao felt her own time at the Qian family business was likely limited. In a family-run enterprise like this, the HR manager position was highly coveted, and Yan Ruomin's promotion of her had already caused friction with other family members. With Yan Ruomin gone, Zhao feared a return to the company's old, chaotic ways, where family interests would overshadow everything, dimming its future prospects.
"I don't have any immediate plans. I think I'll take a long vacation first and finally use up some of that time off I never took. Shaowen has always supported the reforms I implemented at Qian. Even though I'm leaving, I believe the company will continue to operate under the current system and model, so you don't need to worry too much," Yan Ruomin reassured Zhao Shouhong.
"Director Yan, I'm really going to miss you," Zhao said. Although Yan Ruomin had always been a somewhat reserved and demanding boss, Zhao had always admired her strength and determination, seeing her as a role model.
"Thank you," Yan Ruomin replied with a faint smile. She had always maintained a stern and somewhat distant demeanor, and few of her subordinates had grown particularly attached to her. The fact that someone was expressing reluctance to see her leave suggested she hadn't been a completely ineffective leader.
"Director Yan, can I call you Ruomin from now on? I've always thought your name was very beautiful," Zhao Shouhong suddenly asked, a hint of shyness in her voice. When Yan Ruomin had been her boss, such a request would have been unthinkable. But now, seeing Yan Ruomin's gentle smile, she sensed a warmth beneath the former director's professional exterior. Zhao recognized an undeniable fondness she held for Yan Ruomin.
"Sure," Yan Ruomin nodded. Now that their professional relationship had ended, it was natural for Zhao to use her first name. Yan Ruomin didn't have a wide circle of friends and wasn't one to turn away a friendly gesture.
From her sports car, Li Xin watched this scene unfold, a pang of jealousy hitting her. Highly attuned to potential rivals, the sight of the office lady's sudden shyness and bashfulness triggered an immediate alarm. She leaned on the car horn repeatedly, a sharp reminder to Yan Ruomin that it was time to get in the car and stop lingering with that "white-collar vixen."
The insistent honking caused Yan Ruomin to frown slightly.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now," Yan Ruomin said to Zhao Shouhong before heading towards Li Xin's sports car.
Zhao Shouhong had good eyesight. Through the car window, she could clearly see Li Xin the woman at the center of the recent scandal involving Yan Ruomin. Could the rumors be true? Did Yan Ruomin really prefer women? The thought sent a thrill of excitement through Zhao, quickly followed by a wave of disappointment as she took in Li Xin's stunning beauty. The woman was breathtaking, her looks so striking they could easily inspire envy in other women.
"Who was that?" Li Xin asked as soon as Yan Ruomin settled into the car, her voice betraying an eagerness to gather intel on this potential rival.
"The HR manager at Qian," Yan Ruomin replied. She felt a slight warmth towards Zhao Shouhong for seeing her off as she left the company, though it was nothing more than the affection a superior might feel for a loyal subordinate.
"Just another one of your office ladies, huh? She's... passable," Li Xin said, grudgingly offering a lukewarm assessment of her perceived competition. In truth, Zhao Shouhong was a woman of moderate attractiveness, her style enhancing her natural looks. But as a potential rival, Li Xin refused to offer any higher praise.
Yan Ruomin was generally oblivious to most women's appearances, unless they possessed an exceptionally striking or unique quality. She had encountered a few such women Qin Wanshu, Li Xin, Shi Yunyang, and Zuo Qinghuan all of whom were unforgettable. Li Xin, on the other hand, meticulously observed every woman's appearance, from their overall look to the smallest details of their clothing. She could effortlessly notice and critique these aspects. It was clear to Yan Ruomin that Li Xin, with her natural attraction to women, possessed a keen eye for such details.
"Oh," Yan Ruomin responded, her lack of interest evident.
"She seemed quite taken with you," Li Xin observed, recognizing the look in Zhao Shouhong's eyes. It mirrored the same kind of admiration she herself had once felt for Yan Ruomin.
"Don't be ridiculous. Not everyone is like you," Yan Ruomin retorted, believing Li Xin's worldview was somewhat skewed – she seemed to think it was commonplace for women to be with women and projected that onto others.
"A woman's intuition about another woman is always accurate," Li Xin declared, firmly standing by her judgment.
Seeing Yan Ruomin's apparent obliviousness, Li Xin felt a sense of relief. More importantly, Yan Ruomin seemed to be in low spirits after leaving the company.
"Feeling down?" Li Xin asked. Yan Ruomin had left the Qian family with nothing, even though it had been her own decision. Li Xin still felt it was unfair, but perhaps it was for the best. This way, Yan Ruomin wouldn't owe Qian Shaowen anything and could leave with a clear conscience. Still, the Qian family business had been a significant part of Yan Ruomin's life, and a sense of loss was understandable.
"I'm fine," Yan Ruomin replied. Her reluctance wasn't about letting go of her achievements at Qian, but rather that work had always been the central pillar of her life. Suddenly losing that focus left her feeling somewhat adrift. She trusted she would adjust with time.
"With your credentials, you could easily land a general manager position at any other company," Li Xin offered, trying to provide some comfort.
"I want to take a long vacation. I promised you I'd try to be a good mistress," Yan Ruomin said, stating her immediate goal. Accustomed to setting measurable short-term objectives for her subordinates, she applied the same discipline to herself.
"I look forward to you being a good lover," Li Xin replied with a smile. Even if she was currently just a "task" for Yan Ruomin, the fact that Yan Ruomin was focusing her attention on her made Li Xin happy.
A lover? That sounded like a significantly higher bar than a mistress. Yan Ruomin felt that Li Xin was raising the stakes, making it seem even more daunting than an annual sales target at a company. She wasn't particularly optimistic about her chances of success.
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 30 advanced chapters available on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/GirlsLove1