Leaving

"I'm resigning."

The words left my mouth with cool precision, landing between us like a carefully placed chess piece.

Qin Zhen barely reacted.

Seated at his desk, his sharp, apathetic gaze flickered up to me, unreadable as ever. I should have expected this.

Still, his lack of reaction irritated me.

For years, I had been his most efficient secretary, the one person who kept his empire running smoothly. Well the original Han Li but that's beside the point.

And yet, now that I was leaving?

He had the audacity to act like it was nothing.

I kept my expression carefully composed.

I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me annoyed.

> "Do you have any disapprovals?" he asked, voice steady, detached.

Not a hint of hesitation.Not a single attempt to stop me.

I exhaled through my nose, giving him a polite, businesslike smile.

> "None," I replied evenly. "I have simply found a better option for my career abroad."

A lie.But a believable one.

One that required no explanation and one that left no room for him to argue. Qin Zhen nodded as if he had already moved on.

> "Understood."

That was it? Well that's great then.

> "HR will process your resignation," he continued, already dismissing me. "Before you leave, I'll need you to train your replacement."

Now why would I do that? 

> "That will be hard for me to do."

A faint crease appeared between his brows—the first sign of displeasure.

> "Your sudden departure leaves a gap."

> "It's quite unfortunate," I cut in smoothly. "My schedule is quite tight. I won't have time to properly train someone before I leave."

Another lie, one that he wouldn't bother questioning.I had always been responsible, efficient, thorough.If I was leaving like this, it meant I had good reason, thank you original Han Li for your spotless reputation.

Qin Zhen's expression remained impassive.

But I caught it.

The slight flicker of irritation. Well nothing he can do about it anyway.

> "I see," he finally said.

That was the end of it.

No arguments. 

-

Returning to my desk, I began gathering my things.

It didn't take long.

Despite spending years in this office, the original Han Li never left much of a footprint.

A few notebooks.

Some pens.

A couple of personal files.

Everything fit into a single box. What a side life you lived, the life of an extra.

As I walked out of the building for the last time, I didn't look back. Stepping outside, feeling the cool evening breeze against my skin, I allowed myself satisfaction of the nice cool scent of freedom.

*

"So when do you leave?"

Jiang Yuxi's voice was as calm and composed as ever.She sat across from me, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, looking as effortlessly beautiful as always.

She held her coffee with graceful ease, her expression smooth, unbothered.

I searched for something in her face.

A flicker of emotion.

A hint of reluctance.

Anything to tell me that my leaving mattered to her.

But Jiang Yuxi, in all her perfect composure, gave me nothing.

I exhaled slowly, offering her a lazy smile.

> "A week's time."

Nothing.

Not a single change in her expression.

Not a single sign of hesitation.

Ah.

Oh well.

I tilted my head, my voice dropping into a teasing lilt.

> "Want to play with me before I leave?"

Jiang Yuxi arched a perfectly shaped brow.

> "Play?"

> "No harm in enjoying ourselves before I disappear from your life, is there?"

She studied me, eyes dark and unreadable.

For a moment, I thought she might decline.Then—a small, almost imperceptible smile.

> "Fine."

And just like that, we spent a week together.

---

We didn't push any boundaries.

No bold confessions.

No over-the-top flirtations.

Just time.

Time spent together.

Walking through quiet bookstores.

Browsing through art museums.

Sitting in lounges, sipping expensive cocktails, watching the city move below us.

Sometimes we talked.

Other times, we simply existed in the same space.

And every moment, every glance, every subtle exchange—

I memorized it all.

Because I knew—this wouldn't happen again. Not for a really long while.

And that?

That was enough.

For now.

**

The airport was bustling, but all I could focus on was the woman standing before me.

Jiang Yuxi, composed as ever.

Cool.Elegant.Completely unaffected. Devastatingly beautiful. 

Honestly I'm stunned she came to bid her farewells.

> "Well," I said, stretching my arms above my head, forcing a smirk. "This is it."

She simply nodded.

> "Don't miss your flight."

No sadness.No hesitation.Not even a faint flicker of regret.

I chuckled, shaking my head.

> "Are you worried I'll change my mind?"

> "No."

Her voice was smooth, final.I clicked my tongue.

> "Cold as ever."

And then, before she could step back, before I could talk myself out of it—

I leaned in, pressing a quick, fleeting kiss to her cheek.

Soft. Brief.

Her breath hitched—just barely.

And then, before she could react, before I could see whatever unreadable expression she would put on—

I grabbed my suitcase and walked away.

Didn't look back.

---

Meanwhile, in the System Core…

Silence.

Then—

> SYSTEM 404: [CHECKING CONNECTION…]

SYSTEM 404: [ERROR: HOST SIGNAL LOST.]

SYSTEM 404: [ERROR. ERROR. ERROR.]

SYSTEM 404: [HOST HAS BLOCKED ALL SYSTEM ACCESS.]

SYSTEM 404: [WHY CAN'T I SEE WHAT SHE'S DOING?!]

SYSTEM 404: [WHERE DID SHE GO?!]

SYSTEM 404: [HOST?! HOST?!?]