Chapter 216 I Only Like You

"Hanghang..."

Qu Jianhang turned around: "I thought I made myself very clear. Yan Chengyu, you're pretty busy too, can't we just part ways amicably?"

"You think we can just break up like that? Did I agree to that? This is a matter between two people, not something you can decide on your own."

"Yan Chengyu, why are you acting like a normal man, clinging to me like this?"

"When it comes to relationships, I'm just an ordinary man. I'm not that great or that magnanimous."

Yan Chengyu grew angrier as he spoke, tugging at his shirt collar: "If you want to break up, you have to give me a plausible reason!"

"I don't like you anymore, is that enough?"

"Qu Jianhang!"

"What, is Secretary Yan so domineering that he's forcing people to like you?"

"You're clearly not..."

"How do you know it isn't?" Qu Jianhang said, "When you eat the same thing for too long, you want to change it up. When two people are together for a long time, they'll get tired of each other eventually."

"Qu Jianhang!"

"What, did I say something wrong?" Qu Jianhang said with a smile, "Secretary Yan, don't be so old-fashioned. Nowadays, there's no such thing as lifelong commitment in relationships. It's better to follow your heart."

“You’re doing this…” Yan Chengyu felt his heart sink: “Aren’t you afraid that Ruan Ruan will be disappointed?”

"I'm her mother. Do I need her permission to do what I want?"

Qu Jianhang went to push open the door.

Yan Chengyu grabbed her; "I'm asking you one last time, do you really want to break up? You really... like someone else?"

"I've asked you several times, and my answer is always the same."

Qu Jianhang removed his hand, opened the door, and got out of the car.

Yan Chengyu closed his eyes, a wave of bitterness washing over him like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf him.

The two met again at a forum conference.

It was a month later.

As a senior leader, Yan Chengyu went up to speak at the very beginning of the meeting.

He hadn't seen Qu Jianhang before he started speaking.

Once I got up there, I immediately spotted the woman.

I hadn't seen her for a month, and she seemed to have lost some weight, with an even more slender figure.

There was a man in his thirties next to her, who was leaning over to talk to her.

She also made a gesture of listening attentively, with a smile playing on her lips, looking quite happy.

Yan Chengyu suppressed the storm raging in his eyes and began, "First of all, welcome..."

As soon as he spoke, Qu Jianhang looked up at him.

But she quickly looked away, lowered her eyes and nodded, and started talking to the man beside her.

Who is that man?

What is his relationship with her?

Yan Chengyu's speech was shortened by one-third.

For meetings like this, he only needs to make a brief appearance.

A few minutes later, Secretary Wu quietly approached Qu Jianhang and said, "President Qu, our Party Secretary would like to see you."

Qu Jianhang didn't move: "Please tell Secretary Yan that I'm busy."

Secretary Wu looked troubled: "President Qu, please don't put me in a difficult position. The Party Secretary hasn't been feeling well lately, and he was hospitalized a few days ago..."

Qu Jianhang frowned.

Secretary Wu said, "Please come with me, I'm counting on you."

Qu Jianhang had no choice but to get up.

The man next to her also stood up.

Qu Jianhang said, "Go wait for me in the car."

"Call me if you need anything."

After the two left, Secretary Wu glanced back at the man one last time.

Tall, handsome, and most importantly, young.

Yan Chengyu was in the lounge, propping his head up with his hand, the scene from just now kept replaying in his mind.

What is the relationship between the man next to Qu Jianhang and her?

A knock came at the door, and Yan Chengyu got up and opened it himself.

"Secretary, General Manager Qu is here."

"Go ahead."

After Yan Chengyu finished speaking, his gaze fell on Qu Jianhang.

"Come in."

Qu Jianhang remained unmoved: "You can say whatever you want here. Secretary Yan, there's a difference between men and women, I need to avoid suspicion..."

Secretary Wu glanced at Yan Chengyu's face and obediently slipped away.

Yan Chengyu grabbed Qu Jianhang's wrist and pulled him inside. With a bang, the door slammed shut.

"Why are you being so rude?" Qu Jianhang rubbed his wrist. "Secretary Yan, your image of being gentle, refined, and loving the people is about to be ruined..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yan Chengyu pulled her into his arms.

Yan Chengyu held her tightly, saying nothing, greedily inhaling the fragrance from her hair.

Qu Jianhang was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening, remained silent for a few seconds, and then began to struggle.

"Yan Chengyu, what are you doing! Let me go!"

"Haven't seen you for a month, and you've grown quite the brat, haven't you? You've even learned to force people, haven't you?"

"who is he."

Qu Jianhang paused, "What?"

"Who is the man sitting next to you?"

Yan Chengyu's tone was thick with jealousy.

Qu Jianhang almost laughed: "We broke up, it's been a month. You can't hug me, and you have no right to ask who that person is!"

"I know I'm not qualified," Yan Chengyu's voice was filled with pain, "but Hanghang, you, you're not suitable!"

"How can we not be compatible? How do you know we're not compatible?"

"He's so young, people will gossip about you..."

Qu Jianhang remained silent.

Yan Chengyu released her, looked into her eyes, and said, "What does he have that I don't? Besides being younger, what else does he have that I don't? Tell me what I haven't done well enough, and I can change..."

Qu Jianhang shook his head.

Before she could even speak, Yan Chengyu was overwhelmed by jealousy.

"Is he the so-called 'young heartthrob' you're talking about? You like his youthful body? He can bring you novelty and excitement? But, Qu Jianhang, after the lust and excitement fade, what's left? Can he stay with you for a lifetime?"

Qu Jianhang looked at him; "I'm not with him."

Yan Chengyu was stunned.

Qu Jianhang added, "He's just a staff member working for me."

Yan Chengyu blinked.

Qu Jianhang pushed him away: "Secretary Yan, you're making wild guesses without any investigation or evidence. Don't you care about my reputation? Can I sue you for defamation?"

"I'm sorry, Hanghang, I'm so sorry, I...I...I was too angry..."

"Why are you angry? We've already broken up. Even if I were with him, what right do you have to be angry? Yan Chengyu, we need to move on, okay?"

"No, I can't look forward, Hanghang, please give me another chance. I just can't forget you. These past few days, besides work, I've spent all my time in the hospital. I want to go to you, but I'm afraid you'll say you don't want me anymore. I'm in so much pain, I don't know what to do..."

Before meeting him, Qu Jianhang had no idea that Yan Chengyu would turn out like this.

In her view, Yan Chengyu was a mature and powerful man.

He held a high position with great power and influence, and was always honest, upright, and dedicated to serving the people.

Qu Jianhang did not believe that this relationship between the two of them would become a burden or even cause him pain.

If someone can express their love verbally, then they can also let go of the past.

But who knew he would turn out like this?

"Is your stomach still bothering you?" Qu Jianhang frowned. "You can't ignore your illness and avoid seeing a doctor. Your health is the most important thing..."

She sighed as she said this.

People in this world find it easy to advise others.

When it happens to you, you become extremely conflicted.

She could persuade Yan Chengyu, but her health... she still didn't want to get it checked.

"Hanghang, you still care about me, doesn't that mean you still have feelings for me? I know I'm a dull and boring person, and I'm busy with work, so I don't have much time to spend with you, but Hanghang, I really can't live without you. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it..."

"Any way of doing it is fine?"

"Anything is fine! Just tell me!"

"What if I told you to resign?"

"Resign, resign?"

Can you do it?

Qu Jianhang actually said that on purpose.

Once Yan Chengyu reaches a position he can no longer simply resign from.

The people he was in charge of were far too many.

Yan Chengyu remained silent.

At his age, he considers himself still young, energetic, and eager to continue in this position, contributing his talents and energy.

He never considered retiring early.

Besides, what would he do after retirement?

Talking about love every day?

Is this what he wanted?

“I know you can’t do it,” Qu Jianhang said. “I was just saying it casually, just to let you know that I’m not that important to you.”

"Yes." Yan Chengyu looked at her. "Hanghang, it's unrealistic for me to resign immediately. Can you give me a year... no, half a year? By then, I'll arrange everything and say that I can't continue working due to health reasons and will step down to a secondary position. Is that okay?"

Qu Jianhang was greatly shocked: "What, what did you say?"

“After I step down from my frontline position, things will be much easier. I won’t have as much work, and I’ll have more time to spend with you. Hanghang, would you be willing to give me six months to handle these things?”

"What's wrong with you!" Qu Jianhang knew all too well the intricacies of connections in officialdom.

Yan Chengyu's current position means that any move he makes will have far-reaching consequences.

If his job changes, I wonder how many people will be affected.

The political power, interests, and relationships involved are far too complex.

She frowned: "I was just saying it casually, don't overthink it."

"I've reflected on this before, wondering if I haven't spent enough time with you, which is why you broke up with me. Hanghang, I may not be able to be a full-time stay-at-home dad, but if you want that..."

"I don't want to!" Qu Jianhang said fiercely, "Don't become a useless man, otherwise I won't even look at you! Just do your job, that's when you have a unique masculine charm, that's when I like you..."

"You like it?" Yan Chengyu was overjoyed: "You still like me?"

Qu Jianhang accidentally let slip the truth, and, embarrassed and angry, turned his face away: "I was talking about the past!"

"It's good that you liked me before." Yan Chengyu looked at her: "Hanghang, can you continue to like me? In the future..."

"Yan Chengyu! Do you have any dignity as a man? Why are you behaving so humbly!"

Yan Chengyu's eyes reddened: "Otherwise what? What am I supposed to do? I can't eat or sleep, do you think I want this? I also want to be carefree, I also want to turn around and leave gracefully, and even find a new woman soon after, leaving that past relationship behind..."

"Go find it!"

Qu Jianhang was immediately annoyed and turned to leave.

Yan Chengyu hugged her tightly: "If I could find someone else, why would I be here talking to you like this? There's no one else, and I can't find anyone else. It's just you, Qu Jianhang. I only like you."