Chapter 11 Qingyan's Personnel Arrangements: I Decide

Yan Yunye's Adam's apple bobbed, and his knuckles unconsciously curled up and then relaxed.

"Dad, I just feel that Su Ruan is still inexperienced and I'm worried it might affect the project..."

"Is it because you're afraid of affecting the project? Or are you blurring the lines between public and private matters to vent personal grievances?"

Yan Tingnan interrupted Yan Yunye, a hint of sarcasm playing on her lips.

Wen Wanwan's gaze was fixed on Yan Tingnan, and her heart skipped a beat.

This was the first time she had seen this "Buddha" of Beijing's elite circles up close.

With deep-set brow bones and a high nose bridge, he exudes a restrained yet alluring tension despite being dressed in a suit and tie.

She always knew Yan Tingnan was young, but she never expected him to be so handsome.

"President Yan, it was my oversight."

A hint of annoyance flashed in Yan Yunye's eyes, but he forcefully suppressed his anger.

He knew his adoptive father's temper all too well; the more he argued with him, the worse the outcome would be.

"But my relationship with Su Ruan is rather complicated, and we are indeed not suitable to work together."

"oh?"

Yan Tingnan raised an eyebrow.

What's your relationship?

Yan Yunye choked.

His relationship with Su Ruan...

What does that count for?

Ex? But they never officially broke up.

Lover? But he never admitted it.

"We have absolutely no relationship."

Su Ruan chuckled and answered for him.

She looked up at Yan Tingnan, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling.

"President Yan, I am now an employee of Qingyan and I am only responsible to you."

This statement has a double meaning.

Yan Tingnan's eyes darkened slightly, and the corners of his lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

"Did you hear that?"

He looked at Yan Yunye.

"Don't cross the line unless absolutely necessary."

"I have the final say in Qingyan's personnel decisions."

Wen Wanwan felt a pang of anxiety from the silent smoke of battle.

She steadied herself and put on a gentle and graceful smile again.

She took a small step forward, her voice soft and gentle.

"President Yan is right, company rules and regulations are the most important thing."

"Yunye is also worried that Ruanruan is under too much pressure since she just started working..."

"Who are you?" Yan Tingnan raised an eyebrow and interrupted her.

Yan Yunye frowned: "Mr. Yan, this is my friend."

"I didn't ask you."

Yan Tingnan lifted his eyelids to look at Wen Wanwan, the oppressive aura of a superior making her gasp for breath.

"Qingyan employee?"

Wen Wanwan's smile froze, her ears burning red under his gaze, and her voice softened.

"I am Wen Wanwan from the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University. I'm here to deliver some materials to Yunye."

Yan Tingnan glanced at the documents in her hand.

"Those are just random people."

Yan Tingnan turned to the side and instructed, "Jinghuai, see the guest out."

The color drained from Wen Wanwan's face instantly.

She had always been the center of attention and the darling of everyone since childhood, and this was the first time she had been publicly told to leave.

Still in front of Su Ruan!

Yan Yunye felt sorry for Wen Wanwan when he saw her embarrassed.

"President Yan, Wanwan is someone I invited to help out."

Yan Tingnan lifted her eyelids, her gaze fixed on Yan Yunye's forced composure.

"You're in charge of projects where outsiders handle core data?"

"Are you worried that trade secrets aren't being leaked fast enough?"

"I……"

Yan Yunye choked up.

His adoptive father's tone was more hurtful than if he had been scolded ten times.

He opened his mouth, but the words "Wanwan is not an outsider" stuck in his throat, and he didn't dare to utter them.

"President Yan..."

Yan Yunye's voice was hoarse as he tried to regain some ground.

"I will personally review the project data and will not allow outsiders to interfere."

Su Ruan lowered her eyes, but the corners of her mouth, which were turned up wildly, were harder to suppress than an AK.

Should.

Let those two pretend to be respectable people every day.

This old man has a really witty and sharp tongue.

Jing Huai stepped forward silently, extending his palm towards the elevator with a respectful posture.

"Miss Wen, please."

Wen Wanwan's fingernails dug into her flesh as she managed to squeeze out a sentence.

"Sorry to bother you."

Then, she turned and walked towards the elevator.

Yan Tingnan withdrew her gaze and looked at Yan Yunye again.

"Yunye."

Yan Yunye's back stiffened: "President Yan."

"This will not be repeated."

Four words, light and airy, yet they weighed heavily on Yan Yunye, making it hard for him to breathe.

Then, Yan Tingnan turned around and prepared to leave.

He paused as he brushed past Su Ruan.

"come over."

Yan Tingnan didn't look at her, and walked straight to the private elevator at the end of the corridor, swiping the sensor to activate it.

Su Ruan followed her in like a little tail.

The cabin was spacious, filled with a cool, woody scent, yet the sense of oppression was even greater than outside.

The elevator is going down.

She stood properly to the side and behind, but couldn't suppress the upward curve of her lips.

That face-slapping scene just now was truly spectacular.

"Are you happy?"

Yan Tingnan casually fiddled with the newly restored sandalwood beads, her voice low, breaking the silence as the elevator descended.

Su Ruan tilted her head, her almond-shaped eyes curving into small crescents, brimming with innocent light.

"Shouldn't I be happy that my boss stood up for me?"

"support?"

He scoffed, his profile hard and cold.

Remembering how confident she seemed just now, does she need someone to back her up?

"I just find them too noisy."

"Does the boss think I'm too noisy?"

Su Ruan's lips curved slightly, her tone soft and alluring.

The question was bold and ambiguous, yet her almond-shaped eyes were clear and open.

Like a feather brushing against the tip of the heart, it probes that unseen boundary.

Yan Tingnan did not answer immediately, and paused in the action of grinding the sandalwood beads with his fingertips.

Her calling her "boss" that night was even more alluring than the other night.

"It's quite noisy now."

He looked down at Su Ruan, his voice flat.

This "noise" clearly doesn't refer to sound.

Su Ruan's gaze fell on the perfectly intact string of beads in his hand, and she suddenly remembered that one of the sandalwood beads was missing.

"President Yan."

She suddenly spoke, her voice much more serious than before.

“I was drunk that night and offended you. I also accidentally broke your prayer beads. I’m very sorry.”

As she spoke, she looked down and took a small velvet box out of her bag.

The lid popped open, revealing a sandalwood bead inside.

"This item has been returned to its rightful owner."

She reached out and handed it to him; the Buddhist prayer beads hung between them like a small bait.

Yan Tingnan didn't answer, his gaze fixed intently on her.

She was polite and distant, completely distancing herself from the absurdity of that night.

"A single bead cannot stir up any waves."

His tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

Why did you keep the broken bead on purpose, and now you're trying to distance yourself from it?

"Keep it to play with."

Su Ruan looked up to meet his downcast gaze and moved the box forward another half inch.

"I wouldn't dare."

"I was afraid of interfering with the boss's spiritual practice; it would be very unlucky if the prayer beads broke."

Yan Tingnan suddenly chuckled and took the box.

"It is quite unlucky."

He added meaningfully, "After all, breaking it off brought in a little scratchy creature."

Yan Tingnan withdrew her gaze.

"Come with me somewhere tonight."

This is not an inquiry, it is a notification.

Su Ruan gave a business-like smile: "What a coincidence, President Yan."

"I have plans for tonight."

Yan Tingnan raised an eyebrow when he saw how decisively she refused.

"It's been pushed."

Su Ruan shook her head, her voice clear and respectful.

"My friend is already waiting."

"Let's do it another day. My boss invited me, and I'll definitely be number one."

At that moment, the elevator arrived at the underground parking garage with a crisp "ding".

The door opened, and a cool breeze rushed in.

Yan Tingnan's gaze behind his glasses darkened.

Back when she was pursuing Yan Yunye, she would bring him breakfast rain or shine.

Now that he's personally inviting me, I can't even get a spot?

No one has ever dared to leave him hanging like this.

"what ever."

He withdrew his gaze, took the lead and stepped out, his back straight and his steps steady.

Su Ruan followed half a step behind him, maintaining a proper distance.

As he walked toward the black Phantom, the driver had already respectfully opened the back door.

"President Yan, please take care." She nodded slightly, her voice sweet and polite.

Yan Tingnan didn't stop walking. He bent down and got into the car without looking at her again.

The car door closed, and Yan Tingnan looked through the car window at the figure who turned around nimbly.

The lone Buddhist prayer bead in his palm was rubbed until it became hot.

A hint of hunting interest flashed deep in his eyes.

Little liar, your skill at feigning innocence is unparalleled.

The apology and return of the sandalwood bead were a pretense; the real purpose was to use this little trinket to tickle his heart.