Chapter 41 – Logging Off
“Lin Yan, here — the tissues.” Gu Han handed them over.
Lin Yan didn’t take them. He merely turned his wrist and pulled a sheet himself, completely ignoring the person across from him.
That left Gu Han’s hand suspended awkwardly in midair over the table, with nowhere to go, before he slowly withdrew it.
Gu Han froze for a moment. He had known long ago that Lin Yan’s attitude toward him wouldn’t be good, but experiencing it so directly still hurt — his heart sank halfway.
His lowered hand rested lightly on his thigh, his palm covering his knee. He gave the old injury there a gentle squeeze. The wound had long healed and no longer hurt.
Yet at this moment, that familiar sensation surged back, tangling his thoughts into a tight knot he couldn’t unravel.
These past few days, he had been approaching Lin Yan just like before, but Lin Yan seemed to have stopped responding to him completely, no longer playing along. Still, he believed that with enough time, things would get better.
The knot in Lin Yan’s heart would eventually loosen.
Dim light gradually enveloped the city. The restaurant was packed with diners, time slipping by so quickly that in the blink of an eye, the city had fallen into darkness.
The aroma of food from the neighboring table drifted through the air. Waves of customers came and went, and the waiter wiped down tables at a brisk pace. Lin Yan bounced his leg anxiously, glanced at his phone, and realized it was about time to return to the company.
The phone in his pocket kept vibrating. Zhao Ming glanced at it but didn’t answer.
The group had planned to leave after eating, but Zhao Ming stopped them.
“No rush — sit a bit longer.”
He enjoyed being flattered. As long as the main figure remained seated, no one else dared make the first move.
But Lin Yan remembered what President Lu had reminded him earlier that day — the software was going live tonight, and he had to monitor it closely. There couldn’t be a single mistake. The time was nearly up, yet Zhao Ming showed no sign of leaving.
Finally, Lin Yan couldn’t sit still anymore.
“Director Zhao, it’s about time. We really should go.”
Although the restaurant wasn’t far from the company, it was still better to arrive early.
The group stood up to leave. Zhao Ming glanced at his phone, lowered his gaze, slipped it back into his pocket, and said nothing.
Lin Yan didn’t walk very fast. After crossing one traffic light, they would reach the company. Staring at the intersection ahead, his thoughts drifted back to the day he found Meiqiu. After Meiqiu entered his life, everything had changed.
Not only had work gone smoothly, even President Lu had acknowledged his ability.
That meant a great deal to him. Ever since entering this field — even back in school — he had suffered constant setbacks.
Sometimes he truly wondered if he was cut out for this profession at all, barely hanging on with his last bit of motivation, staying only because the pay here was decent.
Otherwise, none of them would have fought so hard to stay. They complained about being tired, yes, but no one ever seriously talked about leaving.
And recently, with President Lu increasing their bonuses, there had been far fewer complaints.
Thinking of President Lu, Lin Yan lowered his gaze to the bandage on his palm. One corner had peeled up. He gently smoothed it flat, warmth rising in his chest — as if President Lu’s temperature still lingered on his skin.
It made one’s thoughts wander.
Gu Han took a few quick steps to catch up. “Xiao Yan, wait for me.”
Hearing that detestable voice, Lin Yan quickened his pace. From the bottom of his heart, he truly didn’t want to see this person again.
He had already reminded him before. Why wouldn’t he listen? They were colleagues, after all. Lin Yan didn’t want things to become too ugly. He always told himself that the past was the past — he didn’t want to keep dwelling on it.
But why did this person keep appearing before him, constantly reminding him of everything he regretted?
How was he supposed to move on like this?
In the end, all he could say was “forget it,” even though he knew deep down he couldn’t forget at all.
“Can you stop coming near me?” Lin Yan halted.
“But we used to—”
“You said it yourself. That was before.” Lin Yan’s voice was cold. The smile that had lingered on his face moments earlier had completely vanished.
Gu Han pretended not to understand and stepped even closer. “It’s the same now.”
Lin Yan let out a sigh. This time his tone was no longer as sharp, but filled with resignation. “For the past few years, you haven’t interfered with my life. I hope you’ll continue that way.”
After saying that, Lin Yan walked off without looking back.
“But I can’t let go…” Gu Han murmured behind him.
Several pairs of eyes had gathered behind them. Anyone could tell that Lin Yan’s attitude toward Gu Han was extremely hostile.
“What do you think happened between Brother Yan and that guy?” Chen Xin asked curiously. “I’ve never seen Brother Yan dislike someone this much.”
Yang Yang shrugged, indicating he had no idea.
“Ahem.” Wang Hao cleared his throat, shot a sideways glance, and said solemnly, “If he did that kind of thing to me too, I’d probably hate him even more than Brother Yan does.”
“What kind of thing?”
The two leaned in, eager for gossip.
…
Half an hour earlier, Lu Ming had received a report that the software they were about to launch was suspected of plagiarism. He immediately halted the release and had the PR team handle the situation.
That minimized the company’s losses as much as possible — and, more importantly, exposed the real culprit.
Lu Heng had anticipated this long ago. The moment Zhao Ming crossed Lin Yan’s name off the list, Lu Heng had known this day would come.
He had people monitor Zhao Ming and discovered that 500,000 yuan had suddenly appeared in his account, only to be transferred out moments later. Sensing something wrong, he had He Lingchen keep watch.
Ten minutes ago, He Lingchen submitted an urgent report and initiated emergency measures. The online uproar was suppressed before it could spread — the posts were taken down almost as soon as they appeared. Secretary He was meticulous and reliable; before anything could escalate, all noise had been silenced.
After everything was settled, Secretary He thought of something and asked, “Lin Yan’s project was stolen. Should we inform him?”
Lu Heng’s eyelashes trembled slightly as he raised his eyes. Ever since learning the truth that morning, his heart had ached for Lin Yan. He couldn’t imagine how Lin Yan had handled it back then, how he had endured those days.
He rotated the pen between his fingers. The pen was very light — so light that if he didn’t deliberately hold it, its weight wouldn’t be enough to make him stop.
If he hadn’t sensed something was wrong this time and decided to investigate the previous projects…
would all the grievances Lin Yan had suffered have been just like this pen — light, easily overlooked, and forgotten?
So light it was easily overlooked.
There might still be many such things he didn’t know about, but in the future, there would be none.
“He doesn’t need to know.” Lu Heng weighed the pen in his hand. It was as light as a feather, yet it struck his heart heavily, leaving a deep mark.
On Zhao Ming’s side, he stared anxiously at his phone. There was still no news. Every call he made was rejected.
A vague sense of unease rose in his chest. This was too strange. If the incident didn’t blow up and the company’s stock wasn’t affected, then his chances of joining that other company afterward would be practically zero.
He lit up his phone again and again, but several minutes passed and nothing happened.
He had imagined countless possibilities. The only one he hadn’t considered — and yet now seemed the most likely — was that President Lu had discovered everything.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he arrived at the office along with several people from the department.
President Lu and Secretary He had already been waiting for quite some time.
When Lin Yan saw President Lu, he greeted him.
“President Lu.”
Lu Heng smiled and nodded at Lin Yan, but when the next person greeted him, the smile disappeared.
After everyone sat down, they began monitoring the newly launched software. Seeing that no errors were reported, they continued watching for a while.
“President Lu,” Zhao Ming called out.
Lu Heng didn’t respond. Instead, he walked into the work area, glanced at each person, then stopped behind Lin Yan.
He bent over, his body almost pressed against Lin Yan’s back.
Sensing the person behind him and the familiar scent of cologne reaching his nose, Lin Yan’s heart began to pound.
He straightened, trying to turn around — but the moment he turned his face, he saw President Lu.
Just a fraction closer, and his lips would have brushed against Lu Heng’s face.
His ears burned hot, his face slowly flushing red.
All of this was caught by Chen Xin, who was sitting behind him. She covered her mouth, quietly slipped her phone out from behind the monitor, pressed it against the screen—
Click.
Another photo captured.
Two good-looking people in the same frame — who could resist such an eye-pleasing scene?
“President Lu…” Lin Yan stammered.
Lu Heng raised one hand, resting it on the back of Lin Yan’s chair, while the other settled over Lin Yan’s hand on the mouse.
His middle finger slid over the scroll wheel, eyes fixed on the screen.
Lin Yan swallowed hard, too nervous to speak. They were far too close.
But that wasn’t the main issue. What mattered was that as President Lu’s middle finger moved up and down, it brushed against Lin Yan’s index finger. The friction between their fingertips carried an indescribable hint of intimacy.
In that atmosphere, Lin Yan’s sensitivity to the touch was amplified. He suddenly drew his legs inward.
“Well done. The feedback looks very good.” Lu Heng turned to look at Lin Yan.
At that moment, Lin Yan looked like a shy little cat in his eyes — adorable no matter how you looked at him.
He hadn’t even noticed before that Lin Yan’s eyelashes were so long, and that he was deliberately avoiding his gaze.
Unable to help himself, Lu Heng lifted a hand and gently ruffled Lin Yan’s hair. “Keep it up.”
With that, Lu Heng straightened and walked away.
Lin Yan stared at the hand resting on the mouse. His index finger twitched slightly, and the little corner of the bandage he had just smoothed down curled up again.
Just like his heart — unable to settle for a long time.
“Zhao Ming, come to my office,” Lu Heng said.
Zhao Ming closed his eyes. He already knew what the outcome would be.
Inside the CEO’s office, a stack of documents was tossed onto the floor with a sharp slap.
“President Lu, I—” Zhao Ming tried to argue, but then he saw the photographs scattered across the floor.
He understood instantly.
Lu Heng had been investigating him for a long time.
So what was there left to explain?
“Will you resign on your own, or do I have to fire you?” Lu Heng chose the more restrained option in the end.
Zhao Ming hadn’t expected that. In the past, President Lu had always dismissed people without mercy — this could almost be considered a courtesy.
“I’ll leave on my own.” Though he was unwilling, Zhao Ming knew that if he were fired, his career in this industry would be finished.
He glanced at the photos and sighed inwardly. “It was Lin Yan, wasn’t it? He’s the one who told you?”
“Hmph.” Lu Heng let out a cold snort.
“I never thought the untouchable, arrogant President Lu would actually—”
“Shut up.”
Lu Heng cut him off sharply.
“I’m already leaving. Can’t I even say a few words?” Zhao Ming laughed wildly, his voice sharp and piercing. “You and Lin Yan — the two of you are truly in this together.”
Suppressing his anger, Lu Heng maintained the last shred of composure. “You’re not worthy of mentioning Lin Yan. Pack your things and get out.”
Zhao Ming gathered his belongings and left.
Sun Ning reluctantly said goodbye to him.
The workplace was like this — cold and realistic.
He had worked here for nearly ten years, and in the end, he left without leaving anything behind.
Holding a light cardboard box, he walked out.
The group chat of overworked employees erupted with cheers, though a few people quickly calmed down.
Wang Hao Is a Handsome Guy: [Honestly, getting fired at his age is kind of sad. Middle-aged unemployment.]
cx Little Angel: [True, but he deserved it.]
cx Little Angel: [By the way, I took a few photos. Engineer Lin, want to see? 😏]
cx Little Angel: [Image]
cx Little Angel: [Image]
Lin Yan opened them, and the heart he had just managed to calm down began racing again.
Looking at the photos of himself with President Lu, Lin Yan didn’t even know how to explain it. He casually replied with a sticker.
After exiting the chat, Lin Yan noticed a new friend request.
Ding Yue.