Chapter Sixteen: What We Cannot Have Always Stirrs Restlessly

This trip to Yan City was solely to complete the contract signing process; there was nothing else to attend to. The return flight was booked for the next evening, so Wen Jianan and Xiao Jiang had a full day to explore the city.

Compared to last time, Wen Jianan felt much more at ease.

Xiao Jiang suggested that Wen Jianan act as her guide the following day and take her to Yan University, saying she wanted to experience the atmosphere of a prestigious institution. Wen Jianan smiled and agreed.

That evening, Xiao Jiang planned to visit several landmark attractions, while Wen Jianan had arranged to dine with Qin Wei and didn’t join her.

Upon hearing that Wen Jianan had successfully secured the project, Qin Wei was even more excited than Wen Jianan herself. “Well done,” she said.

Wen Jianan hesitated. She hadn’t yet told Qin Wei and Fang Yingqiu that the person in charge of Quanten Asia Pacific was none other than Liang Yuxiu.

Back then, Wen Jianan and Liang Yuxiu had been secretly married, a fact known to very few. But Qin Wei and Fang Yingqiu, her longtime friends, were aware of it.

Both of them looked down on Liang Yuxiu with disdain.

After their divorce, Qin Wei was almost ready to pop champagne in celebration.

But because they were close friends, Qin Wei immediately noticed something was off with Wen Jianan’s expression and pressed her for the truth. Wen Jianan finally confessed.

“What?!” Qin Wei nearly flipped the table. “Are you okay? You’re divorced, and now you’re working together? Isn’t that awkward?”

Wen Jianan pursed her lips and thought it over carefully. “A little, yes. But since I’ve already secured this project, I have to see it through. It’s been a long time anyway; maybe he’s forgotten. We’re strictly professional partners now. Once the project is done, we’ll part ways and never see each other again.”

Qin Wei scrutinized her, clearly warning, “You’d better not repeat the same mistake.”

“I won’t.”

Wen Jianan didn’t understand why everyone was so worried about this. She wasn’t the same person she used to be.

But she was too tired to explain. She would prove with her actions that she had grown.

Qin Wei scoffed, then changed the subject. “So, who was that friend of your ex-husband you said you met at a blind date?”

There was no reason to hide it, and since she was going to stay in Yan City for a while, keeping it secret was impossible. Wen Jianan confessed again.

This time, Qin Wei almost jumped up.

“Wen Jianan, you really...” She couldn’t find a suitable word, finally settling on a mockingly mature comment, “I’ve met Cheng He a few times. Honestly, I think he’s better than Liang Yuxiu.”

Better?

Wen Jianan tilted her head and thought for a moment. Aside from Liang Yuxiu’s utter ineptitude in matters of the heart, in terms of family background and appearance, neither man was in the same league.

Cheng He was above average, but only slightly, whereas Liang Yuxiu was a high mountain flower, even a favored son of heaven.

But Wen Jianan never considered rekindling anything with him; one mistake was enough.

She had thought it through carefully: once this project was finished, she would resign from Feidu, confront Cheng He honestly, and then reconsider her future path.

Cheng He and Liang Yuxiu were close friends, so there was no way Wen Jianan would truly be with him.

For now, she decided to pretend, because if she didn’t, Tan Fang wouldn’t allow her to return to Yan City for work and might cause her a lot of trouble.

Wen Jianan didn’t want to be busy and stressed at the same time. This was her way to pacify her parents. Later, she could go back and endure some other blind dates.

She smiled at Qin Wei and changed the topic.

Seeing her expression, Qin Wei didn’t push further.

It was rare for them to meet, and they chatted late into the night, mostly complaining about work and reminiscing about the years past. Finally, Qin Wei told Wen Jianan that she was preparing to get married; her boyfriend had just proposed last week.

After a moment of surprise, Wen Jianan offered her blessings.

The three of them had been close during college. Wen Jianan had been completely devoted to Liang Yuxiu during those years, married him soon after graduation, but it ended in failure. Qin Wei had been in a steady relationship since college, and now, after nearly three years with her current boyfriend, she was finally ready to wed.

As for Fang Yingqiu, she was a typical lifelong bachelor, utterly uninterested in men, to the point of physical aversion.

The key to their harmonious friendship was simple: ask little, interfere less, and respect and support one another.

Early the next morning, Wen Jianan and Xiao Jiang set out for Yan University.

Though the university usually required reservations for visitors, alumni could enter without one. With Wen Jianan’s status as an alumna, they easily gained access.

They visited several famous spots on campus, mostly with Xiao Jiang talking while Wen Jianan quietly observed, her mind uncontrollably drifting to the past, and her mood inevitably darkened.

Xiao Jiang didn’t notice.

At noon, they ate at the university cafeteria, then continued exploring for a while before leaving at two to return to the hotel, collect their luggage, and head to the airport.

The day after returning to Mian City, Wen Jianan delivered the contract to the company and then held a meeting with Wei Ming to confirm who would join her team to work on the project.

Because of previous issues, Wen Jianan’s attitude towards Wei Ming had grown colder, even somewhat avoidant, leaving Wei Ming feeling helpless.

But he hadn’t given up on trying to win her over.

Men always yearn for what they cannot have.

Even though Wen Jianan had been married and divorced, to Wei Ming, the unattained was always more desirable.

Once the team was finalized, the initial phase of the project began. They collected and compiled data and information in Mian City. Wen Jianan then coordinated with the Quanten team and held a meeting to clarify their requirements before producing the first draft of the plan.

She delegated all the tasks.

This process took about three days. Afterward, they submitted the preliminary plan to Quanten, who unsurprisingly rejected it.

After repeated revisions, the first draft was finally approved after a week.

However, due to many product detail issues, they needed to return to Yan City. After discussions with Quanten, both parties agreed that Feidu would send personnel to work on-site.

They planned to leave for Yan City the following week.

Upon learning that Wen Jianan would be in Yan City for a while, Tan Fang couldn’t help but nag, but with Cheng He involved, she reluctantly agreed.

“Once you’re there, get along well with Xiao Cheng. Meet often; build a relationship.”

Wen Jianan had heard these words many times and had learned to accept them calmly.

Watching her pack, Tan Fang hesitated, wanting to say something but remembering Wen Jianan’s state when she returned years ago and not wanting to stir up old wounds, she held back.

As she turned to leave, Wen Jianan suddenly called her back, asking if she had been honest with the Cheng family about her situation.

Tan Fang was puzzled but replied, “Yes, I told them everything. They don’t mind, which is why I told you to cherish this.”

She was about to start nagging again.

Wen Jianan was somewhat confused. Would the Cheng family really allow someone like Cheng He, with his background, to marry a divorced woman?

Something felt off, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.