Chapter 58: In Life, One Does Not Seek Great Wealth and Noble Status

Tan Fang handed Wen Jianan a protective amulet, her eyes red as she urged, "Your father and I went to the temple to pray for this for you yesterday. Keep it with you."

Wen Jianan choked up, taking it with a hand while quickly looking away.

With a complex mix of emotions welling up inside, she felt as though she was about to burst into tears. For some reason, she had never been such a sentimental person before.

Just as she finally managed to suppress her emotions, Tan Fang let out a sob.

Wen Jianan raised her head, her eyes instantly damp, yet she forced herself to remain strong to comfort Tan Fang.

"Mom, what are you doing? I'm just going to work, not leaving forever."

Unable to hold back any longer, Tan Fang sat down beside her daughter, pulling her into an embrace as tears began to stream down.

"I just have this feeling that this time you're leaving home is different from before."

"Maybe it's because you and Cheng got engaged. It makes me feel like my daughter has grown up and is going off to someone else's family."

Covering her mouth, Tan Fang began to weep softly, her shoulders trembling with every sob.

Wen Jianan felt both a tightness in her chest and an urge to laugh through her tears.

"It's just an engagement, we aren't even married yet. Besides, even after I get married, I'll still be your daughter. Whenever I want to come back, I will, and in the future, I can even bring you and Dad to live with me in Yancheng."

"I don't want that. Your father and I are doing just fine right here at home. As long as you're doing well, I can rest easy. It's just that I feel a sudden wave of sadness."

Wen Jianan sighed silently. "Alright, I promise I'll take good care of myself so you and Dad don't have to worry."

The mother and daughter talked as they dried their tears, and after a while, Tan Fang finally stopped crying.

Wiping her eyes, she suddenly added, "Oh, by the way, there's one more thing. There were too many people today, and your aunt didn't find the right moment to tell you herself, so she asked me to pass it along."

"Your cousin is graduating from university and plans to stay in Yancheng to work. Your aunt is worried about her, so when you're over there, please look out for her a bit."

"As for the engagement rings you and Cheng bought, she didn't want to accept the money, but I wouldn't allow it. Business is business."

Thinking it made sense, Wen Jianan nodded. "I understand. I'll take care of my cousin."

Wen Jianan sometimes felt that the Feng Shui of the Tan family was quite wondrous. Her maternal grandfather had only two daughters—her mother and her aunt—and each of them had only one daughter.

Therefore, whenever her mother and aunt brought it up, they always urged Wen Jianan and her cousin that since there were only the two of them in their generation, they must support and look after each other in the future.

Of course, her aunt likely said that merely out of politeness. After all, her aunt's family was better off financially.

Wen Jianan didn't think much of it; as long as she could take good care of herself and her parents, that was enough.

In life, she asked for no great wealth or high status, only peace, smooth sailing, and abundant joy.

Knowing she was about to leave Miancheng, Chen Ling, Little Jiang, and the others invited her out for a farewell dinner the night before her departure.

When Wen Jianan arrived, she was surprised to find Zhang Yufei there as well.

Noticing the look of astonishment on Wen Jianan's face, Zhang Yufei took the initiative to greet her, "Long time no see."

Wen Jianan quickly returned the smile, "Long time no see."

As she sat down, Zhang Yufei explained, "I heard you were leaving Miancheng soon, so I asked them to bring me along."

"It's fine. Even if we aren't colleagues anymore, we're still friends. Thank you all for seeing me off."

Chen Ling and Little Jiang looked at her with reluctance. After all, they had been colleagues for a long time, and Wen Jianan was such an easygoing person.

Little Jiang was the most indignant, complaining to her about the current state of Feidu. "Sister Nan, you have no idea. Ever since you left, the company has been acting like it's withered."

"The company gets worse day by day, clearly going downhill. A lot of people are gossiping behind closed doors," Chen Ling added.

Zhang Yufei delivered another blow. "Although Wei Ming managed to cleanse himself of the blame, the company is still his, so it's indirectly affected. Whether the matter is big or small, the whole industry has heard about it. Some client companies canceled their contracts right before the renewal date, and others refused to continue cooperating once they found out you left."

Wen Jianan had guessed that the incident would impact Feidu, but she hadn't expected the impact to be this severe.

Yet, if not for a twist of fate where she narrowly escaped being successfully framed, the one running around like a rat crossing the street would be her right now.

A single slip of the foot can cause eternal regret; Wei Ming's vision had truly been too narrow back then, and Wen Jianan felt no sympathy for him.

She smiled silently and asked the three of them, "What are your plans then?"

Chen Ling said, "My contract hasn't expired yet, so even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't. Besides, in a few days, I can officially divorce my ex-husband. I still have a daughter to raise, and I can't afford the consequences of being unemployed."

Little Jiang couldn't help sighing either, "Sister Nan, the moment you left, I wanted to quit too, but my contract still has two years left."

Zhang Yufei spread her hands, "I only just signed my employment contract not long ago."

Wen Jianan expressed her sympathy for them.

The dinner ended amidst various complaints and sighs.

After parting ways, Wen Jianan arrived home. Before she even pushed the door open, she heard voices coming from inside.

"Wei Ming, who knows when Nannan will be back? Why don't you head back first and come another day?"

"It's fine, Auntie, I'm not in a hurry."

Hesitation flickered across Tan Fang's face. She had already made herself crystal clear, but Wei Ming acted as if he couldn't understand human speech, leaving her at a loss for words.

At that moment, Wen Jianan opened the door and walked in.

"Nannan..." A subtle plea was hidden in Tan Fang's calm gaze.

Wen Jianan merely nodded, her expression cold and distant.

Under her gaze, Wei Ming stood up, the smile on his face carrying a trace of ingratiation.

"Jianan."

In less than a month, he no longer possessed the high-spirited demeanor and air of a wealthy boss he once had.

Now, his hair was longer and unkempt, red veins hid in the corners of his eyes, his features were haggard, and his clothes were somewhat wrinkled.

Wen Jianan had actually guessed what he wanted to say, but she didn't want her parents to know, as they had been kept in the dark about all the unpleasantness until now.

She called Wei Ming downstairs to talk.

Sure enough, Wei Ming started with an apology, followed by an attempt to persuade Wen Jianan to return.

"I was wrong about what happened before; I was narrow-minded. If you're willing to come back, I'll give you twenty percent of the shares, and your salary and benefits will be up to you. How does that sound?"

"There's no need." Wen Jianan refused with a cold face, picking up the gifts he had brought and shoving them back into his hands.

"From the moment you plotted and framed me behind my back, our ties were severed. Take all your things back, and don't ever come here again. Let's pretend we never knew each other."

Wei Ming refused to take them and tried to say something else, but Wen Jianan had no desire to listen and simply dropped the items right at his feet.

Early the next morning, Wen Shaoru and Tan Fang took time off work to take Wen Jianan to the airport.

Her aunt, Tan Rong, came as well. Pulling Wen Jianan aside, she instructed her word by word, "Nannan, take good care of yourself in Yancheng, and by the way, help look after Xiaozhen for your aunt."

"Don't worry, Auntie, I will."

Tan Rong was about to say more when Wen Shaoru, unable to watch any longer, pulled her away.

"Let the mother and daughter talk a bit more."