After Bai Yan left, the office seemed to lose all its air, the atmosphere suffocatingly heavy.
Liang Yu irritably tugged at his tie, and the words on the file before him seemed to mock him, leaping into the shape of "Bai Yan," constantly flickering in front of his eyes, stinging his vision.
The colleagues, who usually chatted about games with lively energy, had suddenly grown silent, casting occasional glances that seemed to say, "Look, the domineering CEO's pursuit of love has ended in disaster."
Liang Yu rubbed his temples hard, a sense of agitation rising within him like never before.
It was then that he realized, the seemingly delicate Bai Yan had, unbeknownst to him, taken root in his heart.
However, Bai Yan had not, as Liang Yu imagined, fallen into a state of sorrow.
Leaving that company felt like taking off a pair of ill-fitting high heels. She felt lighter and more at ease.
Su Yao dragged her to a game industry conference. "Cheer up, sister! There are plenty of fish in the sea, and you're so talented!" Su Yao encouraged her.
At the conference, Bai Yan wore a sharp professional outfit, her hair tied in a high ponytail, her entire presence radiant like a shining star, drawing many admiring glances.
This time, a middle-aged man in a suit, exuding an air of sophistication, walked up to her and handed her a business card. "Hello, I'm Zhang, the CEO of Tengfei Game Company. Your game concepts really impressed me."
This man was Zhang Wannian, the owner of Tengfei Games, who had instantly recognized Bai Yan's talent, his words full of admiration.
People around them cast envious looks, some whispering, "Isn't that the designer who was let go by LY Company? She was noticed by President Zhang!"
Not only did President Zhang offer Bai Yan a senior game planner position, but he also entrusted her with leading the development of a new game. This was a huge opportunity for someone just starting out in the game design world.
"I really admire your ability," Zhang said, his tone firm and full of confidence in her.
Without hesitation, Bai Yan accepted the job offer. She felt like a bird set free, finally able to soar in the vast sky.
She smiled confidently, the entire world seemingly glowing with hope around her.
"LY…" Zhang looked at the abbreviation of Liang Yu's company on the business card, then smiled meaningfully. "Young man, you really can't keep your cool, huh?"
Meanwhile, Liang Yu felt like he had lost his soul, his mind consumed by thoughts of Bai Yan.
In the past, he had treated her presence as if it were air—insignificant and unnoticed. Now that she was gone, he realized how much he couldn't breathe without her.
In his office, he fidgeted uneasily, the words on the papers in front of him suddenly turning into "Bai Yan" and flashing in his mind, mocking his foolishness.
"Where is she? That little firecracker..." Liang Yu irritably ran his fingers through his hair, unable to stop himself from asking around about Bai Yan's whereabouts.
He opened WeChat and clicked on their chat history, the last message still showing the hurtful words he had sent her. Now, looking back, it felt like a complete public relations disaster.
Soon, he learned that Bai Yan had joined Tengfei Games, and was thriving there, already becoming the head of a new game project.
Liang Yu's heart skipped a beat, a surge of crisis awareness rising within him.
"Tengfei? Zhang Wannian, that old fox? He's poaching talent right under my nose?" Liang Yu ground his teeth, his emotions tangled in a mix of anger and frustration.
He thought back to every moment with Bai Yan: her focused work ethic, the occasional cute moments when she acted a little absentminded, and the resolute look in her eyes when she left…
Those memories flashed in his mind like scenes from a movie, leaving him feeling restless and disoriented.
"Damn it! I can't…" Liang Yu suddenly stood up, a fierce impulse rising in him. "I can't lose her!" He grabbed his coat and stormed out of the office.
At the bottom of Tengfei's office building, Liang Yu saw Bai Yan walking out with a middle-aged man, laughing and chatting.
Bai Yan was dressed in a sharp suit, her face radiating confidence, as if she had become an entirely new person.
The man with her was none other than Zhang Wannian, the CEO of Tengfei. He was patting her shoulder warmly, admiration evident in his eyes.
Liang Yu's heart sank, and his steps grew heavy as though they were weighed down by lead.
He froze in place, watching as they drew closer, and Bai Yan seemed not to notice him at all, her smile so bright that it almost suffocated him.
For the first time, Liang Yu saw Bai Yan as someone completely different, someone who no longer needed him, and the realization hit him like a cold wave.
"Bai Yan…" Liang Yu's voice trembled, but the words died in his throat. His feet felt like they were rooted to the ground, his chest tightening as he tried to find his voice. The distance between them seemed vast, and he was paralyzed by the overwhelming sense that everything he had taken for granted was slipping through his fingers.
Bai Yan continued walking, laughing lightly with Zhang Wannian, her eyes sparkling, oblivious to the person behind her who was struggling to come to terms with the weight of his emotions.