Ning Su placed the key on the office desk, a dull thud emanating from the copper key.
Sheng Xunfeng glanced at the key. It was the key to his private apartment.
"What does this mean?" he asked.
"I'm planning to marry someone," Ning Su managed to squeeze out a faint smile, attempting to appear nonchalant. However, she eventually dropped her gaze and said, "The doctors said my mom won't survive more than three more months."
Her voice carried a hint of unrestrained sadness.
Sheng Xunfeng put aside the documents in his hand and threw them on the table, turning his attention to Ning Su's issue. "What's the connection between the two?" he asked.
"There is," Ning Su lightly placed her hand on her lower abdomen, her look becoming more determined. "My mom's greatest wish in life is to see me in a wedding dress. I want to fulfill this wish of hers."
This time, Sheng Xunfeng's gaze fell upon Ning Su's face.
"Are you blackmailing me?"
Ning Su shook her head, "No."
She wasn't blackmailing him. On the very first day they got together, he had clearly stated to her that marriage was out of the question.
"When you want to get married one day, tell me, and we'll end things."
Now she wanted to end things as she had reasons to. Her mother's deteriorating health was one reason. The child she was carrying was another. The return of the person he wanted to marry also contributed.
However, only the first reason was one she could voice since she didn't have the right to mention the others.
"I'm very grateful for your support over the past three years, Mr. Sheng. Without you, my mother wouldn't have lasted until now."
Sheng Xunfeng tugged at the corner of his mouth, the moment Ning Su began uttering formalities, he knew she had made her decision.
Sheng Xunfeng wanted a smoke, he opened the drawer only to find it empty. He rose from his seat, planning to search his coat.
Ning Su stopped him.
"I plan to resign."
He finally found his cigarettes.
Sheng Xunfeng pulled one out and lit it up. He took a drag and nodded nonchalantly. He never asked those leaving to stay.
Ning Su placed her resignation letter on the table and turned to leave.
The moment the door closed, the cigarette in Sheng Xunfeng's hand quivered.
He made a call.
The person at the other end told him that Ning Su had been going on blind dates recently.
"She even dated a designer twice."
She wasn't preparing, she was already prepared.
Sheng Xunfeng tossed the keys Ning Su had returned into the trash.
An hour later, the Human Resource department notified Ning Su that her resignation had been approved. She could now begin her departure procedures.
As Ning Su carried her personal belongings out of the company, the sky started to pour.
The realities seem unreal to Ning Su, just like she was acting an hour ago.
She laughed softly, turned around and glanced at the office building of the Xi Corporation. She was finally unable to hold back the tears.
Walking in the rain, a black sedan stopped in front of her. It was the car of Sheng Xunfeng. The driver rolled down the window and called out to her.
"Secretary Ning."
After some hesitation, Ning Su decided to get into the car.
"Where can I drop you off?"
Ning Su was a bit lost. She didn't expect the procedures to be processed so quickly. She hadn't decided where to go next.
In the end, she chose to go to the hospital.
Her mother, Mother Ning, was lying on the hospital bed. She was suffering from lung cancer. The doctor said it would be pretty good if she could last for three years.
For that reason, Ning Su was grateful to Sheng Xunfeng. He had paid for the expensive medical bills over these three years.
"Why are you here? You should be at work at this time."
"I took leave from the company." Ning Su sat down beside the bed and held her mother's frail hand.
"Mom, I'm getting married."
Mother Ning's eyes lit up for a moment but quickly dimmed down. "You're not just saying this to cheer me up, are you?"
"Of course not," Ning Su helped her mother comb her bangs. "He's the one you know, the senior from college I told you about who study design."
"Oh!" This time, Ning's mother's face showed surprise and happiness. When Ning Su was in college, she had once mentioned a senior she liked to her mother, describing him as a handsome and gentle young man.
"How did you get in touch? And how did you end up together?" Ning's mother was overly eager to know the details.
Her remaining time was limited, and her only hope was for her precious daughter to find happiness.
Ning Su tried to calm her mother down, "I'll bring him to meet you tomorrow."
"Alright, alright." Ning's mother then proposed a request, "Su, could you handle the hospital discharge procedures for me? For the first time meeting your boyfriend, I don't want it to be in the hospital."
Ning Su nodded her head.
When she proceeded to settle the hospital discharge procedures for her mother, Ning Su received a text message on her phone. It was a salary statement sent from her bank.
As Ning Su looked at the message, she lightly touched her belly and whispered a quiet goodbye.
Afterward, Shen Jun Feng was no longer part of her world.