# Chapter 35
After wandering the streets for a while, I stopped at a shop that Shangguan had once deemed unsanitary and nutritionally worthless, and ordered a bowl of beef noodles. The bowl was a bit dirty, and apart from the noodles, there were only a few pitifully thin slices of beef—not even a single vegetable in sight—but I ate it with great satisfaction. It had been many years since I'd eaten something like this.
Fast food like instant noodles and hamburgers, Shangguan would only scold me about if he saw me eating them. But if he ever found out I was eating this kind of stuff, he'd eat me alive!
After finishing the noodles, I handed the owner a ten-yuan bill and received seven back in change. Only then did I realize that N City actually had food this cheap!
After filling my stomach, I wandered the streets again. It was Christmas, and every business was running promotions. The loudspeakers, music, and hawkers' cries gave me a splitting headache, but they also filled me with a sense of novelty—because it felt like this was the first time I'd ever wandered around on Christmas Day. In the past, I'd always be working during the day and dining at some upscale restaurant by night.
My impression of Christmas had always been elegant music, beautiful candles, and exquisite food. Of course, I didn't enjoy shopping, and the noisy environment annoyed me. But today, for some reason, I found myself full of interest in all of it.
After only a short while on the street, my hands were already holding a bunch of little trinkets. A small Santa Claus, fruit shaped like cartoon characters, dolls that squealed when squeezed... I had no idea why I bought these things. Maybe those promotional staff were just too good at their jobs—one pitch and I'd already opened my wallet.
Since I'd already bought the stuff, there was no point in regretting it. It was just a bit troublesome to carry everything. I was wondering how I'd give these things away when my phone rang.
That familiar melody. I hesitated before pressing answer.
"Where are you?" Shangguan's voice was calm, but I knew this was definitely the start of him losing his composure.
...
"Where are you?"
"...On the street."
"Which street?"
"Shangguan..."
"I'm asking you which street!"
"...Honglin. I'll head back to Honglin right now." In the end, I still didn't tell him my current location. Even if I was going to get scolded, I should at least find a place with fewer people, right?
I hung up, looked at the things in my hands, and casually handed them to a girl who'd been trying to sell me roses. She stared at me with wide eyes, and I smiled at her before heading toward the subway station.
I hadn't thought about hiding anything from Shangguan—there was no point in trying to hide things from him. I just wanted to put it off until after today at least. But I hadn't expected him to find out so quickly. I didn't want to know whether he'd heard it by accident or if someone had specifically reported to him. It didn't matter.
Sooner or later, I'd have to face this. I hadn't intended to delay. But perhaps because it was Christmas, the subway station was packed with people. I missed two trains before I could squeeze onto one. By the time I got back to Honglin, it was an hour later. Shangguan was already waiting there.
The moment he saw me, Shangguan immediately rose from the sofa. "Let's go."
I froze. "Go where?"
The veins on his forehead twitched. With forced patience, he said, "Back to the company!"
I shook my head immediately. "I'm not going."
He glared at me. "What did you say?" His voice was slow, each word pronounced distinctly. I knew I should comply with his request right away, or there would definitely be big trouble. But I still shook my head. It wasn't that I'd suddenly borrowed courage from some leopard. It was simply that I truly didn't want to go back there.
"Why? Because of that woman? Damn it, is it because of her?"
I didn't speak. I didn't know what to say either. Why? The manager? Though he couldn't stand the sight of me, he'd never been particularly harsh on me. The office colleagues? Though they always piled documents on my desk, I'd never felt there was anything wrong with that. Yang Xin? I was indeed disappointed and a little heartbroken, but that was all. I didn't know what my reason was, but I... really didn't want to go back to that place.
I lowered my head, avoiding Shangguan's gaze, and said rather timidly, "I've already prepared my resignation. I..."
Before I could finish, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. Both my shoulders were grabbed by Shangguan. He squinted at me, his eyes filled with danger.
I swallowed hard. My legs were getting weak, but I still summoned every ounce of courage to repeat myself: "I've already prepared my resignation..." Past experience had taught me that at moments like this, one absolutely must not back down. Otherwise, there would never be a chance to stand up again.