Chapter 23: Experiencing Life

Almost at the same moment that Xu Zihan arrived at Jingtian, Yang Fan also reached the company. No sooner had he stepped inside than he saw everyone gathered together. Zhao Jing was desperately trying to explain something, her face flushed crimson with embarrassment. Meanwhile, the cabinet where he kept his work things was wide open.

The boss wore a gloomy expression, his colleagues looked on with disdain, and Wang Yong radiated smug satisfaction. Yang Fan paused, thinking, You lot really can’t keep quiet for a moment, can you?

“Yang Fan, explain to me why the diamond necklace worth tens of thousands, which belongs in my office drawer, is now in your work cabinet?” the boss demanded sharply, clearly furious over the matter.

“Yes, explain yourself!” came the chorus.

Yang Fan let out a cold laugh. You’re playing dirty, framing me like this.

“Yang Fan isn’t that kind of person. I’ve worked with him for a long time, and he’s never made a mistake. How could this happen?” Two people entered from the doorway, both colleagues in the same role as Yang Fan.

“That’s right, boss. This has to be a set-up! Besides, isn’t it possible someone else put the necklace in Yang Fan’s cabinet? Doesn’t the office have a spare key?” one argued.

“So you’re saying it was Yang Fan’s girlfriend, Zhao Jing, who framed him? Everyone knows the spare keys are with Zhao Jing!” Wang Yong shouted.

Yang Fan couldn’t help but laugh. So Wang Yong isn’t as brainless as he seems. But the truth is, you’re the one who put the necklace there—no one else. Do you really think that just because there’s no surveillance here, I don’t know what happened?

This scheme kills two birds with one stone: it creates a rift between Zhao Jing and me, and successfully drives me out of the company.

“Boss, you have to trust Yang Fan, he—” Zhao Jing tried to explain, but Yang Fan interrupted.

“So what do you want?” he asked.

“Either we call the police, or you leave. But let me remind you, if we do call the police, you might not care, but Zhao—” Wang Yong didn’t finish the sentence, hinting that rumors could be damaging. Even if their innocence was proven, suspicion would linger.

That’s life: once doubt is sown, vigilance follows.

He didn’t care about his own reputation, but Zhao Jing…

“Fine, I’ll leave!” Yang Fan declared.

“Yang Fan, let’s call the police!” Zhao Jing’s face turned pale, grabbing his sleeve.

“Yes, Yang Fan, call the police. We can’t let ourselves be wronged for no reason.”

Yang Fan shook his head. “No need, I’ll just leave.”

This was a responsibility he had to bear. Even if it meant carrying this stain, he wanted Zhao Jing’s reputation to remain spotless.

“So you admit to stealing the necklace?”

“Did I admit that? Honestly, even if you’re framing me, you’re being petty. Do you really think I’d covet something worth just tens of thousands?” Yang Fan retorted.

“You say you didn’t steal it, but—”

“Shut up!” Yang Fan snapped, then continued, “I, Yang Fan, always repay kindness a hundredfold. The debt owed today, I’ll come back to settle!”

With that, he turned and walked away. Zhao Jing was stunned and quickly chased after him.

“We’re quitting too—no point staying here and risking being framed ourselves!” The two colleagues followed suit; no one here was a fool.

“Don’t go! The deliveries haven’t been sent out today!”

“Let your office staff handle them!”

Outside, Zhao Jing was nearly in tears.

“Yang Fan, let’s call the police.”

“There’s really no need,” Yang Fan said, seeing tears glisten in the corners of her eyes. He tried to comfort her: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

“Then I’ll leave with you!”

“You should stay. If we both go, they’ll say we stole it together. My reputation doesn’t matter, but yours does—I won’t let a girl like you bear such a stain.”

Zhao Jing broke down, sobbing. Yang Fan smiled gently, using a tissue to wipe her tears.

“Trust me, I’ll be back. You know what I’m capable of.”

Just then, Wang Xin and Qin Jun from the company came over. Zhao Jing had her back to them.

“You guys are leaving too?”

“We’re done here. In a company like this, always afraid of being framed, living in constant fear—what’s the point?”

“That’s right, Yang Fan. I’ve been sick of this place for a long time!”

Yang Fan shook his head. Wang Xin had been working overtime just to marry his girlfriend. Qin Jun was newly married, with a newborn baby at home and a tight household budget. This was a tremendous favor.

“Zhao Jing, you’d better head back,” Yang Fan said.

“I want to see you leave,” she replied, tears still hanging in her eyes.

“It’s alright. I’ll be back soon—I just have some things to take care of.”

Zhao Jing thought for a moment, then nodded in silence. After she left, Yang Fan and his two friends stood by the roadside.

“You two really shouldn’t have done this for me,” Yang Fan sighed.

“What are you talking about? We’ve worked together for half a year now—don’t we know you well enough?” Wang Xin said. “But, Yang Fan, about the money I borrowed from you last time—I might have to delay paying it back!” Wang Xin added gloomily.

Yang Fan rolled his eyes at him. Some brother you are, bringing that up now.

“Alright, let’s wait here a bit. I’ll take you somewhere,” Yang Fan said.

“Are you treating us?” Qin Jun asked.

“Good food and drinks, and maybe a hostess in a private room?” Qin Jun joked.

“Are you asking for trouble? If my wife finds out I took you, she’ll beat me up,” Wang Xin laughed.

As they were talking, Liu Haoyu drove up in an SUV and waved to Yang Fan.

“He’s here, let’s go.”

Qin Jun and Wang Xin felt a bit nervous, but followed Yang Fan into the car.

“Uncle!” Liu Haoyu greeted.

“You switched cars again?” Yang Fan asked.

“The other one, Zhang Chen and the others took it, so I grabbed another from the garage,” Liu Haoyu replied.

Qin Jun and Wang Xin felt uneasy in the backseat. Clearly, this family was wealthy. And this young master addressed Yang Fan as “uncle”…

“Let me introduce you, Haoyu. This is Qin Jun and Wang Xin—my good friends from the company.”

“Uncle, what happened here?” Liu Haoyu asked.

“Don’t even mention it,” Yang Fan replied, recounting the whole story.

Even Liu Haoyu found it laughable.

“Are those people out of their minds? Just a necklace worth tens of thousands—we wouldn’t even look at it, let alone covet it. Do they think it’s worth hundreds of thousands?”

“Enough, Haoyu. Let’s head to the North District—it’s time to reclaim a little interest!”

“Alright!” Liu Haoyu started the car.

Qin Jun and Wang Xin were completely lost. Yang Fan was clearly a wealthy man—why was he playing at living an ordinary life?

“Yang Fan, what’s gotten into you? With so much money, why deliver packages?”

“Just wanted to experience life,” Yang Fan replied with a smile.