"You’re resigning?"

Sun Mingli’s brow furrowed. The other executives in the conference room perked up their ears as if they’d just heard some earth-shattering news, ready to enjoy the show.

"Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?"

In a rare break from character, Qin Yuenan offered a breathtakingly beautiful, faint smile, but it was laced with a chilling coldness.

Hearing this, Sun Mingli clenched and unclenched her fists under the table.

Indeed, Qin Yuenan was right.

But from the company’s perspective, she didn’t want Qin Yuenan to resign.

Sun Mingli’s feelings toward Qin Yuenan were complicated; it was a love-hate relationship.

She "hated" that Qin Yuenan had no sense of tact, didn’t respect seniority, and constantly challenged her.

But she also "loved" that Qin Yuenan’s professional skills and work ethic were a massive asset to the company.

Otherwise, there was no way she would have become the Marketing Director at only twenty-eight years old.

As much as she hated to admit it, Qin Yuenan’s excellence was undeniable.

Sun Mingli’s words from yesterday—"I could find anyone to replace you as Marketing Director"—had been said purely out of anger.

She had only wanted to knock Qin Yuenan’s arrogance down a peg, lest her achievements outshine her superior’s.

But who would have thought she would actually get so angry that she’d just quit?

This was a ruthless killing blow, putting Sun Mingli in a complete checkmate.

She wasn’t yet familiar with the operations in the East China Region, and the company’s internal structure was still undergoing adjustments and optimization.

If Qin Yuenan were to leave now, it would be a devastating blow to Pet Guardian Home’s Modu branch!

Setting aside the difficulty of finding another marketing director to take her place, just think of the network of contacts and marketing data she controlled. If any other company in the pet industry managed to recruit her, wouldn’t that be like handing a massive gift to a competitor?

But even knowing that Qin Yuenan’s resignation would cause endless problems for the company, Sun Mingli was too proud to say anything conciliatory. Her expression only grew darker.

She knew perfectly well that by resigning at this moment, in front of all the company’s senior executives, Qin Yuenan was making a power play to put her in her place.

’If I back down now, how will I ever be able to lead this team?’

’How will I manage these insubordinate troublemakers?’

"Hmph. Suit yourself."

Sun Mingli snorted, deciding to try a different, more indirect approach to see if she could get Qin Yuenan to stay.

"I don’t know which company has extended you an olive branch, but there’s hardly a company in the entire pet industry that pays better than Pet Guardian Home."

"Besides, with your non-compete agreement, if you resign, you won’t be able to work for a full year!"

"Oh, but I never signed a contract like that."

As if she had expected Sun Mingli to bring up the non-compete agreement, a smirk played on Qin Yuenan’s lips.

"Just as you said, anyone can do marketing. There are no so-called ’secrets,’ which is why headquarters never had me sign a non-compete agreement."

"Of course, you can rest assured that in accordance with corporate law, I won’t be leaking too many of Pet Guardian Home’s core secrets."

"So you really have found a new employer!"

Sun Mingli seethed.

She couldn’t believe their own company hadn’t signed a non-compete agreement with Qin Yuenan!

’Wasn’t that just an open invitation for someone to poach her?’

Sun Mingli’s grave expression was deeply satisfying to Qin Yuenan.

After spending so much time with Lin Shen, she had also picked up his playful, teasing way of speaking.

"You can’t stop me from pursuing a better future, can you?"

"Hmph. Do you really think anyone in this country can compete with Pet Guardian Home in the pet industry?"

Sun Mingli sneered.

"I’ve seen people leave for better opportunities, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone leave for a worse one."

"I hope the company you’re going to can put up a good fight. Do you need us to charitably toss them a sliver of the market?"

"Let’s hope you can still talk to me like this the next time we meet."

Qin Yuenan couldn’t be bothered to argue anymore. She turned and left.

She left behind an ashen-faced Sun Mingli and a crowd of gawking onlookers.

’Qin Yuenan was resigning?’

The news was a bombshell dropped into still water.

Although Qin Yuenan’s icy personality and rigorous work ethic were frequent topics of complaint...

...there was no denying she was gorgeous.

And as everyone knows, good looks are a powerful motivator for subordinates.

Getting chewed out by a top-tier beauty with long legs like Qin Yuenan was one thing. But if someone ugly was pressuring you every day, who would have any motivation to come to work?

For that reason, many employees in the company actually had a good impression of Qin Yuenan, and some were even her loyal followers.

After all, beauty is justice!

Combine that with her outstanding professional skills and capabilities, and it was only natural that she had everyone’s respect.

Therefore, her resignation would likely send shockwaves through the entire company...

All eyes turned to Sun Mingli, and a seed of resentment toward her began to sprout in their hearts.

’Bringing a personal grudge to work is going too far.’

’After all, if she could force a workaholic like Qin Yuenan to quit, who’s to say one of us won’t be next?’

A sense of unease and self-preservation began to spread, but Sun Mingli was completely oblivious.

She scanned the room and said coldly.

"Not a word of what happened today leaves this room. If it does, you’ll face the consequences. Meeting adjourned."

’"Face the consequences?"’

’That old hag is so damn annoying when she talks!’

Everyone grumbled internally. As they got up and filed out of the conference room, only a few people that Sun Mingli had brought from headquarters approached her to ask with concern.

"President Sun, are you all right?"

"President Sun, don’t mind that stone-faced woman. Isn’t her resignation a good thing for you? Now the whole company can finally work together as one, and efficiency will improve!"