Chapter 39: If You're Resigning, Get Out Now; This Company Doesn't Pay Idlers

Zhou Jie felt a slight tremor in his body upon hearing these words, his heart a tangle of anger and resentment. He glared fiercely at Zhao Qiang and shouted, "Zhao Qiang, don't get too smug! You've pushed me to this point today, but sooner or later, you'll regret it!"

"Regret? I think you're the one who should be regretting! You threw your weight around in the company, and now that you can't hack it anymore, you want to threaten me?"

"Take a good look at yourself first. See if you can even find a job once you're out there. If you really can't find anything, go deliver food or packages; maybe you'll at least be able to feed yourself!"

Zhou Jie’s breathing grew rapid. Gritting his teeth, he hissed, "Just you wait, I won't let you off easily!"

Zhao Qiang laughed, a sound dripping with mockery. "Zhou Jie, do you really think you can stir up any waves once you've left? You are nothing now!"

Zhou Jie clenched his fists so tightly that the veins on his arms bulged, as if he were struggling to suppress the urge to strike out. "Zhao Qiang, we'll see about that!" With that, he turned and strode away, his retreating figure radiating both fury and humiliation.

"Take your things with you. Don't disrupt the other employees. And go write your resignation letter. You don't think you can just walk out without one and expect to come back, do you?" Zhao Qiang saw through Zhou Jie's little trick instantly; he wasn't going to let him slip away so easily.

Zhou Jie felt like killing someone. He had only been speaking out of anger, planning to go home for a few days of rest. He didn't intend to confront Zhao Qiang head-on; he thought he could just butter up that old woman, Lin Meina, in a couple of days and the whole thing would blow over. He never expected Zhao Qiang to be so ruthless, forcing him to resign voluntarily. If he resigned, what could he do in society? Aside from pandering to older women, he had no skills at all!

"Manager Zheng, please prepare a resignation letter for Zhou Jie and have him sign it before he leaves. Also, have the finance department settle his salary for the month. No severance pay, as he is resigning voluntarily." Zhao Qiang was too familiar with this process, rattling off orders to several people in one breath.

"Yes, Mr. Zhao." Zheng Haitao hurried off to comply. He had been suppressed by Zhou Jie for so long that he finally felt a sense of relief.

Soon, a resignation letter appeared on Zhou Jie's desk. Zhou Jie gritted his teeth, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. His eyes were filled with rage and internal conflict; he gripped the pen tightly but hesitated to sign.

"Team Leader Zhou, sign it! Don't drag this out!" Zhao Qiang stood with his arms crossed, watching Zhou Jie with a mocking expression. "Don't tell me you're afraid to sign?" Zhao Qiang arched an eyebrow, his lips curling into a scornful smirk. "If you're too scared to sign, then go back to your desk and work on the project, and stop posturing in front of me. I don't have the patience to waste on you!"

"Zhao Qiang, I've had enough of you!"

Zhou Jie roared hysterically, his eyes wide as saucers. "Don't think you're so special; you're just enjoying a moment of success!"

"Then sign the paper and get out! Stop with the nonsense and show me the same courage you used to be a kept man. By the way, do you plan to be a kept man for the rest of your life?"

Zhao Qiang’s words struck like a blade, piercing straight into Zhou Jie’s heart. His face turned ashen, and his lips trembled as he spat, "Zhao Qiang, don't spout such slander! When have I ever been a kept man?"

"Everyone knows the truth. Don't humiliate yourself further. Leave this place and prove you're not a kept man."

Zhou Jie was rendered speechless by Zhao Qiang’s retort. Gasping for air, his body shook with rage. He grabbed the pen in a fury and scribbled his name on the resignation letter.

"Take all your things! If you don't, I'm throwing them in the trash!"

"Zhao Qiang, you just wait. I'll settle this score with you sooner or later!" Zhou Jie threw the pen down, turned, and slammed the door as he left.

Watching him go, Zhao Qiang said coldly, "I'll be waiting!"

*What an idiot,* he thought. *He actually signed it.* If he wanted to come back, he’d have to start as a new hire. He had thought Zhou Jie would be harder to deal with, but his combat effectiveness was pathetic. He had wanted to settle scores with Zhang Feiyang as well, but he heard he had already left for the day. *So much for being a young master of the Zhang family; all that talk of 'experiencing life' is pure nonsense. He’s probably in a karaoke room right now, singing his heart out.*

Just then, his phone rang.

"Hello, Son!"

"Dad, what's wrong?"

"Your mother was so angry she fainted. Come back quickly!" Zhao Hai’s voice was filled with anxiety and helplessness.

"Dad, did the results from the paternity testing center come back?" Zhao Qiang’s heart sank. If his mother, He Fen, was this upset, it had to be related to the test.

"Yes, they're here. Your mother saw the results and fainted on the spot." Zhao Hai’s voice was heavy with resignation; if he hadn't prepared himself, he probably would have fainted too.

Zhao Qiang hung up and rushed home immediately. The results were self-evident: there was absolutely no biological link. Otherwise, his mother wouldn't have been so devastated. Fortunately, she had only fainted and regained consciousness quickly, otherwise, Zhao Hai would have already called an ambulance.

When Zhao Qiang arrived home, he heard weeping coming from the house. It was his mother, He Fen, sobbing on the edge of the bed.

"Mom, don't cry. Now that we know the truth, there's no point in being so heartbroken." Zhao Qiang poured a glass of warm water and handed it to her. He Fen had always been fragile, and sure enough, she hadn't been able to take the blow. "Dad, where is the report?"

"Here, take a look for yourself." Zhao Hai handed him the paternity test report. Seeing the words "no biological relationship," Zhao Qiang felt no emotional turbulence. In his past life, he had already known.

"To think I treated Liu Ruyan like my own daughter-in-law. Why would she do this to our family?" He Fen couldn't fathom it. The Zhao family had treated her so well; what more could she have wanted?

"Mom, don't dwell on it. Take care of your health. Even if you cry forever, the child still isn't mine." Zhao Qiang remained indifferent. The Liu family had always been shameless; he had just been the last to find out.

"Qiangzi, do you know who the man is?" Zhao Hai sighed. He had expected to hold a grandson, but it had all come to nothing.

"Yes, I know. Mom, Dad, don't worry. I won't be fooled again, I promise. Don't get involved in this; let me handle it myself."

"You're my son, how can I not get involved? My precious grandson is gone, how am I supposed to go on living?" He Fen cried even more bitterly. "I don't care what you say, I'm going to find Li Fengying and demand an explanation. We deserve justice!" He Fen didn't want to listen to Zhao Qiang this time; she couldn't swallow this insult. She was a simple person, but she wouldn't be bullied like this. She had been looking forward to holding her grandchild for a year or two.

"Mom, actually, I already have..." Seeing his mother so agitated, Zhao Qiang considered explaining the situation. After all, the old couple would find out sooner or later that he had a daughter. *It wouldn't be unreasonable to bring little Peach to meet her grandparents, right? I just hope that woman doesn't have any other demands.*

Suddenly, a loud knocking sound came from the door.

"Who is it?" Zhao Qiang shouted toward the entrance.

"Zhao Qiang, it's Auntie Zhu. Someone is here to see you, so I brought them over." It was the voice of Auntie Zhu, the local gossip.

When Zhao Qiang opened the door, he saw another woman standing behind Auntie Zhu.

"Gao Lan, why are you here?"