Chapter 212: I Can't Let Go, I'm Not Going

"Boss..."

Zhu Tingting's eyes were red.

He looked at the room card in Chen Jianhai's hand, smiled to himself, and choked up as he spoke:

"Not to brag,"

"But letting me be the first to stay in the 7th-floor room is really a great deal for the hotel."

Chen Jianhai, with reddened eyes, laughed, "Hahaha, then this time, I'll take advantage of you!"

The two of them walked into the lobby.

At this time, at the reception center, Qin Mengqiu was busy checking in the new crew members.

Chen Jianhai deliberately stood between them to block their line of sight.

But the crew had already crowded around the service desk, and Qin Mengqiu had no time to look away.

She didn't even see Zhu Tingting walking into the lobby.

"Here is your room card. Enjoy your stay," Qin Mengqiu's sweet voice came through.

Zhu Tingting stood at the back of the crowd, took a deep look at Qin Mengqiu who was happily working, then turned his gaze away.

Like a stranger, he walked into the elevator with the crowd...

---

Neither Chen Jianhai nor Zhu Tingting mentioned Zhu Tingting's departure.

In the following days,

Zhu Tingting spent his time either filming with the crew or eating, drinking, joking, and taking photos with the hotel's employees.

He cherished each day as if it were his last.

Since Wu Kai's viral video, Sheng Yupi had been eager to appear on TV, but his looks were really not suitable for the camera.

Moreover, there were no specific roles or scenes for him, so before he could tell Kou Cen, he was directly rejected by the director's assistant.

As for Qin Mengqiu, 

Zhu Tingting knew her life habits and work schedule too well,

So well that it was ingrained in his bones. He knew when she went to work, when she got off work, when she ate,

When she liked to drink water, and when she played on her phone.

If Zhu Tingting wanted, he could avoid any interaction with Qin Mengqiu forever.

In the blink of an eye,

The filming for "Mr. Sweetheart" on the island was about to wrap up.

And it was time for Zhu Tingting to return to Nanjing.

"Tingting! Next time we meet, you have to give me an autograph!" Bai Cheng waved at Zhu Tingting.

"I'll give you two!" Zhu Tingting laughed.

Then, Zhu Tingting reached out and pinched Bai Cheng's cheek.

"Goodbye, Bai Pang!"

"You're the Bai Pang! Your whole family is Bai Pang!"

Zhu Tingting laughed, tugged on his bespectacled roommate's hair, 

"Goodbye, Jin Si Niao!"

He patted the short-haired roommate's shoulder, "Goodbye, buddy!"

And flicked the talkative roommate's forehead, "Goodbye, Um Um Um!"

Then,

Zhu Tingting went on to pinch and poke every male employee in the hotel, finally shouting:

"Dad's leaving, don't bother chasing!"

The doorman gritted his teeth, "I want to punch him!"

The electrician clenched his pliers, "Me too."

Finally, Zhu Tingting stood before Chen Jianhai, opened his arms, and hugged him tightly.

"I'm leaving, boss."

Chen Jianhai hugged him back firmly, "Good luck, my brother!"

"Take this!" 

Zhu Tingting curiously took the card, which read:

Golden Ocean Membership Card,

Membership Number: 002.

Zhu Tingting had seen this card before.

When Li Xun left, Chen Jianhai gave him a golden membership card.

This card was a limited hotel membership card, with only 100 in total, making it extremely rare.

It's the kind you can't buy with money!

"Boss, this card..."

Chen Jianhai smiled, "Keep it. When you're tired of filming, use it to come home."

Zhu Tingting choked up, "When I become famous and film all over the country, I'll still have to fly back to Nanjing to stay?"

"You..."

Chen Jianhai kicked him, "Can't I open more branches?!"

"In the future, I'll open a branch in every city across the country, so you'll always have a place to stay!"

They both laughed,

Chen Jianhai asked, "Aren't you going to say goodbye to her?"

"I can't let go, I'm not going."

Zhu Tingting looked up at the vast sky and the blue sea, smiled to himself:

"One must leave some dignity, right?"

---

Zhu Tingting left.

He left quietly, without a sound.

By the time everyone knew,

Zhu Tingting had already set up his own Weibo account,

Signed with "Unexpected Media," and officially became an artist.

Thanks to the pre-release publicity and promotional photos from the crew,

As soon as Zhu Tingting's personal Weibo was launched, he gained followers and even opened a fan forum.

When Qin Mengqiu saw the Weibo, she couldn't tell if she felt relieved or regretful.

The hotel staff deliberately avoided her, no one wanted to discuss the matter.

Although no one brought it up, everyone knew Zhu Tingting left because of her.

"Boss, do you blame me too?" Qin Mengqiu asked softly, sitting on the beach.

"Why would I blame you?" Chen Jianhai asked back.

Qin Mengqiu smiled but didn't respond.

Chen Jianhai looked at Qin Mengqiu's lost expression.

How could he not blame her?!

If Qin Mengqiu had agreed to Zhu Tingting, 

His employees could stay together without any separation, everyone together and happy.

But life isn't a novel, there's no such thing as complete perfection.

"He has the right to pursue and confess, and you have the right to refuse," Chen Jianhai said softly.

Qin Mengqiu looked up at Chen Jianhai, 

"He can go wherever he wants, that's his choice. You rejecting him is your choice, no one else has the right to say anything."

Chen Jianhai looked at Qin Mengqiu and said each word clearly:

"Life is your own, don't care about others' opinions, just stick to being yourself."

"As long as you think it's right, stick to it!"

Chen Jianhai smiled:

"Honestly, I admire you for being able to say 'I don't want to' under the pressure of friends and colleagues."

Qin Mengqiu looked at Chen Jianhai, her nose turning red.

The looks from her colleagues these past few days had put immense pressure on her.

Even though no one said anything, the guilt and self-blame were almost crushing her.

"I thought you would blame me... Sometimes I regret it, wondering if I didn't handle it well."

"If I had agreed to him, maybe he wouldn't have left."

Chen Jianhai shook his head firmly, "No one has the right to blame you."

"Liking someone is liking, not liking is not liking."

"Besides..." Chen Jianhai paused, showing a bright smile,

"It doesn't matter if I blame you or not, who am I? Who are the others?!"