He explained his reasons to Li Mo, and then went to speak with Director Luo from risk control.
Likely out of consideration for Vice President Wang, the person who had recommended him, Chen Jue’s request for unpaid leave was fast-tracked through the company’s approval system to Hengtong’s HR, all under Director Luo’s surprised and scrutinizing gaze.
The reason given for the unpaid leave was simply noted as: "Away for studies."
While he was at it, he also obtained an officially stamped proof of employment from the HR department, the kind specifically used for school applications.
In truth, Chen Jue didn’t care much about his job at Hengtong. He had been there for less than two weeks, and he’d spent most of that time slacking off to work on his own things.
If it weren’t for the shock of Fatty Bai’s sudden death, Chen Jue might still be coasting by with his old attitude, lingering in these cold financial districts, earning some easy money while improving his Attributes.
As for why he took unpaid leave instead of resigning outright, it was because the university had a requirement for auditors: unemployed individuals were not permitted to apply. It was his way of exploiting a small workplace loophole.
...
He cleaned out his desk. There wasn’t much, just enough to fill a small backpack.
Glancing at the adjacent workstation, which was covered with flower baskets and bouquets, Chen Jue sighed softly, slung the backpack over his shoulder, and headed downstairs.
After driving away from Hengda Mansion, Chen Jue deliberately took a lap around the nearby financial district, looking at the towering buildings that had been part of his old work life.
’Starting today, I’m officially leaving the corporate world behind.’
Whether he would ever come back to places like this, Chen Jue couldn’t say for sure.
’Life and death are determined by fate; wealth and honor are decreed by Heaven.’
’Now that I’m out of Langlang Mountain, the tutorial zone, I’ll have to face-check all the bushes in the jungle myself!’ Chen Jue thought as he looked up at the deep blue glass curtain walls, his years in the corporate world flashing through his mind.
Eight years was a long time for anyone. Fortunately, Chen Jue wasn’t leaving empty-handed. He had acquired a host of professional skills and learned a few things about getting along with people.
But in the instant he left the seemingly glamorous financial district of Hang City, Chen Jue felt an inexplicable weight lift from his shoulders. The burden and pressure from more than eight years of high-intensity work, which he had carried ever since graduating and entering the workforce, all vanished into thin air.
...
Back at his subsidized apartment, he packed up his belongings.
This was the second time Chen Jue had moved recently.
His current status wasn’t much different from having resigned, and of course, Hengtong Group wasn’t about to waste its prime housing resources on an idle employee.
The moment the notice for his unpaid leave was approved, the apartment’s networked management system sent a notification: Chen Jue had to completely vacate the room within three days.
’That’s a big corporation for you!’
’So efficient. Truly top-notch.’
Chen Jue glanced at the text message urging him to move out. Thinking about his upcoming stint as an auditor at Jiang University, he started searching for rentals nearby.
His expenses had been high lately, and he only had 170,000 left in his bank account.
If he couldn’t make ends meet, he could sell his domestic-brand SUV for over 70,000 in cash (used cars depreciate fast). Including the income from his video-making side hustle, he had access to about 250,000 in liquid cash. Even without a job, he wouldn’t be starving anytime soon.
He only had himself to feed, which was the sole advantage of being on his own.
He spent some time searching for rentals online, but after getting overwhelmed by a sea of sketchy apps and finding nothing reliable, Chen Jue changed tactics and directly asked Zheng Yuan, who was a student at Jiang University.
The kid must have been between classes, because he replied almost instantly. "Brother Jue!!! My grandpa told me, are you really coming to our school to be an auditor? (Staring eyes emoji)"
Chen Jue: "(Chill, bro emoji) Do you know the area around Jiang University well? Can you help me find a place to live? I need to rent a place to make getting to class easier."
Zheng Yuan: "That’s easy! I know some fourth-year students who rent places off-campus. I’ll ask for you! (Leave it to me emoji)"
About twenty minutes later, Zheng Yuan sent over a few links to rental posts.
They looked like they were from the internal Jiang University forums—all sublet listings posted by students, which meant they were authentic and much more reliable than the sketchy agencies online.
Chen Jue jotted down the phone numbers on the listings and replied, "(Fist-and-palm thank you emoji) I’ll treat you to a meal once I get to campus!" And just like that, the problem of finding a place to live was halfway solved.
...
After lunch, Chen Jue drove to Jiang University’s School of Life Sciences. He circled the area a couple of times first to familiarize himself with the campus’s surroundings.
He found the environment at Jiang University to be excellent. The entire campus was surrounded by a wide river, and it was fully equipped with amenities: a library, a gym, a track and field, a swimming pool, cafeterias, a bank, a hospital, and package delivery stations. There were even public buses running on campus, and the landscaping was on par with that of a large public park.
The entire university was like a small town. Just off-campus, there was a subway station and a large commercial district, meaning you could meet all your daily needs without ever having to leave. If you got bored, you could always take a trip to nearby places like Celestial Street or the Xixi Wetland.
’It’s probably only in such an excellent environment that people can really focus on their studies and conduct serious research.’
As he looked around, Chen Jue couldn’t help but sigh, ’If only I had studied harder back in the day!’
The rundown vocational college he’d attended in Wen City was worlds apart from a top-tier national institution like this—the difference between a Bronze and a Challenger player.
He pulled out his phone and started making calls. He spent the entire afternoon running all over the place, checking out every single rental Zheng Yuan had sent him.
In the end, he settled on a place in Wangyang Apartment, located right behind Jiang University. Only a single wall separated it from the campus.