Lu Nan could see that Manager Ni was feeling unhappy, but he was still a cultured man. 

This was the second time in a row that the leaders of the provincial and municipal offices avoided meeting him. Yuan Chuan had indeed not given him face, but he managed to control his anger and did not direct it at Chen Lu. Instead, he simply made a sarcastic remark and moved on. 

Of course, avoiding becoming a target for his anger didn’t spare them from having to drink. Manager Ni just poured drinks without any ill intent. 

Green Trading did not bring a major client manager. Of course, Lu Nan wouldn’t be foolish enough to ask Chen Lu at the dinner table, “Did Green Trading use our company to employ us as hostesses?” 

By the time the dinner ended, Chen Lu’s cheeks were already flushed, while Lu Nan was a bit tipsy. 

As they left the private room, Manager Ni asked, “Xiao Chen, we’re heading to karaoke next. Would you like to join us?” 

Lu Nan took the chance to support Chen Lu, who quickly explained that she had drunk too much. She felt dizzy and a bit nauseous, so she couldn’t join them in singing. 

Manager Ni didn’t insist and nodded at the two girls, “Then be safe on your way back.” 

Watching Manager Ni and his group leave, Chen Lu breathed a sigh of relief. 

Lu Nan asked, “Sister Lu, shall we take a taxi back? I live in Xinguang Yipin now, not far from your place. I can drop you off first and then walk back.” 

“No need. Do you think I’m drunk? Actually, I’m perfectly fine. I just flush easily.” Chen Lu smiled, “But you have a good tolerance for alcohol and are sharp. You handled the situation with Manager Ni and his clients seamlessly… Wang Xiaoxue really underestimated you last time.” 

Being able to say this indicates that Chen Lu was still a bit tipsy. Lu Nan, noticing her condition from their table at the bar, helped her with her purse and shook her head, “I’m not great with alcohol either. It’s just that the people from Green Trading clearly didn’t want to pick a fight with us today, so they let us off.” 

Thinking about this, Chen Lu felt troubled. Green Trading was the distributor she was dealing with, but now it seemed like they were in trouble… Just thinking about it gave her a headache, and words spilled out unintentionally, “Yeah, I noticed that too. Manager Ni is actually quite decent. Whenever I attended their company’s party before, they always ended early, so we didn’t have to stay for the second half. Let me tell you, it’s our own company that’s a pain. When the regional or headquarters leaders come, it’s a full package of wining, dining, and entertainment. It’s so annoying! So annoying!” 

Lu Nan felt that if she didn’t interrupt Chen Lu soon, she’d regret saying too much when she woke up tomorrow — though none of this was a secret to Lu Nan. 

But theoretically, what Chen Lu had just said shouldn’t have been something newcomer Lu Nan was aware of. 

“Let’s go, let’s take a taxi.” 

Two young women, both smelling of alcohol, exited the luxury hotel. The driver glanced back at them several times through the rearview mirror. 

Worried that Lu Nan might feel uncomfortable, Chen Lu brought up work, “Tonight was like attending a skit show. Tomorrow, I’ll send you the forms we need to fill out after the meeting…” Chen Lu wasn’t secretive and explained the general procedures to Lu Nan. 

When they reached Chen Lu’s residential area, Lu Nan got out of the car as well. 

“You really don’t have to, you can just go straight home,” Chen Lu said, feeling awkward as Lu Nan supported her. 

Lu Nan replied, “It’s okay, it’s just a few steps. Hey, driver, can you give me a few extra tickets?” 

After dropping Chen Lu off at her building’s entrance and noticing the stairwell lights turn on, as well as the living room lights on the second floor, Lu Nan turned and walked towards Xinguang Yipin. It wasn’t far—just under two kilometers away. 

On the way back, Lu Nan recalled the conversation from the dinner just now. 

Manager Ni from Green Trading and the client expressed concern that this year’s purchase orders from customers had dropped by twenty percent compared to the same period last year. The boss was deeply troubled about this situation. The client, who represented European clients in China, explained that the economic environment in Europe was bleak this year. Experts on television were predicting that the European economy was on the brink of recession. Foreigners were delaying their purchasing plans out of caution. 

So Green Trading is really unlucky. They mainly engage in export trade with European clients, and Europe softened this year; they wanted to develop a sideline business but got conned into signing a harmony wine contract by Yuan Chuan. Tsk tsk… Lost in her thoughts, Lu Nan didn’t realize she had arrived at her home. 

Lu Nan washed her hair and took a shower. She checked the time—it was ten o’clock. After drying her hair until it was about 60% dry, she spent another hour typing. 

As she saved the draft, she glanced at the backstage statistics. This quick-transmigration novel had already made it onto the charts, and its current momentum was promising. She believed it would make it onto the next chart as well. 

I still need to save more drafts; otherwise, like today, once I step out, the rest of the day can easily slip away. 

Speaking of which, Lu Nan walked over to the mattress to prepare to sleep. She opened the skylight curtains. 

The seventh day of the fifth lunar month is the full moon. 

In the city’s night sky, there were no stars, just the lonely moon.