“Yuan Chuan Group has a strict rule that employees cannot work part-time.” 

Am I being threatened? Lu Nan glanced down and saw a familiar pair of white shoes. 

She looked up, without even getting up from her chair, and just nodded lazily. “Manager Chen.” 

“I was just kidding. You calling me ‘Manager Chen’ again suddenly makes it awkward for me to respond,” Chen Xiao, holding an iced Americano, joked as he attempted to pull out the chair opposite Lu Nan. “Are you waiting for someone?” 

“It’s just an excuse,” Lu Nan gestured casually with her hand. 

Chen Xiao smiled knowingly. “I knew it. Honestly, our company’s rules mainly target people who help sell competing products while conducting business. For someone like you, crossing boundaries, no one will pursue it unless there’s a report. And even if colleagues know, they wouldn’t bother reporting it since reporting also requires evidence.” 

Lu Nan felt that meeting with Chen Xiao was not by chance. She stayed calm and quietly thanked him for the reminder. “But I’m just correcting typos for my junior.” 

“Of course, after work hours, as long as it doesn’t harm the company’s interests, you’re allowed to do whatever you want. Correcting typos for a junior student is naturally no exception…” Chen Xiao took a sip through his straw, smiled slightly, and said, “Such a clever girl.” 

… 

This sentence felt like a spell, awakening a deep memory in Lu Nan’s mind. 

Lu Nan remembered that in her previous life, Chen Xiao had spoken to her in a similar tone, but back then, what he said was different. 

“Such a silly girl.” 

Yes! It was a different adjective! Completely opposite to today’s clever! 

Lu Nan didn’t know what criteria Chen Xiao used to judge whether a girl was clever or silly, but after he regretfully uttered those overly familiar words in her previous life, their interactions outside of work became less frequent. 

This sentence reminded Lu Nan of some not very pleasant memories, and she straightened her back slightly. 

Chen Xiao was somewhat surprised by her guarded posture—after all, he hadn’t said anything inappropriate! 

“Relax, it’s a day off now, we just happened to run into each other and are just chatting.” Chen Xiao leaned back in his chair, crossed his long legs, and placed his phone and coffee on the table. 

Lu Nan also realized she was a bit tense, so she propped up her head and smiled, “I didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m feeling a bit off today.” It was an explanation, whether he believed it or not. “But why did Brother Chen suddenly praise me so much?” 

Chen Xiao didn’t answer, just stared into Lu Nan’s eyes and changed the subject, “I think you’re capable of handling the liaison job at Feixiang.” 

Lu Nan looked back seriously after a moment, “But don’t we still need to consider Manager Wang’s and Manager Li’s opinions?” 

“Of course,” Chen Xiao repeated, “Of course, they’re also very satisfied with you. So, when I happened to run into you today, I thought I’d give you this good news first. But the new employee training isn’t over yet, you know…” 

“Of course,” Lu Nan mimicked his tone, “After all, Brother Chen thinks I’m somewhat clever. Until the formal notice comes down, no matter how happy I am, I’ll keep it to myself.” 

They exchanged a glance and chuckled. 

Chen Xiao asked, “Are you still planning to correct typos here?” 

“After Brother Chen sat down for a while, you proved that I’m really waiting for someone, and it’s someone of the opposite sex. I think later, no one will come and ask me if the seat across from me is taken.” 

“Well then, I’ll be the good guy to the end and help you fend off the enthusiastic suitors.” 

Lu Nan politely declined, “There’s no need, my market isn’t that good.” 

But Lu Nan’s polite refusals were in vain. Chen Xiao insisted he was free and just sat there daydreaming, promising not to disturb Lu Nan while she corrected the typos. 

“Suit yourself.” It couldn’t be denied that after Chen Xiao sat down, no one else approached Lu Nan. Lu Nan focused on her work for the next two hours. 

During this time, Chen Xiao kept fiddling with his phone, but it didn’t seem like he was chatting with anyone. 

Lu Nan felt her neck stiffen. Seeing that it was past nine o’clock, she decided to head home. 

“There’s no more public transportation at this hour. Let’s share a cab,” Chen Xiao suggested, stretching his long legs and pulling out the chair for Lu Nan as she stood up, making it easier for her to leave. 

“Thank you.” It seemed normal for ordinary colleagues to share a cab together. Lu Nan felt that if she refused that would only seem pretentious. 

After getting into the taxi, Chen Xiao in the passenger seat immediately ordered, “Let’s take the girl home first.” 

The driver uncle was in good spirits, “Since it’s a boy bringing a girl home, let’s take a few more rounds around the neighborhood downstairs and take a leisurely stroll.” 

Lu Nan who was in the back seat, glanced at Chen Xiao. 

Chen Xiao didn’t see Lu Nan explaining to the driver—having taken girls home many times before, he had also been misunderstood by driver’s multiple times. Each time, the girls would quickly jump in to clarify that they were just friends. 

Chen Xiao wasn’t overly narcissistic, but he could clearly sense the disappointment in the other girl’s explanations. They always seemed to really want him to speak up, though what they hoped to hear wasn’t clarification. 

But today, Lu Nan didn’t do that. It’s not that she showed no anger, but she remained silent. Her eyes seemed to say, “I’ll continue watching you perform.” 

Chen Xiao could only touch his nose: “Master, this is my colleague. Look, I’m not sitting with her in the back seat.” 

“Oh, colleagues, huh? I understand. The company doesn’t allow office romances, right?” The driver looked at him with an ‘I know’ expression, and no one knew what he was thinking about. 

Lu Nan calmly played with her mobile phone, showing no reaction. 

At the entrance to Xinguang Yipin Community, she got out of the car first. 

The fare wasn’t expensive, it’s only less than twenty yuan, so she didn’t insist on paying. 

“Lu Nan.” Chen Xiao tore off a piece from the ticket printed by the driver’s ticket machine, lowered the window, and handed it over. “You forgot this.” 

“Thanks, Brother Chen.” 

As the taxi drove away, Lu Nan faintly heard the driver ask, “Is she really not your girlfriend?” 

Lu Nan put the receipt into her laptop bag, thinking to herself. “He may be handsome, but he has a dark heart. You can admire him from a distance, but don’t get close to him.” 

Back at the dorm, the mahjong table had already been put away, and Chen Lu and the others had left. 

Ignoring the mess on the floor, Lu Nan greeted the five downstairs and went upstairs to freshen up. 

She had been diligently saving drafts recently because she knew there would be major activities at the office next week. 

At Monday’s morning meeting, Manager Wang announced that the provincial office’s semi-annual conference would be held tomorrow in Wanghai City. “In the morning, everyone should arrange their work and communicate with the distributors. We will gather at the office at 3 PM. This semi-annual conference will last for four days and three nights. We will be staying in standard rooms. You can arrange your own roommates and make sure to prepare everything you need.” 

Wang Xiaoxue couldn’t help but asked, “Manager Wang, Wanghai City has many islands. Will we have free time during the meeting?” 

Manager Wang glanced at everyone. “Very well, I know the newbies are all eager. So, I’m pleased to inform you that there will generally exam on the last morning, with free time in the afternoon.” 

Wang Xiaoxue said, “Yes, I want to bring slippers and a swimsuit.” 

Everyone was quite happy, except for Lu Nan. 

She gets motion sickness, even on boats. 

Wanghai is composed of a group of islands, and the meeting place Manager Wang mentioned is on the largest island in the city, which is also where the city government is located, Wanghai Island. 

To get there from Hailin City, you need to take a two-hour car ride first, then a one-hour ferry. 

After the morning meeting ended, Manager Wang hadn’t returned to his own office yet, but discussions were already underway in the conference room. 

A standard room is a double room, so the four girls transferred from Yunan Province will definitely pair up. 

In theory, Dong Hui and Lu Nan, who share the same dormitory, could share a room during the meeting—however, it happened that neither of them intended to room with the other. 

Lu Nan overheard Dong Hui saying to Sasha, “Sasha, why don’t we share room together during the conference?” 

Sasha glanced at Dong Hui, then turned to Lu Nan. “What about Lu Nan?” 

“Sure,” Lu Nan replied, having missed the opportunity to go with Sasha unintentionally. Lu Nan understood what she meant. 

Dong Hui shrugged indifferently and heard Wang Xiaoxue shout, “Who wants to share a room with me?” She exaggeratedly and happily chimed in, “Me, me, me, I’m also a baby that no one wants.”