Just past five o’clock, everyone headed out to the restaurant. 

Lu Nan glanced around and saw that the five people living downstairs had changed clothes. She wondered if they would regret taking a shower during the day when they returned in the evening smelling of smoke and alcohol. 

They took a taxi to Zui Qian Wei. Lu Nan and Xiang Feifei shared a cab. They pay the fare and split the extra tickets. 

He Manlin from the Provincial Office was highly efficient in her work. She calculated the number of people and reserved a private room with three large round tables. Each table could seat twelve people comfortably, but with a bit of squeezing, fourteen or fifteen people could fit. 

Eight men and four women were transferred from Yunan Province, along with Lu Nan and Dong Hui, so fourteen people squeezed around one table. They look as obedient as quails. 

But since it was called a welcome dinner, the newcomers were the focus of attention at the banquet. 

When everyone had arrived, Director Xiang and Manager Wang unanimously pointed out that all the newcomers had crowded to the last table. They insisted on sending representatives to sit at their table. 

The old colleagues also joined in, and Lu Nan reasonably suspected that they didn’t want to sit with the leaders either. 

“Since everyone is so modest, let me set an example.” Dong Hui’s eyes swept around the newcomers table, and she said confidently, “I was the latest to report to the entire office. If I don’t show some initiative to impress Director Xiang and Manager Wang, they might forget about me.” 

“We haven’t forgotten; how could we forget such a beautiful lady like you? Your name is Dong Hui, right? What a great name! You must be good at everything,” Director Xiang joked with a playful pun. 

Manager Wang waved at Lu Nan, “Lu Nan, don’t hide in the back, come sit at this table. And you, Xiang Feifei, Tian Yang, Zhang Xuzhe…” He called out the names of the other two male colleagues among the newcomers. 

So, the main table of twelve was filled with Director Xiang, Manager Wang, Chen Xiao, Li Li, Zhou Tian, Sasha, as well as Lu Nan, Dong Hui, Xiang Feifei, Hong Danni, and the two male colleagues who were just called, a total of six newcomers. 

Director Xiang came up with a new idea, saying that everyone shouldn’t be so formal, and that new and old employees should sit mixed together. 

Lu Nan was not surprised at all. 

On one hand, Yan Kai had reminded her when he got off work, and on the other hand, this was a scene she had experienced in her past life. 

When the highest leader spoke, those below naturally followed suit. 

Because Dong Hui had just flattered Director Xiang first, she was seated between Director Xiang and Manager Wang, effectively taking the best spot at the table. 

Lu Nan had originally sat next to Li Li, but sharp-eyed Manager Wang noticed and called her out by name. “Lu Nan, come, sit between me and Brother Xiao.” 

Lu Nan blinked and glanced at Li Li, her eyes were a little dazed and innocent. Li Li smiled, “Manager Wang is calling you, just sit over there.” 

Lu Nan’s feigned look of seeking help was initially a natural gesture to establish her personality. In fact, what she was thinking was, “What’s there to be afraid of sitting between Wang Xinglong and Chen Xiao?” 

Next, Xiang Feifei sat in the position between Chen Xiao and Li Li. 

Perhaps the ‘happiest’ person was a guy named Tian Yang, who sat between Li Li and Zhou Tian, both beautiful and powerful seniors. Lu Nan felt the young man was already starting to feel uneasy. 

Lu Nan took a quick glance around, taking in the expressions of everyone at the main table. 

However, she couldn’t let her mind wander too long. After all, according to Yan Kai, today’s meal was like a feast at Hongmen, so she had to stay alert. 

Lu Nan glanced again at the wine on the revolving table—it seemed that Manager Wang, who had paid for the drinks today, was generous and had brought out two cases of the 15-year-old Yuan Chuan classic wine, six bottles each, totaling twelve bottles of Yuan Chuan classic ‘Heavenly Fragrance and National Beauty.’ 

Under the pressure from Dong Hui’s performance in front of Director Xiang, which displeased Manager Wang, Li Li’s occasional eye signals reminding her not to just sit there, Chen Xiao’s indifferent gaze, and occasional eye contact with Sasha, Lu Nan made up her mind. “It seems today isn’t a good day to slack off. Slacking off will only easily lead to failure.” 

She gracefully got up, went to the door of the private room, and gave a few instructions to the waiter. 

Soon after, the waiter brought stainless steel basins and steaming hot tea to the tables of the three private rooms. 

Lu Nan stood up from her chair, very naturally and neatly moved the tableware that had been soaked in boiling water in front of her to Manager Wang—of course, even the chopsticks, spoons, and chopstick holders were not left out. Before Chen Xiao could react, she did the same with the tableware that was moved to her, placing the second set of tableware soaked in boiling water in front of him. As for the seniors who were further away, they were not within her scope of responsibility. 

How could a recent college graduate be so handy in doing this for someone other than a romantic interest? 

Dong Hui, who had just been chatting and flattering, suddenly felt a bit flustered, and with some dominance. She turned the glass on the round table forcefully, moved the hot water to her front, and also prepared a set of tableware for Director Xiang. 

Xiang Feifei, who had already reached out, got nothing. 

Some things, no matter how complicated the process, will eventually move towards a fixed ending. 

For example, this time, Dong Hui seemed to skip the process of becoming my best friend after joining the company and went straight to the conclusion; she wanted to win over the other girls downstairs to isolate me. 

Although from the perspective of time and space, the Dong Hui who hurt Lu Nan and the Dong Hui in front of me now, who is trying hard to imitate Lu Nan by cleaning the utensils for the leader, are not the same person. 

We cannot blame the future events to the present, nor can we blame this Dong Hui for the grudge Dong Hui from a “previous life” held against Lu Nan. 

But Lu Nan thinks, I can restrain myself from maliciously striking back, but is it too much to use this opportunity to tell her about what makes an excellent group purchasing manager? After all, I have a very good memory, and the troubles and injuries she caused me before are all real to me. 

Returning to the banquet. 

Dong Hui worked hard to serve the Director, but she always felt that Lu Nan had flattered two leaders while she only had one. In terms of quantity, she felt at a disadvantage. 

In fact, logically speaking, with one old and one new sitting together, it’s basically a 1v1 situation. Lu Nan just needs to take care of Manager Wang, but everyone in the office knows that Chen Xiao took her to meet Feixiang’s Director Mr. Yang — twice. 

Regardless of Chen Xiao’s true intentions in taking Lu Nan there. 

The fact is, Chen Xiao did give her the opportunity to perform. 

In the workplace, many people lack the opportunity, not the ability, to perform. 

If at today’s banquet Lu Nan only focuses on Manager Wang and neglects Chen Xiao, it’s inevitable that she will be suspected of seeking higher status and being ungrateful. 

At first, Chen Xiao did see that the newcomer Dong Hui worked hard. However, working hard should be directed in the right direction. 

For example, Lu Nan had already washed three sets of dishes, and while other newcomers were still busy imitating each other, she had already discreetly asked the Director and Manager Wang whether they should open the wine. 

Chen Xiao was a bit surprised. He had a few interactions with Lu Nan and felt he knew her somewhat, but now he realized that his understanding of her was quite superficial. 

Lu Nan received the approval of the Director and saw Manager Wang nodding. Only then did she straighten up and prepare to open the wine.