Seeing that Manager Wang was already waving at her, Sasha said to Lu Nan, “Let’s go together.” As she stood up, she reminded her, “There are many people here tonight, so don’t drink too fast when we toast, and look slightly pained… After the toast, stand there for a while and chat for a few minutes before coming back. Naturally, other people who want to show off will come forward.” 

Lu Nan nodded and looked amusedly at Sasha’s worried look now, feeling that fate is truly miraculous. 

After giving these instructions, Sasha glared at Lu Nan, “Don’t smile too sweetly, it attracts attention! Tone it down a bit.” 

She and Lu Nan stood up with their wine glasses, and as they walked towards the leaders, they still wore the standard smiles of business etiquette on their faces. 

Perhaps compared to the previous groups of people who toasted, Lu Nan’s face appeared much younger. After taking a sip of wine, one of the leaders asked, “How old is this young girl?” 

Manager Wang smiled and said, “She’s a new recruit, just graduated from university and still needs some training.” 

The leader seemed to be aware of this, “I heard that your company is making a big move. All the people you have recruited in the past two years are college students and graduate students.” 

“The company is transforming, and the leadership of the group company attaches great importance to talents…” Director Xiang certainly wouldn’t let Manager Wang take all the credit and smoothly picked up on the conversation. 

The leaders started chatting about this topic, and Sasha said it was a good time to leave. The two of them nodded at the leaders who were chatting and left slowly. 

On the way back, Sasha lightly bumped into Lu Nan’s shoulder, “Not bad, huh? Not rushing in, not showing stage fright. Is this really your first time attending such an occasion?” 

Lu Nan thought for a moment. “Does the time when I went with Wang Xiaoxue to sponsor the Calligraphy Association count?” 

“Haha, of course not. They’re not even a major figure in the first place!” 

Lu Nan thought to herself: “Even if the big shots tonight hold high positions in the military, for us newbie group-buying managers, they represent resources beyond our reach, equivalent to chicken ribs. First, we can’t secure their business; second, even if we could, we wouldn’t be able to maintain customer relations well; and third, which is the most important point, just looking at tonight’s setup tells us that future policies will only become stricter. Our socializing here is basically ineffective.” 

Veterans understand this principle well, but newcomers don’t. When Director Xiang introduced the Navy leaders attending tonight’s celebration, the newcomers were always a bit excited. They rarely get to see such high-ranking leaders, and it gives them a sense of vanity that they have a prestigious job. 

Like Dong Hui. 

Seeing Dong Hui following Director Xiang and Zhou Tian, and always hanging around a certain leader, Lu Nan was speechless. “Was I really deceived by this person before? Indeed, I must have been quite foolish.” 

After a while, singing and dancing started, the atmosphere became lively, and most of the lights were turned off. 

Sasha was called away by someone, and Yan Kai was dragged off to drink. 

Someone came over to clink glasses with her. He had a dark complexion and white teeth. “Lu Nan, I don’t know if you can remember my name. My name is Zhou Lei.” 

Lu Nan knew him, whether in this life or the last (for instance, during that rowdy Werewolf game, Lu Nan paid attention to everyone’s reactions and remembered). She couldn’t help but dislike this person. 

Lu Nan didn’t want any interaction with him, so she just touched her lips with the glass and put on a look that indicated she didn’t want to talk. Zhou Lei sat for a few minutes, realizing she wasn’t interested, and then left. 

After that, a lot of people of the opposite sex came over to say hello to Lu Nan. She put two small tomatoes in the wine glass (to take up volume and make it look like there was more wine in the glass). When someone came, she raised her glass with both hands, clinked it with the other person politely, and then took a small sip. 

A while later, someone else sat down beside Lu Nan. In the dim light of the electronic screens, she glanced over and recognized him as the deputy commander who had asked her age earlier. 

As everyone settled down, Lu Nan felt it would be rude to ignore him, so she said, “Commander, your singing of ‘Returning from Target Practice’ just now was quite impressive.” 

“I can’t do it anymore, not like when I was younger, back then I had more vitality.” 

Dong Hui, who had been circling around the deputy commander, couldn’t stand being left out and interjected, “You’re so young, you look much younger than my dad.” 

Lu Nan almost facepalmed—while older men aren’t as sensitive about age as older women, mentioning ‘dad’ in this setting was inappropriate. 

Lu Nan wasn’t trying to rescue Dong Hui but didn’t want the leaders to think that all the new university recruits from Yuan Chuan were clueless, so she ignored Dong Hui directly. “Actually, a few days ago, I happened to see you on TV and was guessing you’re probably in your early forties.” 

“Oh, on TV?” The deputy commander became interested. 

“Military Channel aired it a few days ago. Your fleet was crossing the GG Strait for distant sea training in the Western Pacific, and you were giving the training mobilization speech. At first, I couldn’t quite believe it was you today, but then you confirmed it after General Director Xiang and Manager Wang introduced you.” Lu Nan really did watch that TV report—last life, of course. In that life, she used these words to impress the leaders, and they praised her seriously in front of Director Xiang and Manager Wang. She remembered it so clearly because she saw this military program again in this life. 

“The young lady even watches military news.” 

Lu Nan honestly replied, “Not really, I happened to see it while flipping channels. Because my instructors during university military training were also from the fleet, I glanced at it a few times—secretly, during military training. I thought the navy uniforms were so cool, and of course, the instructors themselves were quite handsome. Someone like you is even more impressive!” 

The deputy commander was obviously amused. This time, he praised Lu Nan more than he had in his previous life. 

Dong Hui was completely ignored. She sat there for a few minutes, smiling awkwardly but refusing to leave. 

Lu Nan sighed in her heart. Am I bullying this young girl? Not really, after all, she misspoke first, and I’m indirectly helping her save face. 

Of course, the deputy commander couldn’t just sit and chat with Lu Nan the whole time. After all, he was a big leader, and soon he was surrounded by Director Xiang, who came over to toast him and then was taken to other circles. 

Lu Nan leaned back against the sofa, pinching the rim of her glass with her thumb and forefinger. There was only a shallow layer of alcohol left in the bottom of the glass. She had discreetly thrown the cherry tomato into the trash while the leaders were drinking. 

Someone approached again, and Lu Nan instantly switched back to her business mode and sat up straight. However, it was clear that the other person was not looking for a girl to drink with… 

“Brother Chen?” Lu Nan was somewhat surprised. The wine glass in her hand was taken away by Chen Xiao, who quickly poured it into the trash can and then poured in half a cup of mineral water. 

Chen Xiao stuffed a mineral water bottle behind the sofa. “The lighting is dim, a little alcohol scent is enough, others won’t notice.” Yes, in a place with good lighting, it’s easy to distinguish between water and liquor, especially diluted liquor. Chen Xiao completed these actions calmly, then asked, “You knew last time to switch it for Mr. Yang, why are you so naive today?” 

Of course, it’s because I have a golden finger, those drinks didn’t even make it into my stomach. But Lu Nan still thanked Chen Xiao for his kindness, raised his glass and clinked without drinking. “Thanks, Brother Chen.” 

“No problem, after all, I’ve never seen someone so severely seasick and carsick in my life,” Chen Xiao smiled and glanced at Dong Hui, who was singing a duet with Director Xiang, then turned to ask Lu Nan, “Aren’t you going to sing?” 

Lu Nan shook her head, “After singing, I’ll definitely have to ‘receive awards’ (toast). In order to get off the boat early tomorrow, I have to save some energy.” 

Chen Xiao nodded with his wine glass swaying, “Sounds good.” 

Not knowing what he meant by that. 

Sasha finally slipped back when she had time. She breathed a sigh of relief and sat down beside Lu Nan, “What are you guys talking about?” 

“Brother Chen asked why I’m not singing.” 

“Don’t call him Brother Chen. I know you think calling him Brother Xiao is too close, but everyone in the office calls him that. You’re the only one who calls him Brother Chen, which makes it special.” Sasha took a piece of watermelon from the fruit plate. “But Brother Xiao sings really well. Nan Nan, you haven’t heard him sing yet, have you?” 

Actually, she has heard it. 

Lu Nan acted casual and shook her head. 

Sasha became more enthusiastic. “Brother Xiao, how about a song later?” 

Chen Xiao smiled helplessly. “Today is the leader’s stage. Why should I go up there and make a fool of myself?” 

“Sing one, I won’t have the chance to hear it after I’m transferred,” Sasha said regretfully.