Although the beer has a low alcohol content, the large quantity consumed makes up for it. 

Eight people in total have already finished two cases of beer, and they’re more than halfway through the third—making it 72 bottles in total. 

Lu Nan watched from the side. These young men and women, who had been busy working at the grand tasting event and had no time to drink, were all starting to feel a little tipsy. (except for Chen Xiao, who sat at the main table with Director Xiang and Manager Wang and had probably had plenty of that 20-year-old liquor). 

Of course, there’s a difference between being tipsy and being drunk. 

For example, right now, in front of her, Dong Hui was holding a beer bottle and preparing to stage a “smile to settle old grudges” scene with her. 

Lu Nan figured her mind was still pretty clear. 

Dong Hui, holding the bottle with the cap just removed, walked unsteadily towards Lu Nan and said, “Lu Nan, I’m going to toast you with this bottle.” 

Xiang Feifei wondered—was Dong Hui about to get drunk and mess with Lu Nan? Should she step in and say something, considering Lu Nan had given her work advice today? 

Before Xiang Feifei could decide whether to interfere, Dong Hui… started crying? The sudden turn of events left her stunned. 

Yes, that’s right—Dong Hui burst into tears. 

She cried while speaking: “I’m the last one to join this group of new hires. After I came, I saw that you all knew everything and already had work to do, and I felt really anxious. Especially you, Lu Nan, even though you only arrived half a month earlier than me, Brother Xiao is always more willing to ask you to do things. I really, really, really felt sour about it a few times in my heart, thinking that Brother Xiao was biased.” 

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire private room fell silent, with only the music still playing. 

Everyone’s gaze darted around—first to Dong Hui, then to Lu Nan, and occasionally sneaking a glance at Chen Xiao. 

Yi Wei nudged Zhou Lei with his elbow. Come on, man. Chen Xiao’s still our boss. It’s one thing for us to gossip behind his back, but look at your girlfriend—she’s drunk and just spilled everything right in front of him. You better step in, or else, how’s she supposed to keep working under him after this? 

Zhou Lei didn’t react. There was a hint of anxiety and uncertainty on his face, but the emotions never reached his eyes. 

Lu Nan quietly watched Dong Hui’s performance. Based on her understanding of her, what she said earlier was indeed her true feelings, but that truth only extended to that part. What she was about to say next was the real deal. 

This was classic “build up before the reveal.” 

Sure enough. 

“After the whole liquor cabinet incident, I realized the difference between our work abilities. Then today, during the Feixiang showcase, when things went wrong during rehearsal, you stepped up and handled everything. Seriously, I have to give it to you, Lu Nan—I admit it, you’re amazing. I used to be petty and narrow-minded, but today, despite everything, you still recommended me and gave me a chance to shine.” Dong Hui hiccuped, then went on, “So I’ve decided—from now on, you’re not just my friend. No, you’re my role model. I want to learn from you… Will you be my friend? Please teach me more in the future.” 

After she finished, Lu Nan didn’t react. She just quietly looked at Dong Hui. 

Acting skills? Average. 

For example, I stayed silent for just half a minute, and she’s already getting restless. 

The room remained silent, except for the music playing in the background—someone had picked up Too Softhearted. 

Zhou Lei gave Yi Wei a look, and Yi Wei laughed loudly: “Isn’t this great? Everyone being together is fate. Lu Nan, look, Dong Hui has already apologized to you. Why don’t you just accept it? From now on, take her under your wing, and help her become as excellent as you.” 

Lu Nan thought that just because someone’s weak doesn’t mean they’re in the right. But there are always some clueless people who waste their sympathy on so-called victims. 

Take those awkward public confessions, for example. There’s always some clueless bystander yelling, “Just say yes!” as if they’re helping create a perfect love story—without caring at all about what the other person actually feels. 

Just like now. Everyone’s waiting for me to give Dong Hui a way out. 

But why should I? 

Chen Xiao cleared his throat, about to speak, but Lu Nan had already moved. She smiled casually, took the bottle of beer from Dong Hui’s hand, grabbed a glass, and poured herself a drink. 

“Becoming colleagues is definitely a kind of fate.” 

If she followed Yi Wei’s logic, then everyone here was a colleague, meaning they all shared the same ‘fate,’ right? 

But some kinds of fate could only be called bad luck. 

“Like Feifei and me—we’re the type to cross paths even from a thousand miles away.” 

Yunan Province really was quite far. Lu Nan smiled at Xiang Feifei and poured her a drink as well. 

Then, she poured one for Dong Hui too. “Being friends isn’t something that needs to be said out loud to be official. What really matters is what’s in your heart, right?” 

Three glasses filled. The bottle was empty. 

Before Dong Hui could respond, Lu Nan turned to the men at the table. “I assume you guys can pour your own drinks?” 

With that, all five men, including Chen Xiao, picked up the bottle and poured their own. 

Lu Nan smiled at everyone. “Let’s have a drink—to ‘this wonderful fate.’” 

… 

Yan Kai, Zhou Lei, Yi Wei, and Sun Bo shared a taxi home. 

On the girls’ side, the three sat in the back seat, and Chen Xiao sat in the front passenger seat. 

At Xinguang Yipin, Chen Xiao told the three to “go to bed early” and then gave the driver his address. 

Back at his place, Chen Xiao turned on the air conditioning, and the strong cool air filled the room. 

He also took out a strawberry-flavored yogurt from the fridge. 

Again… strawberries. 

The air conditioner hummed gently as it worked, quickly cooling the entire living room. 

But Chen Xiao still felt a little… warm. 

He finished the yogurt in one go, crunching through all the strawberry pieces inside, then leaned back on the couch, tilting his head backward. 

The light from the ceiling was a little too bright. 

His mind drifted back to the Lu Nan he had seen today. 

The one who worked meticulously in a crisp white shirt and a skirt suit. 

The one who danced gracefully, barefoot, in a chest-high ruqun of bright red and deep indigo. 

The one who sat in the KTV room, bare-faced, her slightly damp hair carrying the sweet scent of strawberries. 

Throughout the entire day, he had felt surprise, admiration, and appreciation toward Lu Nan. However, his emotions shifted when he saw Yan Kai adjusting the room temperature for her, while she, without the slightest hesitation, shared half of her snacks with him. 

A new emotion crept in. 

Jealousy. 

Everywhere he looked, he saw her. 

Everything he thought about was her. 

If he still didn’t understand what this meant… 

Chen Xiao covered his face with his hand and let out a low, bitter laugh. 

There was a sense of realization, along with a touch of helplessness. 

… 

The next day, the other girls in the dormitory noticed that the tension between Dong Hui and Lu Nan seemed to have lessened. Dong Hui even offered to make breakfast for Lu Nan, although Lu Nan turned her down. 

But even just that was pretty shocking. 

“So, what exactly happened at the grand tasting event yesterday?” Jiang Xiaoyun was very curious. “Did Dong Hui finally let it go and stop being so stubborn?” 

Xiang Feifei roughly explained what had happened, then complained to Jiang Xiaoyun, “Let go? Nah, she was just using moral coercion. With Brother Xiao and all those colleagues watching, could Lu Nan really say no to the drink? And Yi Wei, that idiot… seriously, unbelievable. I wanted to shove a rag in his mouth right then and there.” 

“True,” Jiang Xiaoyun nodded. “Lu Nan was really put in a tough spot in that situation. But like you said, she ended up drinking it.” 

“She drank it, but she turned the tables and made it a group toast instead. What she said was just polite small talk—she didn’t agree to anything or make any promises.” Xiang Feifei admired, “I was actually thinking of stepping in to help. Opportunities like yesterday’s training don’t come often, and I was really grateful that Lu Nan was willing to teach me. But she had everything under control and spoke so openly that she didn’t need my help at all.” 

“You’ve always been good at reading people. Lu Nan might not seem like the warm and friendly type, but she’s got a sharp mind and knows exactly what she’s doing.” Jiang Xiaoyun quickly thought of something else. “Oh, by the way, are you heading home for the Mid-Autumn Festival?” 

“How many days off do we get?” Xiang Feifei asked, figuring the admin would know for sure. 

Jiang Xiaoyun answered, “This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival is close to National Day. The company is giving five days off, and the Sunday after National Day will be a workday.” 

“Five days? Then I’m definitely going home. Oh, thanks for the reminder—I should buy my ticket now.” 

“One more thing,” Jiang Xiaoyun added. “Our office is handing out alcohol as the Mid-Autumn gift. If you don’t want to bring it home, the sales team always buys them back. It’s 150 yuan per case. Sun Bo asked me to let you all know.” 

“Got it,” Xiang Feifei replied. 

Meanwhile, Pan Sasha, who had come over for the weekly meeting, also had something to say about Dong Hui. “That was straight-up moral coercion. If it were me, I wouldn’t have had that drink with her!” 

“If I don’t drink, how is she supposed to use that as an excuse to mend the relationship? And if she doesn’t smooth things over, how’s she supposed to take advantage of me later?” 

“Are you saying you deliberately acted like you didn’t mind?” 

Lu Nan smiled. “Honestly, I really don’t care. People gossip, but if I don’t catch them saying it to my face, what’s the point of arguing with them? It’s better to let her think I took a step back so she feels like she can push my limits further, and then…” 

Cut her off before she gets too comfortable, so she knows what real pain feels like. 

Seeing that Lu Nan wasn’t about to be taken advantage of, Pan Sasha felt reassured. 

By the time the meeting wrapped up, it was only a little past four. 

Lu Nan felt that she must have been too tense lately —her neck and back were aching. She scrolled through a review site on her phone, planning to find a spa for a massage. 

When she was about to head out, she saw a message from Yan Kai, saying there was a small alumni gathering tonight with about ten to twenty people, mostly former student council members who used to hang out together. He asked if she wanted to join and casually added that You Xiafei would be there too. 

Since she had no other plans, Lu Nan asked for the time and place. 

“Six in the evening, at XXX Hotpot Restaurant. Want to share a taxi there?” Yan Kai suggested. 

“No need, I have something to do around there as well, I’ll just go on my own.” 

“Oh, alright.” 

When she arrived at the restaurant and saw her old classmates, Lu Nan found it pretty interesting—everyone looked younger than she remembered. 

Listening to them talk about their current jobs, complaining about bosses and colleagues, she imagined that years later, their reunion topics would shift to houses, cars, and children, with a bit more competition. Lu Nan couldn’t help but feel: life really does make people more practical. 

After the hotpot, they went to a nearby KTV. 

There are many ways for Chinese people to maintain relationships, but eating, drinking, and singing definitely top the list. 

Perhaps because she had been involved in singing activities many times in her past lives, Lu Nan just wanted to find a quiet corner and chat casually with You Xiafei when they entered the private room. 

You Xiafei said, “My bonus just came in. You can choose whatever you’d like to eat.” 

“Thanks, boss! You’re so generous,” Lu Nan said with a laugh. She covered her mouth as she let out a small yawn. “But let’s pass on this week. I’m exhausted. Tomorrow, I just want to stay home and relax.” 

“Tired?” Yan Kai sat beside her. 

“Mm.” Lu Nan nodded. “I had a spa after the weekly meeting. I should sleep well tonight.” 

“Then I’ll take you home early later.” 

Lu Nan shook her head. “No need, just enjoy yourself. I’ll stay a bit longer and take a taxi around nine or ten.” 

You Xiafei glanced between the two of them. 

While they were talking, another senior, holding a microphone, called out, “Where’s Yan Kai? Why are you hiding in the corner?” When he spotted Lu Nan, his expression turned playful. “Ohhh, Lu Nan’s there too? Come on, don’t just sit around—have a drink! You two work at the same company now, right? Both in the liquor business? Your drinking skills must be top-notch. Let’s go!” 

Lu Nan wanted to decline, but Yan Kai spoke up first: “Lu Nan isn’t feeling well today, don’t bother her.” 

“Oooohhh, being all protective, huh?” Someone teased. “Then you drink for her.” 

Yan Kai laughed helplessly and prepared to pour himself a drink. 

What’s going on? That’s just going to cause more misunderstandings. 

Lu Nan smiled as she stood up and said playfully, “What’s this? Looks like everyone’s forgotten my title as the ‘Drinking Immortal.’ You want to compete in drinking?” 

She grabbed two bottles of beer, clinked them together, and opened both in an instant. 

She handed one to the guy who had been teasing them. “If you want to drink, drink with me. No need for senior (Yan Kai) to step in.” 

Downing an entire bottle in one go, Lu Nan didn’t even need her “golden finger.” 

The senior was impressed by Lu Nan’s bottle-opening skill and her boldness, and afterward, he didn’t dare joke about Lu Nan and Yan Kai’s relationship anymore. 

Around ten, Lu Nan said she was leaving, and the others didn’t try to stop her. It wasn’t until Yan Kai said, ‘I’ll walk Lu Nan out’ and followed her that the private room started buzzing with conversation. 

The senior who had drunk two bottles of beer with Lu Nan earlier said, “What’s up with Yan Kai? Is he chickening out?” 

“Oh, so you’re not scared? Then why’d you run off after just two bottles with Lu Nan?” You Xiafei pat him on the back and grinned. “Come on, don’t think too much. Let’s sing and drink!” 

… 

When they went downstairs to get a taxi, Yan Kai said to Lu Nan, “They’re just joking. They don’t mean any harm.” 

“I know.” 

“Lu Nan…” 

“Mm?” 

“I was wondering… have you thought about dating anyone lately?” 

Lu Nan took a deep breath, pressed her lips together, and said to Yan Kai, “Senior, right now I just want to work hard and make money. As for anything else… I haven’t thought about it.” 

Yan Kai’s expression dimmed slightly, but he forced a smile. “Okay, I understand. Be safe on the way home, let me know when you get back.” 

“After saying goodbye, Lu Nan got into the taxi and pulled out her phone. 

She noticed some unread messages from Chen Xiao, sent over half an hour ago. The first was followed by the second and third, after a five-minute gap. 

‘Lu Nan, are you there? I need to talk to you.’ 

‘Orders after the Grand Tasting Event went really well. Feixiang wants to move up the restock plan before New Year’s. Right after National Day, they’ll process the third batch—1.2 million in total, with 200,000 from the second batch already prepaid to headquarters. You’ll be in charge of the allocation this time.’ 

‘Can you work a bit of overtime tomorrow and get the third batch of distribution orders ready? Send it to me once you’re done.'” 

After reading the messages, Lu Nan replied: “Got it, Brother Xiao.”