Then, Hu Jiasheng began to pack his things, asking as he did so.
"If the interview is successful, when can you start the earliest?"
"This position requires frequent overtime, and you'll be going to places with very harsh conditions. Can you accept that?"
Tang Nannan replied readily.
"I can start today, accept any overtime unconditionally, and travel anywhere."
"And I have no plans to get married in the next five years, so I will comply with all company arrangements."
And so, she joined Grey Electric.
Hu Jiasheng returned to work. At exactly noon, he went to the employee cafeteria for lunch. As he passed the technical department, he noticed that she had already completed her onboarding procedures and had joined the technical department.
All the technicians who were not on business trips were excitedly gathered around her workstation, chatting with her.
With a beauty present, they didn't even want to eat. They didn't feel hungry, and they were engrossed in their conversation.
Engineer Zhang was laughing heartily. Seeing a figure approaching from outside, he recognized Hu Jiasheng and rushed to the doorway to find him.
"Thank you, Engineer Hu. You kept your word, you really did it."
"From now on, you'll be in charge of all work-related matters, and I'll cooperate fully. If anyone disobeys, I'll be the first to object on your behalf!"
Hu Jiasheng smiled, patted his shoulder, and reminded them to rest well during lunch before leaving.
When he returned from the restaurant after eating, everyone in the technical department, including Tang Nannan, was gone. It seemed they had gone out for lunch.
The monk's department was truly a monk's department; they acted as if they had never seen a woman before, look how excited they were.
In the afternoon, Hu Jiasheng attended two more hours of interviews before returning to work.
It felt like he had only just sat down when it was five o'clock.
As the saying goes, a new official must make a show of their authority, and he didn't understand many aspects of the company. There was no point in going home so early, so he decided to work a little overtime.
As a result, Engineer Zhang knocked on his door again.
"Engineer Hu, you went on a business trip right after you joined the company, so everyone has been saying they wanted to hold a welcome dinner for you, but there wasn't a chance.
"Since a new employee joined today, why don't you have it with her, if you don't mind? It's everyone's sentiment, and you're not that stingy. Let's just be upfront about it, please don't refuse us."
What did he mean by holding a welcome dinner for him? It was clearly an excuse to spend more time with Tang Nannan, something Hu Jiasheng could see through.
For him, eating and drinking with people he didn't know well was useless socializing and a waste of life; he didn't want to go.
But then he thought, this Engineer Zhang was rash and impetuous, and he didn't know him well. He didn't know if he was sensible outside of work.
What if he wasn't a particularly reliable person, and Tang Nannan, being new, got drunk with a group of men and something happened? It would still be his responsibility.
Besides, he had something to say to Tang Nannan, and it would look bad if he didn't go.
Fine, he would go.
Engineer Zhang went back to gather everyone, and the group from the technical department streamed out.
Tang Nannan was surrounded by everyone. She couldn't help but look back at Hu Jiasheng.
Seeing his indifferent expression, he wasn't looking at her at all, nor did he seem to want to greet her, which made her feel a little disappointed.
She deliberately slowed her pace, trying to close the distance between them.
Everyone entered the elevator together. Hu Jiasheng and Tang Nannan walked at the back, standing together by the door, and were the first to exit.
They hadn't walked far before they reached Hu Jiasheng's parking spot. He unlocked the car as he walked, and Tang Nannan, walking beside him, said to Engineer Zhang.
"Didn't you say there was an extra person over there? I'll sit with the boss. It's good that I don't know the boss well, so I can get closer."
Although Engineer Zhang was unhappy, seeing that the two of them had already left, he couldn't say much more.
Tang Nannan got into the passenger seat and watched as Hu Jiasheng expressionlessly fastened his seatbelt, found the address Engineer Zhang had sent him, turned on the navigation, and drove off. Throughout the entire journey, he didn't even glance at her, nor did he seem to want to talk to her.
The anxiety she had felt all day was confirmed.
Hu Jiasheng was angry.
He simply didn't like women, or perhaps he didn't like her type.
It wasn't hypocrisy or politeness; he genuinely had no desire to get involved with her at all.
She had been too clever for her own good. Hu Jiasheng must have disliked her very much now for using their relationship.
Tang Nannan's purpose in coming was to get closer to him, but she couldn't push him away again because of her own cleverness.
She looked at Hu Jiasheng sincerely for a moment and apologized.
"Did my cleverness bother you? I'm sorry, Mr. Hu."
Hu Jiasheng finally granted her a glance, just for a second, before immediately looking forward again.
"You did bother me."
Tang Nannan's face instantly flushed.
It was as if she had been slapped several times, feeling so embarrassed that she didn't know where to put herself.
What was this equivalent to?
It was equivalent to Tang Nannan running up to him and confessing her feelings in public, only for Hu Jiasheng to reject her publicly.
He had no idea how much she valued her self-esteem in front of others!
After saying this, and seeing that Tang Nannan didn't respond, Hu Jiasheng couldn't help but glance at her again.
He saw that her neck, ears, and entire cheeks were as red as if they had been scalded by fire.
He knew he had spoken too harshly and that his meaning had been misunderstood.
"It's not entirely what you understand it to be. Actually, what you did wasn't wrong. Seizing opportunities and striving to move forward is only human nature, and I can understand you. It's just..."
"I know. You lied for my sake and violated your principles. I was using you, I admit it."
She spoke truthfully, and Hu Jiasheng felt there was no need to hide anything.
"If violating principles can change your life's trajectory, and if this is the first time I've done something like this in my life, I don't think I'll have many feelings about it."
"Actually, the problem lies with myself. This is the second time I've violated my principles."
Tang Nannan was stunned. She looked at him, and he continued.
"The previous time was much more serious than this, and it was also because of a woman. My ex-girlfriend."
"To make her happy, I abused my authority to channel benefits to her family's company, which led to me being exiled to the border for several months. I went through the most shameful and darkest period of my career."
Tang Nannan was terrified.
She had only thought of herself and forgotten Hu Jiasheng's position.
If it were discovered that he had violated his principles for her, who knew what people would speculate about their relationship? Wouldn't she be harming Hu Jiasheng?
"I'm sorry, Mr. Hu. My mind went blank, and I didn't think about the consequences... Drop me off on the side of the road. I won't go, and I won't go to the company tomorrow."
Hu Jiasheng turned and gave her a long, lingering look.
"You were quite bold when making decisions, and you're this scared after just a few words from me?"
"Alright, your onboarding procedures are done. Don't say such things."
"Work hard in the future and don't embarrass me. Don't you see everyone values you so highly? Don't let everyone's good intentions go to waste."