"As if you're so educated, aren't you just a broke employee?
If it weren't for my second brother liking you, you'd be nothing!
'It seems you're really fine, even in the mood to joke with me. Then I'll leave.'
Back in the conference room, Zhan Beijue immediately leaned in with concern.
'How is it?'
'I won't die.'
What kind of answer is that?
If there weren't so many people, with her attitude, Zhan Beijue would have slapped her on the head.
Seeing his overly worried expression, Zhou Jinbei taunted him.
'You care about her so much, go see for yourself. You don't know how to seize such a good opportunity to perform, and you just tell me to go up. What kind of capability is that?'
'?!'
Zhou Jinbei secretly nudged him under the table, signaling him to calm down.
'I'm really fine. Even if something were wrong, she wouldn't let me help. She looks at me like I'm her enemy.'
Zhan Beijue had no choice but to say nothing more.
During the subsequent bidding meeting, he was somewhat distracted.
He couldn't help but cast his gaze towards Jiang Nanfang.
Her every glance and smile, her frowns or pursed lips, her posture of sitting up straight or leaning back – every movement captivated him.
However, Jiang Nanfang remained completely focused, not even sparing him a glance.
The result was quite astonishing.
Jiang Nanfang's bid proposal was not professional enough. Afterward, Manager Li kept her behind alone and frankly stated.
'I don't know who within your company prepared the bid, but the professionalism is truly lacking. If it weren't for Manager Ke's face, you might have been screened out today.'
'But since Manager Ke personally handed over his business card, it's not good for me to be too harsh. Ms. Jiang, please refine it when you get back.'
From her student days to her career, Jiang Nanfang always demanded the utmost from herself, striving for the best.
Having been a model student, it was the first time someone pointed out her mistakes so unreservedly, and she felt incredibly upset.
But life is like this.
There will always be things you can't do well, and you have to learn to accept your shortcomings.
'Thank you for your criticism and guidance, Manager Li. I will definitely refine it properly when I get back.'
With a heavy heart, she went downstairs with her assistant and was surprised to find Zhan Beijue still there.
He was leaning against his car, on the phone, with Zhou Jinbei waiting beside him.
Seeing her approach, he quickly hung up.
'Are you okay?'
He looked at her legs.
Jiang Nanfang handed the car keys to her assistant to drive, still not giving Zhan Beijue another glance.
'I'm fine. Thank you for your concern.'
What attitude is that?
Watching the car speed away, Zhou Jinbei couldn't help but speak up for Zhan Beijue again.
'I thought her work ability was so strong, but seeing her today, it's just so-so.'
'Her bid proposal is far worse than ours. With this, what exactly do you like about her, second brother?'
'If you keep babbling like this, don't come tomorrow.'
Zhan Beijue threw the car keys at her.
Zhou Jinbei felt wronged. 'Heaven and earth as my witness, aren't I saying all this for your own good?'
'Do I need you to do that for me? Take care of yourself.' m..oΓg
Jiang Nanfang, feeling dejected, went to the hospital and truthfully told Ke Jingyu the results of the bidding.
Ke Jingyu didn't blame her; in fact, he seemed to expect it.
'This is your first time dealing with this industry, and it's already very difficult to achieve what you have.'
'As they say, different trades require different skills. You shouldn't have been assigned this task in the first place, so don't carry such a heavy psychological burden.'
'The State Grid needs you. Go back and work there. I'll assign this matter to someone more professional.'
Although she felt very frustrated, she had to admit that the saying "different trades require different skills" was correct.
The company would have many, many businesses in the future, and she couldn't handle everything herself. She really needed to leave some opportunities for others.
Jiang Nanfang agreed and quietly left the hospital.
As it was nearing the end of the workday, Zhou Jinbei was starving, her stomach rumbling. She ran to Zhan Beijue to act spoiled.
'I'm so hungry. Why doesn't the company prepare any snacks or pastries? We ate so little at lunch, it's all digested. Can we leave early?'
Zhan Beijue rolled his eyes at her.
'Did you come here to be a pampered young lady? Do you want me to be your assistant and go buy some now?'
Zhou Jinbei pouted, not daring to speak further.
Finally, when work ended, they went back together. Zhou Jinbei dragged him to the supermarket.
'Accompany me to buy some food. If I get hungry tonight, I can take care of myself.'
'Do you not have legs or hands? Can't you go yourself?'
'It's just that I don't have a car.'
Zhou Jinbei didn't want Zhan Beijue to see that she was driving Ah Zhong's car, so she always hitched a ride in his passenger seat.
In fact, there was another important reason for dragging him to the supermarket.
With a man present, a woman wouldn't have to pay, saving another sum of money!
'Good brother, just for your nephew...'
'Shut up, don't act cute with me. Hearing you like this annoys me.'
Zhan Beijue drove the car to the supermarket parking lot.
All afternoon, she had felt a sense of闷闷不乐 (mèn mèn bù lè - depressed/gloomy). Although her mind told her to give opportunities to others and not be too harsh on herself, she still felt a sense of loss.
She had no friends to confide in and didn't know where to vent.
Jiang Nanfang decided to buy some alcohol and have a small drink alone at home that night.
As the saying goes, "borrow wine to drown sorrows." After drinking too much, she wouldn't think about anything.
There's a benefit to "covering one's ears while stealing a bell."
She took two dozen beers and slowly walked with her shopping cart. Suddenly, she bumped into Zhou Jinbei head-on.
She also had a shopping cart, throwing things into it as if they were free.
Jiang Nanfang didn't want to talk to her much and was about to turn away when Zhou Jinbei called out.
'Miss Jiang, you're at the supermarket too?'
'What are you buying? So much alcohol? Didn't you get burned today? If you don't take medicine, fine, but you're drinking alcohol? Aren't you afraid the wound will get worse?'
Miss Jiang?
Zhan Beijue walked over from the aisle.
Upon seeing Jiang Nanfang, he quickened his pace.
'Why are you buying so much alcohol? Are you in a bad mood?'
Does it have anything to do with you?
If I'm in a bad mood, isn't it all thanks to you?
After three years of marriage, they hadn't gone grocery shopping together, and now he was accompanying his cousin...
The more she saw him, the more annoyed she became. Jiang Nanfang didn't say a word and pushed her shopping cart, turning away.
Zhou Jinbei couldn't stand it again.
'Look at your ex-wife, she's so arrogant. Besides being beautiful, tell me, what's good about her?'
'Every time she sees you, she has a look of disdain. What did you do to offend her?'
Zhan Beijue retorted.
'According to your logic, if you met Jiang Sicheng the next second, would you still be ready to pounce on him and have a long chat?'
'Then you have a really big heart.'
She wasn't even allowed to say a bad word about her ex-wife?
Zhou Jinbei was choked speechless by him.
Back home, without even eating dinner, Jiang Nanfang directly opened two bottles of beer and gulped them down.
Her head felt dizzy, and she lay on the sofa, opening her laptop, preparing to watch a movie.
However, she tried all sorts of genres and couldn't get into any of them.
She might as well watch the news.
She opened the social news.
Unexpectedly, she saw a prominent headline.
24-year-old Zhan Group employee dies suddenly.
It had a high click-through rate and was trending on the hot search.
Jiang Nanfang clicked on it and read that it was about a female employee of the Zhan Group who had died suddenly in her rented apartment."