woman wearing irish linen shirt

I had a hard time eating this meal.I regretted bringing Lao Huang here with me. I didn't talk about any business matters during the dinner. The dinner table was full of exaggerated topics and mutual flattery with extremely high barriers to entry.I'm here to make amends for Kevin, and I'm embarrassed, too, and so is Huang, who in his sneakers, khakis, and T-shirt always looks out of place with the half-human, half-ghost wrapped in an expensive suit.

But because of the extra enthusiasm and care that Kevin showed to him tonight, it was more like a wealthy Internet tycoon condescending to have dinner with high-end wage earners than saying that he was out of place.

As for me, I'm on pins and needles.

Kevin was clearly very pleased with my tail tucked in.In the second half, he was no longer satisfied with my subtle compliments, but almost teased me as a junior employee just entering the workplace.

I heard him talk about industry trends and future prospects. His words are big and empty. Compared with the standards of a high-level building, in fact, it is nothing more than abstracting specific problems, macroscopically speaking, and then deviating from the essence of the concept. Random combinations—a trick all too familiar to those who have worked in the consulting industry.

BCG has always had a personal relationship with him, and now they "work together": Oh, it's not necessarily true that they work together, since he is relied on by Ms. Pande, maybe there is some kind of consensus with these project team members.They naturally enjoyed it; to my surprise, Lao Huang also calmed down tonight and did not tear down his stage.

I am a grandson to Kevin.The kind that is closer than a grandson.

The topic naturally turned from suits and VIP lounges at the airport to luxury stationery.Of course, I'd be surprised if they didn't come with a complete set of consumerist men with whiskey, mechanical watches and handmade leather shoes today. What's the point of talking about Montblanc's Patron of Art series?

But I didn't expect that Kevin would call my name at this time.

This is the first time he took the initiative to talk to me tonight: "Yao, do you know pens well?"

"Oh! That's right. I remember you used a pen that was very similar to Sonia, right?" Xu Xin didn't know whether it was intentional or not, and added fuel to the flames.

My heart is like still water.I discussed this matter with Miss Pender, and he can't beat me with it.

"I just know a little bit." I looked at Xu Xin, then looked at Kevin and said, "But it's limited to a few brands. I haven't come into contact with European pens. Kevin, I remember your signature pen very well." Pretty, it's Montblanc, right?"

"Yes—" He gestured to touch his shirt, "Oh, I put it in the inner pocket of the suit."

"That one of yours is also a patron series?" Xu Xin leaned slightly towards Kevin, seeming very interested. "I remember it was the black body and golden hat, Elizabeth I?"

Kevin shook his head: "It's Steinway."

"Oh!" Yimin was very appreciative, "How about getting it to open our eyes? Wait for the waiter to come over later..."

"—Yao." Kevin turned to look at me, and said casually, "Can you help me take off my suit?"

There was a sudden silence all around.

My eyelids drooped, and there was still a smile on the corner of my mouth.

Kevin can really do it.

He can say it, so what can I not do?Lao Huang opened his mouth, probably trying to smooth things over for me.I stood up immediately: "Okay."

After that, he didn't entrust anyone else, and went to the service desk to pick up Kevin's coat in person.

When he came back, he looked at me with surprise in his eyes.I couldn't find any impatience on my face, walked up to him, handed over the clothes, purposely kept silent, let people's attention gather, and then whispered to him: "Thank you."

"Thank you very much." Kevin nodded slowly, his eyes following me all the time, as if trying to see through my mask.But what mask can I have?

I can't bear this grievance, I can't climb to this position.

Xu Xin and the others might still be thinking about it, so they didn't speak rashly right now.I returned to my seat, resting my chin with great interest, and said, "Show them your Steinway 888."

Lin Yimin paused: "Do you know the model?"

"Yes." I nodded as I should, and pretended to be stunned, and smiled slightly, "And Kevin is our boss now, so we should pay more attention to his movements."

Kevin handed Yimin his expensive pen that was not suitable for daily use, and after hearing what I said, he pretended to be polite and said, "It makes me feel a lot of pressure to be your boss."

"Is that so?" I still kept smiling, "Then I will work harder, and I will not disappoint your expectations."

When I left, I booked a return ride for everyone present, as Kevin secretly hoped.

Before we parted, Lao Huang wanted to say something to me, but I shook my head, looked at him, and put on the mask again.He was also not very interested at first, sighed, patted me on the shoulder as a trivial encouragement, and got in the car.

On the bright side, at least the expensive dinner will be paid for by BCG, and the taxi fare will be reimbursed, so why not do it?

People can't just look at the dark side: only if they are willing to gamble and admit defeat can they make a comeback.

——That’s the reason.Sitting in the car, I sighed softly.

This week I met Miss Pender in a coffee shop as scheduled.The company has lost half of its country, and she has almost no use for me.In terms of specific business, Ms. Pan De has a high position and authority, and she doesn't get involved. When I talk to her, it's just a chat with a duck. Everyone knows that business is just an excuse.She didn't tell me anything at all, rather than a meeting, it was more like using this excuse to ask me about my week's movements.

But the trend of the department is something I can't say.Green Superman hides the news of the boss's past very deeply. There seems to be no wind in the industry. It is impossible for me to take the initiative to reveal the bottom line.The more I don't say anything, the more interested she is, like an obnoxious bastard who takes advantage of it.

The more likable kind of nuisance.

"Kevin is basically the champion of the year," I said. "I don't understand why you're spending your precious time on me."

Miss Pan De narrowed her eyes: "There are many mistakes in your words."

I try to be as professional as possible, but the smile still leaks out: "Would you like to point out an example?"

She glanced at me meaningfully and said, "One, it's only halfway through the year. You never know what's going to happen next. Two, I tend to spend my precious time on things that are worth spending." , and I have no habit of wasting."

"It's really interesting." I clasped my fingers and looked at her for a moment before saying, "A person can be annoying and attractive at the same time."

She leaned forward a little bit, held her chin and said, "Who is this person?"

"I have no idea either."

Miss Pender followed me and smiled: "Is there anything else tonight?"

"I don't think so. Is there anything else you'd like to add?"

After hearing this, she seemed to relax a little.I also felt a lot more relief on my shoulders when I heard her say, "Looks like our meeting is over."

Miss Pan De raised her brows slightly: "I was thinking..."

"Ok?"

"Will today be the last time we see each other this week?" Her expression gradually became vivid, "My schedule tells me that I seem to be free this Saturday."

My mood improved for no reason, so I grinned to myself, looked at her for a moment, and then lowered my head and said, "I have arrangements."

"Oh." She answered in a low voice.

I followed up and said, "Do you have time next weekend?"

"Well...it's not sure yet." She looked at me.

I sighed lightly, smiled and said, "Two busy people."

Miss Pender did not answer.After a while, she suddenly said, "No."

"what?"

"We should add a rule."

I laughed again unconsciously: "I thought you hated rules."

She raised her eyebrows as a gesture, and said half annoyed and half joking: "Do you agree or not?"

I was dumbfounded: "Sonia, I don't know what the content is yet."

She took a light breath: "Do you like me?"

I said with difficulty: "Of course."

"Of course what? Of course not?"

"Uh, of course I like you." I bit my lip, looked at her, and tried to explain, "I just..."

"I know. You are not good at answering 'whether or not' questions directly." She rested her chin on the back, fingered the earrings, "If you like me, you should create more opportunities to meet me."

"I agree. I want to see you often too," I said.

She looked at me with a half-smile for a while, as if judging the sincerity of my words.In the end, Miss Pan De said: "Then it's settled. We must see each other at least once a week, meeting at work doesn't count."

I froze for a moment.Who made a deal with her?

"Where's your answer?" she went on.

I do some quick calculations.It is too much of a stretch to set aside time for dating every week. Originally, there are a lot of paperwork on weekends. Meetings with big bosses are sometimes arranged at this time. I can't afford these parts.She has a fixed schedule on Sunday, how can this guarantee a weekly date?

Don't talk about me, Miss Pan De is in the position of partner, and she will only be busier on weekends.Now because of the epidemic, she can't leave Singapore, and she is so busy, how can she meet frequently in the future?

I swallowed.It's over, and the answer is slow.

Miss Pender frowned slightly.

You won't be angry, will you?

"Okay," I said immediately, "I promise to see you every week, no matter where you are, no matter how busy I am that week."

Her sorrow seemed to be calmed down at once.Miss Pan De's eyebrows stretched, she nodded lightly: "Very good. When will we meet this week?"

I looked at her pitifully: "Can you count today? I really don't have any free time this Saturday."

She narrowed her eyes slightly: "don't tell me you already have a date."

"No no," I shook my head and laughed, "it's just something we agreed not to talk about. Since we have to make rules, we have to abide by them all, right?"

Miss Pande was noncommittal, but in the end, she indulged me for a while.

I really have plans for this Saturday.I made an agreement with Liang Heng earlier, asking him to invite people from the "Nanyang Fishing Technology Exchange" to dinner, and the dinner happened to be set on this day.

An Ning accepted the invitation as I expected, now the timing is critical, since she is going, I must be there.