Chapter 1, Friends

She clenched her hands under the table; he said so, but she could not think that way. The reality lay before her; he had helped her far too much, to the point where it had become a heavy psychological burden for her, as she had nothing to repay him with. She was like a mosquito that had landed on his arm, and he generously allowed her to draw blood.

He listened, unsure of how to inspire the little confidence she had left

Now that layer of radiance has faded, she, who was so beautiful, appears dull and indistinct in the crowd, perhaps it is only when she speaks to you and occasionally looks up that one realizes she is indeed a great beauty. Although beauty is innate, one must at least lift that naturally beautiful face for others to notice, right? She always keeps her head down, almost in a humble manner.

She composed herself, took out her phone to check, and saw a message: I am waiting for you at the intersection near your house, Jiang Zhengliang

"Let's have lunch together," he said to her. "You are about to graduate; how are things regarding your job? Let's find a place to have a good talk."

Now, she no longer has exquisite and beautiful clothing; the cheap clothes she wears still look sweet and attractive on her. Her hair is no longer adorned with delicate hair accessories like before; for convenience, she simply tied it into a ponytail with a black rubber band. In fact, she is still as beautiful as she was before, but the calm demeanor that comes from living in a comfortable environment has vanished. Even though she was once recognized as the good girl, introverted and shy, she was enveloped in a faint glow that made her dazzling, even though she was not a confident person. In fact, she is still as beautiful as she was before, but the calm demeanor that comes from living in a comfortable environment has vanished. Even though she was once recognized as the good girl, introverted and shy, she was enveloped in a faint glow that made her dazzling, even though she was not a confident person.

I have contacted a secretarial assistant position for you. He did not beat around the bush, stating that it is only a temporary contract and the salary is not very high. You have just graduated and have limited social experience, and I, as your senior, will take care of you in various aspects. Moreover, that company is a small subsidiary of the Jiatiang Group, and the work is not heavy. If you study hard, there should be no problem transitioning to a formal employee without any unexpected issues. The working environment is very good, and compared to other companies, the benefits are considered generous, plus it is close to your home. When he heard Zhang Rou mention that her company needed an assistant, he felt that this was an opportunity prepared by fate for Jian Si. When he spoke to Jian Si about this, he was very enthusiastic, not merely introducing a job to her, but rather promoting it.

"No... I can't... I can't stay out for too long either." She hurriedly declined, stammering a little

He smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, Sisi. You must understand that fresh graduates generally do not receive any significant job offers. As long as you are obedient and willing to work hard, there is nothing particularly difficult about it."

Jian Si nodded, the assistant secretary was just the office girl. Given her current situation, she was confident in her ability to perform this job well. "Thank you, Zhengliang. You have helped me so much over the years." It was rare for her to look at him, but the grateful expression on her face made him feel a deep pang of sadness, just like when he had watched her contentedly drink the cheap cold beverage a moment ago

Do not say such things to me again! He expressed some complaints, "You must remember, I belong to you!"

"It's nothing..." She habitually lowered her head to look at the tips of her shoes, and for some reason, she could not even raise her head to meet Zhengliang's gaze.

"Jiatian Group?" Jian Si was astonished, as it was a place many classmates dreamed of, being one of the top three enterprises in the province. It is said that even their cleaning staff are treated better than clerks in small companies. "Really?" She could hardly believe her good fortune and timidly asked, "By the way, you are also at one of Jiatian's branches, right?" She had heard him mention it before; his father had some business dealings with Jiatian, which allowed him to enter the company right after graduation. Zheng Liang, although coming from a well-off family, was down-to-earth and serious, considered humble and steady among young people. Even though he entered the company through connections, he was highly regarded by the boss.

Jiang Zhengliang looked at the young girl, and every time he saw her, he would recall the scene from the first time their families met at the restaurant. In fact, she had always been so well-behaved and delicate, with fair and exquisite skin, bright and glistening eyes, and long eyelashes that fluttered as if she were curious about everything, yet cautious, resembling a precious and naive Persian kitten. She evoked a desire to hold her in his arms and gently caress her, while also provoking a mischievous urge to tug at her ears and make her meow. Indeed, she had always been so well-behaved and delicate, with fair and exquisite skin, bright and glistening eyes, and long eyelashes that fluttered as if she were curious about everything, yet cautious, resembling a precious and naive Persian kitten. She evoked a desire to hold her in his arms and gently caress her, while also provoking a mischievous urge to tug at her ears and make her meow. When faced with something so adorably exquisite, such wicked thoughts can arise, perhaps Xi Chenghao thought the same way.

Dressed in a suit and leather shoes, Jiang Zhengliang stood at the entrance of a dimly lit, dilapidated alley plastered with small advertisements, appearing so out of place that passersby frequently glanced over. She approached him anxiously, and as Jiang Zhengliang watched her come closer, he forced a bitter smile and said as casually as he could: "It seems we still haven't arranged to meet far enough away."

Jinsi's phone is always set to vibrate mode, so in order to sense incoming calls, she has no choice but to keep her phone in the pocket of her close-fitting clothing. However, no matter how natural the moment may seem or how prepared she feels, whenever the phone in her pocket moves, she inexplicably shudders slightly. Perhaps after five years, with her phone always bringing bad news, she has developed a fear of receiving calls

During the interview, she furrowed her brow with concern, asking, "Is it very strict?"

She pondered for a long time why he was so good to her, surely it could not be because he liked her. He knew her past, knew it so well, and he was not a saint. It must be out of compassion, after all, it was within his capacity. However, as he rose steadily in his career, the more he could help her. She found it increasingly difficult to hold her head high in front of him, and she and he were no longer equals. It was only his kindness that led him to think this way. After all these years, it would not be an exaggeration for him to say he was her benefactor. She found it increasingly difficult to hold her head high in front of him, and she and he were no longer equals. It was only his kindness that led him to think this way. After all these years, it would not be an exaggeration for him to say he was her benefactor.

She quietly slipped out of the house, while her mother was engrossed in the popular TV drama airing in the morning, oblivious to her. The once grand community, one of the earlier commercial housing developments, lacked complete facilities and had no property management or maintenance, resembling an abandoned woman who aged remarkably quickly. In just a few years, it had deteriorated into a filthy and chaotic slum.

Was she wrong? She simply fell in love with a man she should not have liked at the age of seventeen. Many girls' first loves are not beautiful, but why must she bear such a painful punishment?

She misunderstood his silence and quickly apologized, saying that she should not have brought up such a disgusting matter. Looking at her nervous and uneasy expression, he suddenly felt a sting in his eyes, overwhelmed with emotion and on the verge of tears

She still remembers Jiang Zhengliang's expression, the shock, the embarrassment... Understanding. His look of comprehension and sympathy hurt her more than any words could. Yes, her mother did not say a single wrong word; her family had become what it was now because of her. Jiang Zhengliang's father used to do business with her father, and although they later went their separate ways, she and Jiang Zhengliang got along very well as classmates. Throughout the three years of high school, he was her only one. Initially, she helped him with his studies, but he ended up attending a prestigious university while she took a year off from school. Due to various circumstances, she could only attend a local, less reputable school, barely managing to obtain a university diploma. Jiang Zhengliang's father used to do business with her father, and although they later went their separate ways, she and Jiang Zhengliang got along very well as classmates. Throughout the three years of high school, he was her only one. Initially, she helped him with his studies, but he ended up attending a prestigious university while she took a year off from school. Due to various circumstances, she could only attend a local, less reputable school, barely managing to obtain a university diploma.

After a moment of hesitation, she slowly nodded her head

There are no better shops in this area, and the gaudy artificial flowers of the cheap cold drink shop are covered with a layer of fine dust, making them look even more unattractive. The cups of the delivered drinks also bear unsightly water stains. Jiang Zhengliang stirred the ice shards in the cup with a straw, but ultimately did not take a sip.

He understands that her constant sense of guilt in front of her mother has led her to develop such a habit

He handed her the paper with the phone number written on it: "Let's call to schedule the interview time at 9 o'clock on Monday. Once it's confirmed, let me know quickly, and I will accompany you."

Jiang Zhengliang still understands her situation so well, making every effort not to put her in a difficult position. Three years ago, he returned home from university for summer vacation and visited her and her mother. In front of him, her mother sharply criticized her for lacking ambition, indignantly saying: "Even Jiang Zhengliang has been admitted to a prestigious university, yet you only know how to demean yourself by seeking men, dragging down your family. In the end, you only managed to get into a third-rate school, bringing misfortune upon yourself and burdening others." Her mother sharply criticized her for lacking ambition, indignantly saying: "Even Jiang Zhengliang has been admitted to a prestigious university, yet you only know how to demean yourself by seeking men, dragging down your family. In the end, you only managed to get into a third-rate school, bringing misfortune upon yourself and burdening others."

In the past, she was a delicate flower in a greenhouse; when someone looked at her, she would blush and feel shy, but she would never shrink back as she does now. Her shyness has transformed into timidity in the face of a difficult life. He had long noticed that if he stared at her for a little too long, she would anxiously check herself, fearing that she might embarrass herself in some way. The fragile flower has turned into a sensitive mimosa growing wild by the roadside. He told her that she should not be afraid of others' gazes. After hesitating for a moment, she replied that once, while cleaning up after her mother, she accidentally got a piece of waste stuck to the hem of her clothes. That day, there was a large class at school, and in front of hundreds of people, a few quick-tongued and sharp-eyed girls shouted it out. Everyone turned away in disgust, covering their noses, and in the already cramped lecture hall, a buffer zone of empty seats formed around her.

Then shall we go to the cold drink shop ahead? He did not pressure her