Seeing her hesitate and look at him with an unspoken question, Hu Jiasheng knew what he was thinking.
He also knew Tang Nannan's predicament.
For someone with only a high school diploma to find a decent job in Nancheng, a city teeming with university graduates, postgraduates, and even doctorates, was practically impossible.
She also had a sick younger brother to support, and had many responsibilities to consider, unable to act on impulse.
Fortunately, Lu had smoothed the path for her now, and the people involved had been sufficiently intimidated. He believed that President Ma would no longer dare to give her a cold shoulder, and there should be no major issues with her returning.
They weren't expecting her to get promoted or make a fortune there; it was just about gaining some experience.
So, Hu Jiasheng told her.
"If you feel it's impolite to refuse President Ma's personal invitation, then go back."
"But let me make one thing clear beforehand. If you ever work overtime again, go home late at night, or drag yourself home exhausted, don't say I didn't warn you."
"Which special assistant acts like a migrant worker every day like you do?"
President Ma could hear the thinly veiled criticism in his words and hurriedly assured him.
"Never, never. The past few days were special circumstances. Someone was on leave, so I had Nannan cover. Now that person is back, this will absolutely not happen again."
"And her salary?"
"As discussed last night, base salary of 10,000, plus performance bonuses and sales commissions..."
Hu Jiasheng interrupted her coldly, "I don't care how you calculate it. Just make sure her monthly take-home pay is no less than 30,000, or Tang Nannan shouldn't work here."
"It's not even enough for me to casually buy her a bag. Why should she work herself to death for you?"
President Ma flushed with embarrassment and dared not speak.
Mrs. Gao looked at Hu Jiasheng again and couldn't help but laugh.
"Nannan is so fortunate. Is this your boyfriend? He's so caring towards you. Won't you introduce him to us?"
She was acting so convincingly, as if it were the first time she had met Hu Jiasheng.
If she hadn't met them at a dinner party with Zhan Meijue before, and hadn't seen Zhan Beijue's investigation into their past,
Hu Jiasheng might have been fooled by Mrs. Gao's excellent disguise and deep cunning.
Tang Nannan was embarrassed by her question.
He wasn't her boyfriend.
But Hu Jiasheng had indeed been quite protective of her today.
Put on the spot like this, it would be awkward to deny it.
Tang Nannan prepared to play it down, but Hu Jiasheng spoke to Mrs. Gao first.
"My name is Hu Jiasheng. I am the executive president of Grei Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd. of the Zhan Group. Tang Nannan's roommate."
The phrase "roommate" was indeed brilliant, leaving much to the imagination.
It depended on how one interpreted it.
Mrs. Gao continued to smile.
"Why do I feel like Mr. Hu looks so familiar? I feel like I've met you somewhere before. Have we met previously?"
Hu Jiasheng looked at her coldly, giving her no quarter.
"You must have mistaken me for someone else. I don't find you familiar at all; I have no impression of you."
"Then perhaps I am more familiar with your parents. You do bear some resemblance to them. Would it be convenient to talk about your parents?"
Isn't it obvious whether it's convenient or not?
Hu Jiasheng didn't know what she was planning, so he raised an eyebrow.
"What do you want to say?"
"Mr. Hu, may I have a word in private?"
Since Tang Nannan had decided to return to work at the company, and Mrs. Gao wanted to speak with Hu Jiasheng privately, President Ma, seeing that her presence was no longer needed, wisely decided to take her leave.
"I'll have the finance department prepare a sum for emotional distress. Nannan, please rest well today, or rather, you can rest well for the next few days. Come back to work whenever you feel you've fully recovered."
"Your position will always be reserved for you. I'll be going back to my work now. You two chat. Goodbye."
She scurried away like a lapdog.
Tang Nannan's status had been elevated from the mud to the clouds. She was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of money she had just received from President Ma.
She looked at Hu Jiasheng, who casually squeezed her shoulder.
"Excuse me, madam. I believe my parents and you have had no dealings, so there's nothing for us to discuss. If there's nothing else, we'll be leaving."
"Wait a moment."
Mrs. Gao looked at Tang Nannan with a composed expression.
"Nannan, please wait outside for a moment. I have something to say to Mr. Hu. It won't take more than a few minutes of your time, will it?"
Tang Nannan felt it wouldn't be an inconvenience, but she needed to get Hu Jiasheng's opinion.
She turned her head to look at Hu Jiasheng again.
Mrs. Gao's determined look piqued Hu Jiasheng's curiosity.
Fine. After all, they were mother and son.
Although this was only their second meeting, and the first time they had spoken,
He was also curious about what his biological mother intended to say to him.
Tang Nannan went out, and Hu Jiasheng took two steps back, sitting on the hospital bed, crossing his legs, and looking at Mrs. Gao coldly.
"I don't have much time. Say what you want to say quickly."
To his utter surprise, Mrs. Gao stared at his face for a good fifty to sixty seconds.
She, who had been calm, elegant, and self-possessed moments ago, suddenly became like an ordinary woman from the marketplace. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed and walked towards him, attempting to touch his face.
"Asheng, you recognize me, don't you? You've known me for a long time, haven't you? I'm your mother, Asheng."
The word "mother" was too unfamiliar, too foreign to Hu Jiasheng.
He had never uttered the word since he learned to speak, and he was not accustomed to it, so he would never say it aloud.
To Hu Jiasheng, Mrs. Gao was a stranger.
Her tearful attempt to touch his face only made him feel strange.
He instinctively stood up and took a step back, "Madam, please show some respect!"
Her tears flowed like water from an open faucet, cascading down her cheeks to her chin.
Mrs. Gao sobbed silently, her eyes tear-filled, looking at Hu Jiasheng.
"I miss you so much. Mom misses you so much that her heart is breaking. You are my darling, my only treasure in this life, Asheng. For you, I gave up..."
"Madam, I told you, please show some respect!"
Hu Jiasheng did not want to hear her complaints, nor did he want to listen to these cloying, saccharine words.
He didn't want his resolve to be weakened, so he prepared to walk out. Mrs. Gao blocked his path.
Wiping her tears, she pleaded with him with a pathetic expression.
"Alright, alright, I won't say it anymore, okay? Don't go, please don't go."
"I've waited for so many years, and today I finally have a chance to be alone with you and say a few words. Please let me speak. I beg you, Asheng, don't leave yet."
She looked so pitiful.
Her exquisite makeup was smudged, her eyes were full of pleading, and her movements were so humble.
Hu Jiasheng admitted that he was a soft-hearted person, and at this moment, he couldn't bear it.
He turned his face away, not looking at Mrs. Gao.