The other party finished speaking, and President Ma immediately broke into an even brighter smile.
"Oh? You might know each other? What a coincidence. Tang Nannan, lift your head quickly and see if Miss Zhang recognizes you."
"Oh dear, I never see you like this normally. How can you be so timid at crucial moments, your head is almost buried in the ground."
"You are my special assistant, after all. You'll be attending many important events in the future, and you can't always be like this."
In fact, Tang Nannan had already recognized them both. They were her college classmates.
The man had fiercely pursued Tang Nannan since the first year of college, but his ostentatious demeanor was something Tang Nannan couldn't appreciate, so she never agreed.
The woman was frantically chasing the man. Judging by their current stance, they seemed to be together.
Indeed, as they got closer and she could see them clearly, the female classmate smiled.
"It really is her! Honey, come look quickly, it's truly Tang Nannan."
"What's going on? We haven't seen you in just over two years, how did you end up like this? Where did you buy those clothes? And your shoes, my goodness, you haven't just come back from farm work, have you?"
"And your face, why does it look like a woman in her thirties or forties? You look at least twenty years older than before, Tang Nannan!"
Because of their complicated love triangle, the female classmate and Tang Nannan had a bad relationship during school.
She always treated Tang Nannan as a rival, spreading all sorts of rumors behind her back and speaking sarcastically about her in front of classmates.
Today was a good opportunity for her to finally hold her head high.
Tang Nannan knew she wouldn't say anything nice.
She had a bit of vanity and hoped not to be seen by them, but now that she was seen, and harsh words had been spoken, she decided she didn't care anymore.
"Likewise, did you get plastic surgery in Korea? You've changed so much. If you hadn't called me, I really wouldn't have recognized you."
"..."
The woman had a disgusted expression as if she had swallowed a fly.
After two seconds of disgust, she still feigned magnanimity and swayed her arm linked with the man's.
"Honey, do you want to say something to her? I'm not that petty."
In this setting, associating with a waitress, especially one who was so dirty and down on her luck, what benefit could there be other than losing face?
She'd rather avoid it. The man would absolutely not bring up the past. He swept Tang Nannan a disdainful glance and patted the woman's hand.
"You're not looking at all the beautiful things in this room, and you insist on looking at these disappointing ones. Let's go. I don't know this person, there's nothing to say."
The woman smiled triumphantly and coquettishly said.
"Your survival instinct is so high, I give you full marks for this answer. A kiss as a reward!"
The two of them treated her like a soulless robot. After their mockery, they kissed sweetly, leaned against each other, and walked away elegantly.
Tang Nannan watched their receding figures, neither sad nor happy.
In more than two years, she had endured enough hardships. They were people she didn't care about anyway, so there was no need to get angry over them.
As they left, President Ma disdainfully placed the cup on the tray in her hand.
"You, you're useless. They both said they knew you and took the initiative to greet you. Look at what you said?"
"You don't know how to seize opportunities, your emotional intelligence is so low, and you still want to be my assistant? I really don't know what Mrs. Gao was thinking."
This sentence angered Tang Nannan.
She really wanted to lift the wine glasses from the tray and spill them onto her face.
I want your salary, but I'm contributing my labor and effort, and I deserve to be respected.
You enjoy the convenience I bring you while despising me, what kind of person are you?
Suddenly, it felt so meaningless.
Why endure such humiliation serving a capricious woman who utterly disrespected her?
Tang Nannan was poor, short of money, and needed work experience.
However, she didn't want to live her life on her knees for money.
After speaking, President Ma put down her wine glass and turned away.
After taking two steps, she saw Tang Nannan hadn't followed and turned back to scold her.
"What are you standing there for? I'm saying this for your own good. You can't handle a few words? Look at your long face."
"Hurry up and come with me. There's an important guest here I haven't attended to yet."
Tang Nannan gritted her teeth and remained still. President Ma saw this, her eyebrows shooting up.
Just as she was about to turn back to scold her up close, a familiar voice came from the side.
"Sister Ma. Excuse me, I'm late."
President Ma's expression changed. Her face broke into a smile, and she went to greet the person with immense warmth.
"President He. Oh my, you're finally here. I apologize, it's my son's birthday today, and I thought since you're in Nancheng, you might want to join the celebration."
"Look at me, I've been so busy, I didn't even have time to pick you up. I apologize for making you come all this way personally."
"Not at all, President Ma. A happy occasion at home, it's my honor to come for a drink. We shouldn't be so polite."
After their pleasantries, Brother He San's eyes moved towards Tang Nannan.
"I was wondering who it was. Her figure and profile are so familiar. It turns out to be Miss Tang."
"Am I mistaken, President Ma? How did Miss Tang from Sucheng end up at your house? What is she holding in her hand? And what's with her clothes? Could she be applying to be a maid at your house?"
President Ma burst into laughter, disregarding her image, and explained to him. "I knew you would definitely recognize her."
"Mrs. Gao introduced her to me. She said she has no education, no background, and was drifting alone in Nancheng. She asked me to give her a job. I'm a kind-hearted person, so I made her my assistant."
"I'm busy today, so I asked her to come in for some overtime, and look how unhappy she is. Luckily you're here, otherwise, judging by her attitude just now, she was about to throw a tantrum with me again."
"Is that so?" Brother He San walked towards Tang Nannan with a smile, grabbed her shoulder, and turned her halfway around.
"Your parents have been in jail for over two years. You've suffered so much, and you still put on airs like a young lady? Do you think you're still the Miss Tang you used to be? Huh?"
Tang Nannan didn't know if President Ma deliberately called someone to disgust her, or if the saying "birds of a feather flock together" was true.
She didn't think she knew anyone before. It was rare to attend a banquet, and look at this…
She had suspected Brother He San of reporting her to Grey Electric a few days ago. Now that she knew he was also in Nancheng, the matter was confirmed.
Tang Nannan looked at him coldly and shrugged her shoulder.
"Who am I, what business is it of yours? Mind your own affairs."
"And you, President Ma. I am not desperate and have no choice but to work for you. Mrs. Gao said you really needed an assistant, and I happened to be qualified, so I came."
"After interacting with you for a few days, I've realized we have incompatible values, so I've decided to resign. I'll go through the resignation procedures tomorrow."
"Please reimburse me for all the taxi fares from these few days and pay my salary. Since you look down on me so much, we don't need to see each other again in the future."