?Reading on mobile phone Mei Juan claimed she was fast becoming a grandmother, clearly making a show of modesty. Her gesture of presenting the car key, however, vividly revealed her love for self-display. "Oh, this must be your boyfriend, I didn't expect him to be such a handsome young man," she said, casually waving her key while smiling. "Fang Fang heard you joined a company under Qin Group as an office clerk—how's your work going? Is it the construction materials company, right? My husband and I just bought a house recently, and we're about to move in—would you mind if we came to you to purchase building materials? Could you offer us any discounts?" Before she had even finished showcasing the car key, she was already talking about her new home. Qin, the young man, deeply felt that Fang was being overlooked—while she deliberately dressed simply to avoid putting pressure on her friends, she was tirelessly highlighting her own achievements. Fang Fang blushed slightly, thinking to herself: It's no wonder we haven't stayed in touch for so many years—she suddenly reached out with such enthusiasm, as if she felt she had achieved success and wanted to showcase it to her friends. "Heh, I'm no longer with the building materials company," Fang said, genuinely not eager to boast, speaking with calm confidence. "I've been transferred to the headquarters for quite some time now!" "Really? You've moved to Qin Group's headquarters?" Mei Juan first expressed admiration, then asked, "The salary must be quite high, right? My cousin works at your company—she's in the HR department. According to her, even new employees earn around five or six thousand yuan a month. With bonuses and various benefits, their total income reaches nearly one hundred thousand yuan annually!" The minimum base salary for a General Manager's Assistant is sixty thousand yuan per month, and that's just the base. When you add bonuses, year-end rewards, and other incentives, exceeding one million yuan annually is quite achievable. Fang Fang smiled modestly, "That's about right. Qin Group has always offered excellent benefits. By the way, Mei Juan, I've noticed your business is doing very well—your income must be quite substantial, right?" Mei Juan pretended to be humble, waving her hands and saying, "Wholesale isn't exactly a high-margin business. We work hard all year round, and even with that, we manage to earn around 300,000 yuan—far behind you. You're a graduate from a prestigious university, working comfortably in a well-appointed office, with weekends off every week and statutory holidays. We hardly ever get a day off!" On the surface, Mei Juan seemed to be envying Fang Fang's lifestyle, but in her words, she subtly conveyed another message: You earn only around 100,000 yuan annually after university—while I started my business right after high school and now earn more than you. Then, what's the point of your university education? The joy she once felt upon seeing her friends had completely vanished, yet Fang Fang still smiled. "Being a boss is great—no wonder so many people dream of becoming one!" "What a boss? I'd say I'm just a hardworking person," Mei Juan turned her attention to Qin Feng. "Hey, where do you work, handsome? A boy who's been chosen by Fang Fang must be a real star—unlike my brother, who has only strength and nothing else!" "Thank you, but I'm not really a star. I've still been playing it by ear, never settling into a serious job." Qin, the son of a prominent family, remained humble. While it was true he belonged to the Qin Group, he had long since grown accustomed to being a hands-off manager. His other role in the Special Action Unit was equally inconsistent—he would go whenever he felt like it, and when he didn't, he'd simply stay away. On occasion, when he suddenly decided to visit, he'd even be seen as having ulterior motives. In that sense, it could truly be said that it wasn't a serious job at all. Mei Juan's eyes immediately curved into a crescent shape. From the very beginning, she had firmly believed that Fang Fang, fresh out of graduation, couldn't possibly be doing as well as she was—otherwise, she wouldn't have been so eager to meet her. Moreover, her husband was clearly better than Fang Fang's boyfriend, which only strengthened her confidence. She led Fang Fang into the store, set down her car keys with grace, and said, "Just pick a few pairs—no charge. Don't think I only carry wholesale items; the quality is just as good as that of some specialty stores, in fact, several upscale boutiques source their products from me!" Honestly, given Fang Fang's current taste, she found not a single pair of shoes here appealing. "That's very kind of you. By the way, I haven't met your husband yet." Fang Fang began shifting the topic. "I just brought the car back from the 4S shop and then drove it again to deliver some goods on a truck." She glanced at the car keys on the table and said, "These 4S stores these days are truly ruthless. For a simple maintenance service, they charge over a thousand yuan. If I had known that back then, I'd have gone for a domestic brand instead. Domestic cars are cheaper to buy and cheaper to use—Fang Fang, I strongly recommend you buy domestic models when you have the means. Spending a premium on a joint-venture brand? You'll regret it right after you buy!" Qin, truly worn out, interjected, "Fang Fang, let's go. Otherwise, your parents will be waiting anxiously!" "You're heading back to see your parents, aren't you? By the way, your parents are still running their stall on the Third Street, right? I'll take my husband and drop by to support you sometime." When mentioning "stall," Mei Juan's tone carried clear disdain—though she herself was no different, what pride was there? "Fang Fang, don't rush to leave yet. Pick out a few pairs of shoes—no charge!" "Fang Fang, what's your phone number? I'll have my cousin, who works in Human Resources, keep an eye out for you—really!" "...” The two of them hurried away, eager and persistent, as quickly as possible, out of Mei Juan's sight. "Phew," Qin said, exhaling, "Your classmate is just so eager!" Fang, looking disappointed, replied, "I never expected this—just a few years ago, Mei Juan wasn't like this at all. Back in high school, she wasn't at all ambitious or self-serving." Qin analyzed, "People change over time. Your classmate started running her own business when she was just in her teens, and now she's managed to buy both a car and a house—clearly, she's born with the instincts of a savvy businesswoman. It's only in the right environment that people begin to show off their self-interest. A student might be quite self-serving, but how far would they go?" "Indeed. You come to see a friend with genuine enthusiasm, hoping to rediscover the old bond—only to find that everything has changed. It's just like the saying: 'People and things remain the same Fang Meirong picked up his arm again and they retraced their steps. When they exited through the side door, at least half of the cargo from the truck had still not been unloaded. The two of them exchanged a smile and got onto the truck from opposite sides, preparing to start the engine. Suddenly, an elderly man in his seventies or eighties approached briskly, tapping the window with his hand. Qin Daxiao rolled down the window and asked, "What's up?" The old man opened his mouth, but because several of his lower front teeth were missing, his words came out in a steady stream: "Payment—five yuan for parking!"