Cheng Baola took a deep breath and slowly shook her head.
"Actually, I'm doing this for your own good. Don't you want a chance to improve your relationships with everyone and stop being targeted? You don't need to please everyone; just please one person."
Li Yirou said.
Cheng Baola didn't expect her to be so blunt, especially using the term "please." It made her feel somewhat embarrassed.
"Do you remember Zhou Man? Zhou Man is now married into a wealthy family; her husband is from the Sun family in San Tai, and his family's wealth exceeds a hundred million.
This party is for Zhou Man, and she asked me to let you know that if you bow your head to her today, no one will interfere with your job search in the future.
She might even arrange a job for you that you like."
Li Yirou's tone was indifferent. As Cheng Baola's roommate, she was probably the one who knew Cheng Baola a bit better.
"So this is why you invited me? To make me bow down to Zhou Man?"
Cheng Baola looked into Li Yirou's eyes and asked with a self-mocking smile.
She had come today to smooth things over, not to bow down to anyone.
"Baola, I hope you can see your situation clearly and stop being so stubborn.
Zhou Man's husband has a fortune of at least over a hundred million and owns two clothing factories. Even our textile factory has benefited from their help.
Helping yourself today also helps me."
Among their batch of classmates, few were wealthy.
Li Yirou's family owned a small textile factory, so they had some money.
Zhou Man's family was average, but she unexpectedly married into the Sun family.
Cheng Baola's job search had hit a wall, and much of it was due to Zhou Man's interference.
She didn't need to know high-level people; just a few hundred or at most a few thousand in bribes would solve everything.
She knew that one day Cheng Baola would come to seek her help.
Cheng Baola remained non-committal, feeling disappointed. It seemed she had indeed come to the wrong place today.
At this moment, someone shouted:
"They're here!"
Everyone turned to look at the door.
A woman in a black sequined evening gown, heavily made up and somewhat attractive, was seen walking in. The gown shimmered under the lights.
She was tightly holding onto a young man in a pure white suit.
"Xiao Man, Shao Feng, you're here!"
"Just waiting for you, Xiao Man!"
The previously subdued party suddenly became lively. People stood up and awkwardly raised their glasses towards Zhou Man.
A few who considered themselves somewhat qualified rushed over to chat with Zhou Man, trying to build rapport.
Of course, the most important thing was to curry favor with Sun Feng, the eldest son of the Sun family.
Soon, they became the focal point of the party.
Even Li Yirou's parents stood up, adjusted their clothes, and waited with smiles for Zhou Man to come over.
Zhou Man spotted Cheng Baola at a glance, and immediately her face showed a strange excitement. She pulled Sun Feng and quickly walked towards Cheng Baola.
"Baola, long time no see."
"Long time no see," Cheng Baola replied, maintaining her composure.
"Let me introduce everyone. This is my husband, Sun Feng, the eldest son of the Sun family, who controls the clothing industry in San Tai!"
Zhou Man squinted her eyes and proudly announced to the crowd.
Sun Feng also looked arrogant, especially when he saw Cheng Baola. His eyes were glued to her.
"Pfft!~~"
A sudden burst of laughter came from the side, and everyone looked over to find Xu Zhengyang, who had been eating grapes at the table.
He didn't want to laugh, but couldn't help it when he heard "controls the industry." The grapes flew out of his mouth.
"What are you laughing at!"
Li Yirou coldly asked.
"Ha ha ha, sorry, I just couldn't hold it in when I heard 'controls the industry.' Is everyone here now?"
Xu Zhengyang continued eating grapes as he spoke.
"What does it matter to you if everyone is here or not?!"
Li Yirou shouted angrily.
"If everyone is here, I'd like to ask, which jerk has been stopping my girlfriend from finding a job?"
Xu Zhengyang, still eating grapes, pointed at them and asked.
Girlfriend? Even those who hadn't paid much attention to Xu Zhengyang now knew his identity.
So he was Cheng Baola's boyfriend.
Zhou Man, who was scolded, was not only unbothered but even stomped her foot and pretended to care:
"Ah, Baola! Look at what kind of boyfriend you've got, so uncouth, using foul language! He lacks even basic manners. Look at his sloppy appearance; how can he be worthy of you? You must have a tough life!"
"Yeah, look at Xiao Man's husband—polite, wealthy, and much more refined than your boyfriend!"
"And he laughs at 'controls the industry,' clearly not understanding the business world. The Sun family already controls the industry!"
"Ha ha, can't you see? He's clearly not on that level, just a small-time thug, social scum."
Several of Zhou Man's sycophants chimed in to add fuel to the fire.
Cheng Baola clenched her fists. She was angry that these people kept targeting her. She had never wronged anyone or harmed anyone; why should she endure this? She gritted her teeth and said:
"My boyfriend is my concern, not yours."
Zhou Man immediately sneered:
"Why shouldn't we care? Your job situation is poor, and with a boyfriend like this, who's also not doing well, wearing some brand of suit I've never seen! Trying to show off, what a burden!
You guys should be practical. I heard you're renting a place. How long will it be before you can afford a house?
How about this? I'll arrange jobs for both of you—one as a security guard, the other as a housekeeper. How does that sound? It's just a matter of my husband's say-so."
"Yeah, Baola, hurry up and agree. Be realistic; if you have nothing, don't be picky!"
Everyone started to jeer again.
Meanwhile, Zhou Man looked at Xu Zhengyang, hoping to see him become furious and embarrassed.
But Xu Zhengyang was still casually leaning against the table, looking at them with a bemused expression.
She was instantly infuriated.
At this moment, Sun Feng also spoke up. He had already decided to get Cheng Baola and would start by showing off his power, first by putting down her boyfriend.
"Ha ha, my sales department is short of a manager. If your friend is interested, he could consider it. The base salary is five cents, with commission extra."
Some of the people who had been jeering suddenly felt a bit sour.
A few male classmates hadn't reached that salary level yet.
"Five cents? I make over a hundred a month. Going to your place would be idiotic!"
Xu Zhengyang scoffed.
He understated his earnings. His monthly system-provided income was twelve thousand five hundred. But saying a figure like ten thousand or a hundred had the same effect; they wouldn't believe it anyway.
As expected, once Xu Zhengyang finished speaking, the room erupted in laughter.