Qiao Nan’s attitude was very sincere. She also treated them like adults and discussed this with them. At the sight of this, and after some consideration, the triplets nodded and agreed reluctantly. “However, minister, I can’t reach home too late tonight. It is almost five o’clock, dismissal time, now. I have to be home before eight o’clock. Is that okay?”Qiao Nan had not participated in such gatherings before and was not sure how long the fun would go on. Hence, it would not go wrong if she were to specify her condition in advance.

“Sure, I will definitely let you get home by eight o’clock.” He Yi was overjoyed. It was rare that his little junior agreed to go out and have a meal with everyone and bond with her colleagues. He had some initial concerns. Despite his protection, subtle influence on the team to make them trust Qiao Nan, and Qiao Nan’s own capability, he wondered if anyone would feel as indignant as Deng Wenchang and commit petty acts to evict Qiao Nan after Qiao Nan succeeded him.

One had to know that relationships between colleagues had to be built by spending time with one another. This kind of interaction was not only restricted to performance during work.

During Qiao Nan’s internship period, she had never participated in any of the department’s activities. However, she was just an intern at that time. In fact, it was not very appropriate for Qiao Nan and Deng Wenchang to join in then. However, He Yi was always supportive of Qiao Nan’s usual approachable style of interaction that did not go overboard.

The problem was that Qiao Nan was now a permanent employee and some ways of handling things had to change.

If he were to continue to defend Qiao Nan the same way that he did during her internship, Qiao Nan would eventually give the colleagues the impression that she was either not easy to be trifled with or too cold and snobbish. It would not be easy to win the hearts of everyone then.

Today, He Yi was elated when Qiao Nan agreed to have a meal with everyone. This little junior really made him feel at ease. He had not even reflected this situation to her and the problem was resolved. She had already thought of it.

True enough, his decision to pass the baton to his little junior was correct.

At the dining table, everyone only allowed Qiao Nan to drink beer as she was still young. The rest drank according to their usual habits.

When everyone was holding a glass of alcohol in their hands, someone immediately said, “Come, come, come! For today’s contribution, to our minister and our Comrade Xiao Qiao, cheers!”

“Cheers, right, cheers!” The newbie could chip in and share the responsibilities and burdens with the seniors. Who would not feel happy that someone was helping them out?

“Cheers, everyone, let’s raise our cups.”

Everyone, including Qiao Nan and He Yi, was in quite a good mood. They thus very willingly stood up and raised their cups. Of course, there was always someone who was a ‘maverick’ that appeared very unsociable.

Deng Wenchang had a stiff expression on his face. It was as if someone had owed him ten million yuan for a few years. He slowly stood up and raised his cup a little in a reluctant manner. Throughout the entire process, Deng Wenchang was like a dumb person who did not know how to smile or talk. He turned the bustling atmosphere cold.

“…”

The corners of many people’s mouth twitched. They could not wait to strike a kick on Deng Wenchang’s buttocks. Everyone was feeling quite happy. No one had forced Deng Wenchang to come. If he was so reluctant, he could go wherever he wanted to. Please do not stay here to be an eyesore and spoilsport!

“Cheers.” Qiao Nan simply ignored Deng Wenchang. She had not encountered many people like Deng Wenchang, but she had interacted intensively with them for two lifetimes. The more she treated Deng Wenchang with importance, the more he would kick up a ruckus. He was the same type of person as the Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin in her family.

Ignoring such people would make them feel awkward and terrible. In the end, they might not even dare to fart at anyone.

In Qiao Nan’s views, Deng Wenchang’s age was similar to that of a child. The problem was that Deng Wenchang was not born to Qiao Nan and she was not obligated to forgive the sicko Deng Wenchang unconditionally again and again.

He loved to pretend. Did he really think that the world would stop rotating without him?

What a joke!

Qiao Nan was very young and was not very forceful in her tone. At most, it was very clear and crisp. Nevertheless, it could bring on the atmosphere. A second ago, many people’s face darkened at the sight of Deng Wenchang’s behavior. The next moment, under Qiao Nan’s influence, they were ignoring Deng Wenchang and toasting to each other as per their wishes.

Clink! The sound of the glasses knocking onto each other was very crisp and clear. It stunned the hearts and livened up the atmosphere. Although Qiao Nan was a lady, she was as game as the men. She drained the beer in her glass at once. Many shouted ‘good!’ at that.

Next, wine and toast went around amidst laughter and chats. The atmosphere was harmonious and lively. Everyone was wearing a smile on their faces and speaking with raised voices. The atmosphere was better than before. Of course, besides that exception.

During the toasting, everyone had neglected Deng Wenchang. They had raised their cups high while Deng Wenchang was the only one who gloomily and listlessly raised his cup a little.

Sure. If he was not willing to toast, they would not toast with him then.

Everyone’s glasses touched except for that of Deng Wenchang, which remained silent.

Thereafter, groups of people engaged in small talks. Everyone had someone to chat with and was chatting eagerly. Deng Wenchang was the only one alone and silent all the time. He did not even say ‘yes’ or ‘mmm’. Besides sitting on a bench, occupying a seat and a set of utensils, he was no different from a block of wood. There was no sense of his presence at all. No one was willing to interact with an unsociable individual like Deng Wenchang. No one would be so wretched to do that.

Before eight o’clock, He Yi reminded Qiao Nan to go home.

Throughout the entire event, besides not holding Qiao Nan back from her first glass of beer, He Yi had been keeping a watch on Qiao Nan in her subsequent drinks.

Because of this situation, a few colleagues teased He Yi. “I say, minister. I know you value talents and care about your juniors. However, aren’t you a little overboard? If I am not aware that sister-in-law has given birth to a son for you, and this nephew of ours is still schooling, I am really going to suspect whether Xiao Qiao is your daughter.”

Besides her father, who would care so much for a young lady?

Everyone was men. Whether He Yi’s concern for Qiao Nan out of a man to a woman or a senior to a junior, no one would make a mistake on this. Hence, there was no misunderstanding.

In fact, besides He Yi, many people in the department treated Qiao Nan like a junior in their family. Hence, during the drinking session, none of them harbored any ulterior motive or force-fed Qiao Nan with drinks just because she was a woman.

On the contrary, if Qiao Nan did not refill her cup, no one would say that there was no more alcohol and request to refill the cup quickly. In addition, Qiao Nan was the only one drinking beer. Hence, they had only asked the waiter to prepare one bottle of beer.

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