She looked at Meng Wan, whose eyes were clear, gentle, and confident, unlike her own, who was evasive and even afraid to look others in the eye.
"The convenience store is right near the conference room, shall we go together?" Meng Wan asked in an inquiring tone.
Her voice was soft, but it didn't sound cautious at all; it was very casual, as if she were asking a question without thinking.
Xu Jiaojiao nodded and followed Meng Wan out of the restroom. People walked by from time to time, chatting and laughing with their companions, which only made the atmosphere between them seem strangely silent.
Xu Jiaojiao lowered her head, unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes, seemingly immersed in her own world.
"Wanwan, how much does this dress cost?" Xu Jiaojiao asked, mustering her courage.
Meng Wan glanced at her, then quickly looked away. Xu Jiaojiao kept her head down and didn't notice Meng Wan's glance.
"Thirty million, I guess." Meng Wan didn't hide anything.
"My family might never earn this much money in our entire lives," Xu Jiaojiao said with a bitter smile.
"Many people can't earn this much money in their lifetime, so why measure it with money?" Meng Wan said matter-of-factly.
"Different people have different consumption views, and people from different social classes have different concepts of luxury goods. When you don't care about these brands, whether a piece of clothing costs twenty yuan, two hundred yuan, or two thousand yuan, it doesn't make any difference to you. But when you start to care about these things, you will consciously or unconsciously calculate the price of the clothing in terms of how many meals you can eat and how many affordable and comfortable clothes you can buy."
Xu Jiaojiao, her innermost thoughts exposed, lowered her head even further, lost in thought. She continued walking forward, but Meng Wan suddenly pulled her back.
Xu Jiaojiao was startled and looked up to realize she had almost bumped into a trash can. Meng Wan let go of her hand, but continued talking.
"You keep calculating the price, but you can't really calculate it. In the end, it will only lead to the depletion of your own raw materials."
"Sometimes I'm actually quite envious of you. Your family loves you, your boyfriend is handsome and rich, and you're beautiful and capable yourself. You're like God's favorite. I'm just someone who was brought in to make up the numbers, to be a supporting role to set off the main flowers. But when I see Lin Mi and Qingqing, I feel like I'm not even a supporting role."
"If even you think that way, then your life has come to an end."
Seemingly surprised by Meng Wan's response, Xu Jiaojiao stopped and looked at Meng Wan's back.
“But that’s just how people are; they compare themselves to others and get jealous. I don’t want to be like this either.” This was the first time Xu Jiaojiao had spoken so loudly.
Meng Wan stopped and turned to look at her, her gaze calm.
"So, everyone has negative emotions, and then what? What can you do to change the situation?"
Xu Jiaojiao picked at her hands, avoiding Meng Wan's gaze. Meng Wan's gaze was too firm and clear, making Xu Jiaojiao afraid to look directly at her.
"We've arrived at the meeting room. Go in and do your best. Clothes are just an accessory; inner confidence and your own abilities are what truly make you shine."
Meng Wan appeared behind Xu Jiaojiao without her noticing, patted her on the shoulder, and gently pushed her towards the auditorium.
Xu Jiaojiao stumbled, barely managing to regain her balance. Before she could say anything, Meng Wan had already walked towards the convenience store.
She stood there, only able to watch Meng Wan's departing figure.
"Jiaojiao, what are you doing standing here? Hurry up and go inside. The president is furious because he didn't see you."
"Something came up on the way, I'm sorry," Xu Jiaojiao said, snapping out of her reverie.
"It's alright, go in quickly, there's still some preparation work to be done."
The senior student is a gentle person, which complements the president's fiery temper. It is also thanks to her that Xu Jiaojiao received a lot of advice and opportunities, which enabled her to grow so quickly.
Xu Jiaojiao adjusted her breathing, exhaled a breath of stale air, and walked in with her back straight.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly. She performed well during both the registration and the subsequent Q&A session. Her simple and elegant attire, coupled with her polite manners and clear, logical answers, left a deep impression on many company representatives.
Seeing their satisfied nods, Xu Jiaojiao's smile looked much more relaxed, no longer stiff at the beginning, and more at ease. Her back also straightened up more unconsciously.
Xu Jiaojiao finally had a chance to rest after the meeting ended. She huddled in a corner, clutching her chest, seemingly understanding the meaning behind Meng Wan's words.
"Hello, I am the manager of Shengkuang Group."
Upon seeing the man in the suit and tie in front of her, Xu Jiaojiao immediately stood up.
"Hello."
“We currently have a project that needs a Chinese literature major. If you are interested, you are welcome to visit our company.”
Xu Jiaojiao took the business card, her eyes filled with joy. She knew this company; although it wasn't a top-tier enterprise, it was still a mid-sized company with good prospects and she'd heard that the benefits were also quite good.
"It's my honor," Xu Jiaojiao replied with a smile.
The man smiled and said, "As long as it's during working hours, you can just call ahead to let me know."
"OK."
"By the way, may I ask which company you work for?"
"Which one?" Xu Jiaojiao was taken aback.
"Yes, I see that the dress you're wearing is a limited edition from W·P. I heard that you need not only money but also connections to get your hands on it. I've never seen you before, so I don't know who my father is."
"I'm just an ordinary person. This dress was given to me by my roommate Meng Wan." Xu Jiaojiao's smile was a little stiff, but the other person was even more delighted.
"Meng Wan? Miss Meng? I see!" The man looked surprised and nodded in understanding.
Xu Jiaojiao felt somewhat uncomfortable under the other person's undisguised judgment.
"If you'd like to come visit, just give me a call. Of course, if possible, I hope you can bring Ms. Meng along." The manager took out another business card from another pocket, handed it to Xu Jiaojiao, and then left.
Looking at the two business cards that were identical except for the phone number, Xu Jiaojiao shook her head with a wry smile on her face.
After that, representatives from several other companies approached her. Although they didn't mention anything, their attitudes were all very good.
Xu Jiaojiao observed the other senior students who had their business cards handed to her. Most of them were distant and indifferent, acting as if it were business, which was completely different from their attitude towards her.
She held the two business cards in her hand, her thoughts a jumble of emotions.
"Why are you staying here?" Hu Lou's voice came from behind.
"Let's get some fresh air." Xu Jiaojiao rested her hand on the back of the chair and looked towards the stands.
"I took several photos of you, do you want to see them?" Hu Lou waved the camera in his hand.
Xu Jiaojiao turned her head, but before she could speak, Hu Lou caught a glimpse of the business card she was holding.
"A business card from Sheng Kuang? Not bad. I just asked around, and only the chairman received their business card. It seems your efforts and abilities have been recognized."
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiaojiao gave a bitter smile.
"It's not about relying on ability; it's clearly about having taken a liking to the owner who gave me this dress."
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