The last time An Ting had ridden in a luxury car, it had been Song Qian's sports car.
She had worked herself to the bone for over a decade, and even a luxury apartment in Beijing had drained her savings. That alone had shown her how difficult it was to overcome social class barriers.
Before she died, she had owned a BMW, a gift from Ah Jie.
Now reborn, An Ting was a poor college student who couldn't even afford the deposit for an electric scooter. In her eyes, college students were the poorest of all. And she had understood that principle as early as eight hundred years ago.
Sitting now in the passenger seat of the Maybach, a familiar sense of motivation stirred within her.
As Sun Yiling's car passed the Maybach, the window was still rolled up. Ye Qianqian, inside, caught a glimpse of the Maybach logo—and then of An Ting seated in it. Her right hand immediately gripped the seat belt.
"What's wrong?" Sun Yiling asked in confusion.
Ye Qianqian looked away, forcing a smile. "It's nothing."
Without much thought, Sun Yiling turned the wheel and drove off.
Ye Qianqian stole a glance in the rearview mirror. The Maybach receded into the distance until it finally disappeared from view.
…
Before Xing Tang could even start the car, Xiao Gong reached over. "Boss, can you give me a ride? It's too crowded over there."
"Sit in the back."
Xiao Gong happily climbed in, but froze when he saw An Ting in the passenger seat. "Boss! Why can she sit there, but I—your loyal right-hand man for years—can't?!"
Xing Tang didn't look up. "Haven't I been your driver all these years?"
"It's true, but I still want to be your closest second-in-command, boss!" Xiao Gong muttered resentfully. He knew that every time they went out, the boss drove while he sat in the back, often causing outsiders to mistake him for the boss. Beautiful women frequently stared at the "driver" instead.
Xing Tang looked at him with visible disdain.
Heartbroken, Xiao Gong turned to An Ting. "Hey, classmate, what are you doing in my boss's car?"
"Because I might be your future colleague. The boss cares about his subordinates," An Ting said with a smile.
Xiao Gong perked up. "Colleague? What do you do?"
"She's my assistant," Xing Tang said casually.
Xiao Gong's eyes widened. "Wow! You have no idea how insane it was when I temporarily filled in as his assistant for half a month. Ever since his last assistant went back home to get married, he's gone through several. Let me tell you…"
Xing Tang glanced at him, indifferent.
Xiao Gong wisely fell silent, sending a warning glance to An Ting about the boss's terrifying nature.
"Is he really that scary?" An Ting asked, curious.
Xing Tang was silent for two seconds, then offered a cold, insincere smile—half-smile, half-warning. An Ting's curiosity deepened, but he didn't answer her as the car arrived at the restaurant.
The number of people at the gathering was moderate—just enough for a single table.
The cameraman who had sat next to An Ting during the day lit up. "Hey, I heard from Xiao Gong that you'll soon be our colleague?"
An Ting glanced at Xiao Gong, who smiled encouragingly. "Yes," she confirmed.
"Are you an artist signed by the boss, or a post-production editor?" the cameraman asked eagerly.
Ever since he had seen An Ting in front of the camera, he had thought that if such a talented, malleable performer were signed by the studio, he would never have to search for lead actors again. She could convey the desired emotion perfectly on her own—a true gem for any project.
"Boss Xing said I could try out as his assistant," An Ting said casually.
The cameraman blinked, then took a deep breath. "You're not joking, right?"
An Ting frowned. "Why would this role be so surprising?"
The cameraman scratched his head. "Ever since the boss's former assistant went home to get married, his mood has been… complicated. He's very strict with new assistants. Even Xiao Gong, filling in temporarily, has had his hands full."
An Ting raised an eyebrow. "Is he really that strict?"
Just then, Xing Tang stepped out to answer a call. With him gone, Xiao Gong leaned over.
"It's not something easily explained," he said, picking up his chopsticks. "The boss's former assistant had been mentored and promoted by him for years. She was practically his nanny. Then, at the start of this year, he went on a blind date, fell in love, and got married. Last month, his wife was already over a month pregnant."
Xiao Gong sighed. "Normally, that's fine. But the boss couldn't accept it. He had gotten used to having someone who anticipated his every move. Now, replacements haven't satisfied him, so he's even more irritable. He reflects constantly—didn't give enough red envelopes? Was the BMW not the newest model? Was the nearly one-million-yuan annual salary insufficient? No matter how much he reflects, he can't decide."
Before Xiao Gong could finish, he noticed An Ting's eyes sparkling.
"Why are you looking at me like that? So… excited?" he asked.
"No," An Ting said, covering her mouth. "I just think your boss is perfect. He did nothing wrong—not a single thing."
"You think so too?" Xing Tang returned at that moment, standing behind An Ting's seat, staring at her.
"Of course!" An Ting turned eagerly to grasp his hand. "Life is full of partings. You meet many people and lose many. That's not your fault. It's just that your former assistant wanted comfort. She no longer shared your passion. But you are different, boss. You still have the same enthusiasm, the same dedication to art. He couldn't keep up. You need a partner who matches your thoughts, your life. Like me."
Xiao Gong stared in disbelief. "Sister, you're going too far!"
An Ting shot him a sharp look. "Who said we're sisters?"
Xing Tang's previously low mood softened noticeably.
"You're right," he said, glancing at his watch. "Eventually, he will realize he could never find a more generous boss than me."
An Ting nodded and gently pushed Xiao Gong aside. "Come on, boss, sit here."
Xing Tang glanced at Xiao Gong with satisfaction. After sitting down, he gave An Ting a small approving nod. "You're very good."
An Ting casually tossed her short hair. "Boss, you're too kind. It's just what I should do."