"Oh, driving a cheap domestic car and still looking down on others? Before coming, I thought the top students like you were something amazing, but it turns out you're nothing special. What's the use of good grades? After graduation, you still end up as just a civil servant."
A civil servant? Well, she was not entirely wrong. All public officials in the country could indeed be classified as civil servants.
"Griffin, I think you're just upset because you feel ignored, and now you're making excuses to leave."
“People are naturally divided into different ranks. So what if your grades are great? In the end, you’re still just a lowly civil servant.”
I just wanted to leave this place quickly, but Malcolm’s comment unexpectedly stirred up collective anger.
“Everyone, I truly apologize for today, but I have an important meeting to attend shortly. Well, today’s meal is on me. Feel free to eat and drink whatever you like.”
"Just have the restaurant send me the invoice later."
As I reached out to grab my coat, a seductive figure blocked my path.
"Oh, acting like a big shot when you don’t have the money? This meal will cost at least thousands of dollars. Can you even afford it with that measly salary of yours?"
She was dressed in a fiery red dress, her lipstick just as strikingly bright. But the overwhelming scent of her perfume was unbearable and I couldn’t help but sneeze several times in a row.
"Griffin, what’s with that look in your eyes? Don’t you remember me?"
I carefully studied her for a moment before shaking my head. "Sorry, I’ve met too many people over the past few years. I guess I’m bad at remembering faces."
The truth was, I had absolutely no idea who she was.
She raised an eyebrow and let out a mocking laugh, saying, "Griffin, don’t play this whole 'hard-to-get' act with me. You chased me for three whole years back in high school."
The moment she finished speaking, a familiar image surfaced in my mind. Still, the woman in front of me was far different from how she looked in high school.
I hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously, "Are you… Thalia?"
As soon as I said her name, a triumphant look spread across her face.
"So many years have passed, yet you still haven’t forgotten me."