On her first day at work, Nova was as busy as a bee, soaking up new information like a dry sponge. 

She loved the fulfilling routine that kept her mind off her blank past. Learning new things brought her joy, and she found herself thriving in her new role, gaining a sense of accomplishment from her tasks.

Emma, who was guiding Nova, was amazed by how quickly she picked things up.

Within two hours, Nova had already familiarized herself with the company's basic processes and operating systems. Not only did she grasp the foundational knowledge, but she also offered several constructive suggestions, impressing her colleagues. 

Emma even thought that Nova's current position was beneath her capabilities. If Nova continued at this pace, she would soon be independent of Emma's guidance and might even surpass their supervisor, Sophia.

"Nova's learning speed is incredible. She's really suited for this job," one colleague whispered.

Sebastian, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it feels like she's been working here for a while already."

Despite being new, Nova demonstrated exceptional learning and adaptability. She listened attentively to her colleagues' advice and quickly applied it to her work. Soon, she was independently handling basic market research tasks, earning unanimous praise for her efficiency and quality of work.

The morning flew by, and just before noon, Sophia appeared at Nova's desk, holding a thick stack of documents.

"I've heard everyone praising your abilities. Let's see if you're really worth the compliments. Here is the latest market research data for a new product. You need to organize it into a detailed report, complete with analysis and recommendations, by the end of the day," Sophia said, handing the documents to Nova.

"Sophia, that's a bit much. It's Nova's first day, and you're giving her such a heavy task. Isn't that too harsh?" Emma questioned Sophia's decision.

Sophia gave Emma a cold look. "Emma, every new employee must be tested. As the department head, it's my job to evaluate their abilities. If you have a problem with my decision, take it up with the higher-ups."

Emma, looking displeased, was about to argue, but Nova interjected, "No problem, I'll do my best to complete it."

After Sophia left, Emma frowned. "Nova, Sophia is deliberately making things difficult for you. Even experienced employees need a whole day to complete this task. Why did you agree?"

Nova smiled. "Emma, I know Sophia is trying to intimidate me. She's making it hard on purpose, but this gives me a chance to prove myself. I like challenges. The harder the task, the more it pushes me to reach my potential. Don't worry, I'll get it done."

Nova buried herself in the thick stack of documents the entire afternoon. She carefully read each piece of information, analyzed every data point, and tried to extract valuable insights. She took notes in her notebook and quickly organized her thoughts.

Time ticked away, and as the end of the day approached, Nova's desk was piled high with various documents and notes. Her shoulders ached, and her neck was stiff, but she kept working relentlessly.

Time passed quickly, and as the end of the workday approached, Nova's desk was covered with various documents and notes. Her shoulders ached, and her neck was stiff, but she kept working diligently.

Suddenly, an error appeared on the data analysis chart on her computer screen, causing Nova's heart to sink. She knew that if she couldn't fix the problem in time, the entire report might fail. Taking a deep breath, she quickly began troubleshooting the error.

After some tense moments, Nova identified the issue and corrected the data. She sighed in relief but realized time was running out. She sped up her pace, completing the final analysis and summary.

In the last half-hour before the end of the day, Nova finished her report. She carefully checked every detail to ensure there were no mistakes, printed the report, neatly bound it, and headed to Sophia's office.

"Sophia, I'm finished," Nova said confidently, handing the report to Sophia.

Sophia took the report and began to review it. The fact that Nova had finished so quickly surprised her. 

Expecting to find faults due to the rushed job, Sophia's expression darkened as she continued reading. Nova's report was thorough, accurate, and her strategies were forward-thinking and practical, leaving Sophia with nothing to criticize. Even Sophia herself couldn't have done better.

Forcing a reluctant smile, Sophia said, "Not bad, Nova. You've done well this time. But don't get complacent."

"Thank you for your recognition, Sophia. But I know this is just the beginning. I'll keep working hard, not just for your approval, but to prove my value to the team," Nova replied as she left the office and returned to her desk.

Emma immediately came over. "How did it go? What did Sophia say?"

"She said I did a good job."

"You really did it, Nova! Sophia looked like she was stunned by your work. I'm so proud of you," Emma said excitedly.

As the workday ended, and colleagues began packing up to leave, Nova received a message from Steve: "Meet me at the parking lot."

Looking at her colleagues waiting for the elevator, Nova replied to Steve, "Everyone is getting ready to leave. I'd like to avoid the crowd. Can you wait for me for a bit? I don't want anyone to misunderstand our relationship."

"You're the first woman who's dared to make me wait," Steve replied.

After waiting for her colleagues to leave, Nova sneakily made her way to the parking lot, feeling like a thief. She didn't expect Steve to still be waiting, but to her surprise, he was.

"Thank you for waiting," Nova said, feeling a bit flattered and embarrassed.

"I wasn't waiting for you. My car had an issue and couldn't start. I was just about to leave," Steve replied.

Nova was certain that Steve's sharp tongue had offended many people. She didn't call him out, instead saying, "This car is nice. It's more gentlemanly than its owner."

Seeing Steve's slightly unhappy expression, Nova felt secretly amused.

Perhaps due to the intense work, Nova felt mentally exhausted and soon fell asleep. Steve glanced at the sleeping Nova and unconsciously smiled warmly. He turned off the music and adjusted the air conditioning to a comfortable temperature to ensure she wouldn't feel too hot or cold. Then he slowed down the car to let her sleep more soundly.

When Nova woke up, she found the car had already stopped.

"Sorry, did I sleep for long? You should have woken me up." Nova returned Steve's jacket to him, "Thanks for the jacket."

"I just stopped the car, and you woke up right on time. You have perfect timing. Let's get out; we're here."

The car stopped at a restaurant. Nova looked at Steve, about to speak, but Steve explained, "My friends invited me to dinner, so I brought you along."

"It's not appropriate for me to join your friends' dinner," Nova hesitated.

"Are you planning to wait in the car? I'm not a heartless boss. Think of this as a company-provided meal," Steve teased, leading her into the restaurant.

As soon as Nova stepped into the restaurant, she knew it might be one of the best in the world.

The walls were adorned with authentic works by renowned contemporary artists, and the ceiling's frescoes were meticulously detailed, indicating their immense value. These precious artworks were merely used to decorate the restaurant's ceiling, showing just how luxurious this "company-provided meal" was.

Steve had just opened the door to the private room when someone inside spoke up, "Steve, you're never late. What took you so long today?"

When Nova entered behind Steve, everyone inside was stunned. A blonde-haired man was the first to speak, looking back and forth between Nova and Steve, "Did I see this right? Steve actually brought a woman."

Another tall man in a dark blue suit added, "Steve, you have a girlfriend and didn't tell us!"

A young man in a white shirt sitting in the corner said, swirling his wine glass, "Steve has hundreds of girlfriends."

"But this is the first time Steve has brought someone to our gathering," the blonde-haired man continued.

Hearing this, Nova quickly explained, "Oh, I'm not Steve's girlfriend. I'm just an employee at his company. I'm Nova, nice to meet you all."

"Oh," the young man in the white shirt drawled, looking meaningfully at Steve, as if mocking him for not yet winning Nova's heart. "Hello Nova, I'm Ethan."

The others also introduced themselves: the man in the dark blue suit was Jack, and the blonde-haired man was Ryan.

"I often visit Steve's company, but I don't think I've seen you before," Ryan questioned.

"Today is my first day," Nova replied.

This earned Steve several suggestive and probing looks from his friends.

Steve couldn't take it anymore and began to explain, "You all know about my injury, right? Nova saved me. And I discovered that she's an expert in market research, so I hired her."

For some reason, Steve didn't want to tell others about Nova's amnesia story, not even to his best friends. It was their shared secret.

"Speaking of the company, by the way, Steve, has your crisis been resolved? Do you need our help?" Jack asked.

"Thanks, I think I can solve it in a few more days."

During dinner, Steve and his friends discussed various company matters, occasionally asking about Nova. Nova fabricated a persona of being a market research expert,  earning praise from everyone. She felt a bit guilty, hoping her story wasn't too far from the truth. 

Most of the time,Nova immersed herself in enjoying the food, which was truly delicious!

Later, the conversation among Steve and his friends became more diverse: they talked about the recent World Cup matches, Ethan's recent discovery of a great restaurant, and some embarrassing stories about Jack.

They discussed enthusiastically. At first, Nova listened with interest, but later she felt as if there was an invisible barrier between her and them. They were from two different worlds. She felt like she was watching a TV drama—fascinated by the plot, absorbed in it. But at some moment, she detached from the drama, looked around herself, and found the surroundings silent and lonely. The excitement belonged to them, and she had nothing.

In that instant, Nova desperately wanted to know about her past. What was her previous life like? Did she have family? Had she ever had such lively chats with her friends? Would anyone worry about her disappearance? Thinking of this, Nova lost her appetite.

After dinner, everyone was ready to leave. Steve asked a waiter to pack a dessert, claiming it was for tomorrow's breakfast.

"Steve, you always disliked sweets. Why the sudden change?" Ryan asked.

Hearing Jack's words, Ryan sighed deeply. How could he have such an oblivious friend? Ryan handed Jack a piece of bread. Jack took it, not understanding, and took a bite, "Why give this to me? I'm already full."

"Eat more, talk less. That's how your friendship with Steve will last."

"But..." Jack was puzzled. Ethan quickly interrupted, "Please don't ask anymore. I'll explain after Steve and Nova leave."

Jack nodded and stopped talking.

After dinner, everyone left the restaurant and prepared to go their separate ways. The cool evening breeze seemed to blow away Nova's troubles: she believed that lost memories would eventually be recovered. Even if she never regained them, she would have new friends and a new life. She would live well regardless. With this thought, Nova felt much better.

Steve glanced at Nova and asked, "Did you enjoy it? The 'company meal' today?"

"I loved it, thank you, Steve," Nova replied with a smile.

Steve chivalrously opened the car door for Nova, "Let's go."

The car stopped in front of a mansion. Nova asked, "Is this your home?"

"Of course."

"I thought you would take me to a hotel or an apartment. Isn't it inappropriate for us to live together?"

"I live here alone. No one else has ever been here, and I've never had a serious girlfriend. As for what Ethan said about having 'hundreds of girlfriends,' they were just casual flings," Steve said, feeling annoyed with Ethan for being too talkative.

Nova knew Steve misunderstood her, "I just feel that, as an employee and boss, living together doesn't seem appropriate."

"As a successful businessman, I must control costs. If you stay elsewhere, it would increase my expenses. And I don't think you have enough money to stay in a hotel."

Steve's argument persuaded Nova, and she followed him out of the car into the mansion.