“President Lou, will you have a moment later? The Design Department has an interview—could you attend? It’ll only take half an hour.” Cheng Jingran asked cautiously.
Lou Ye glanced at the day’s schedule on his desk.
A management meeting at 10.
A video conference at 11.
Both already crossed out.
His voice was cold: “No time.”
Cheng Jingran: …
She had fished Sang Wan’s résumé out of the endless sea on the recruitment site. The reason was simple: back at Imperial University, Sang Wan had been the goddess of the Architecture Department—the model student everyone envied.
Design is a matter of talent. Many architects spend a lifetime honing their craft, yet still fall short of the brilliance sparked by a single gifted inspiration.
But Cheng Jingran also knew: the six-year blank in Sang Wan’s résumé was her greatest weakness. By normal procedure, she wouldn’t even pass the HR assistant’s initial screening, let alone reach the HR director—or herself.
Unless Sang Wan’s presentation later was so outstanding it convinced everyone, hiring her into Lou Corporation carried risk.
Cheng Jingran had calculated carefully, hoping Lou Ye would share that risk. After all, he too was an Imperial University graduate, surely aware of Sang Wan’s reputation. She hadn’t expected Lou Ye’s refusal to be so blunt.
“Oh… understood.” Adjusting quickly, Cheng Jingran turned to leave.
Behind her came Lou Ye’s detached voice: “The Sicheng project was well executed. Everyone in the Project Department gets double bonuses this month. File the request—I’ll sign. As for you, Director, five times.”
Cheng Jingran blinked, stunned, and turned back.
Lou Ye’s voice continued, cool and steady: “As for the interview later—if Sang Wan passes, assign her to the architectural design for Plot No. 3.”
Cheng Jingran’s mind spun at lightning speed.
First: Lou Ye knew the candidate about to be interviewed was Sang Wan.
Second: he said that if she passed, she should immediately join the Design Department and start on a major project.
How did he know? Who told him? And why did he have more confidence in Sang Wan than she herself did? In just a few seconds, countless thoughts flashed through her head.
Recovering, Cheng Jingran answered crisply, “Understood!”
At Lou Corporation, work seemed timed down to the second.
Exactly thirty minutes later, the conference room door opened. Cheng Jingran entered with several colleagues.
“This is Manager Lin from the Design Department, Manager Wang from Architecture, and Director Qin from HR Administration…” She introduced each one to Sang Wan, then turned toward the big screen.
“Let’s begin.”
Sang Wan rose, laser pointer in hand, and walked to the screen.
“First, let’s look at this project titled *Kyoto Tower*. Its strengths are obvious: prime location, high-end facilities, and the use of new eco-friendly materials. But the weaknesses can’t be ignored—severe shortage of parking spaces, exorbitant costs, and a very low usable floor area ratio.”
“If I were to revise it, I’d approach it from six angles.”
Six people sat in the room: the managers and directors, and Sang Wan presenting at the screen.
One project finished, she switched to the next slide. “Now, this one…”
“Wait!”
Sang Wan had barely spoken when Manager Wang from the Architecture Department cut her off. “Could we pause for five minutes?”
Uneasy, Sang Wan glanced toward Cheng Jingran—who looked just as puzzled.
Before Sang Wan could respond, Manager Wang was already heading out the door. Hot on his heels, Manager Lin from the Design Department followed.
The conference room fell silent. Sang Wan’s heartbeat, which had only just steadied, now pounded wildly. Her mind raced back through her presentation—she couldn’t recall saying anything wrong. Yet this sudden interruption had caught her completely off guard.
Those few minutes dragged on, stretching into what felt like an eternity.
Then the door opened again. Manager Wang entered first, Manager Lin behind him. But the door didn’t close.
Instead, a whole group of people streamed in.
“Hello, Director Cheng!”
“Hello, Director Qin!”
Voices overlapped as they greeted Cheng Jingran and the HR Director, then quickly found seats.
Manager Wang turned to Sang Wan. “You may continue.”
A suspicion flickered in Sang Wan’s mind. When she lifted her gaze, she met Cheng Jingran’s smiling eyes. Her heart raced, the hand holding the laser pointer trembling ever so slightly.
Clearing her throat, Sang Wan resumed her presentation. What began as a one‑sided explanation quickly shifted into a lively exchange, more like a project kick‑off seminar than a candidate’s interview.
By the time the session ended, it was nearly one o’clock.
As the crowd dispersed, Managers Lin and Wang launched into a heated debate.
Manager Lin argued that Sang Wan’s specialty was architectural design—she naturally belonged in the Design Department. Manager Wang countered that her performance clearly suited overall planning and coordination—she should be placed in the Architecture Department for master planning.
The two fought to claim her. And Sang Wan knew then: she had passed the interview. By the time she stepped out of the HR Administration office, it was already four in the afternoon.
In her hand was the freshly signed employment contract. In her ears, Director Qin’s voice still echoed with the terms: probationary salary of 12,000 per month, with adjustments after confirmation based on performance. On top of that—housing allowance, transportation subsidy, phone stipend, and more. It all felt unreal, as though she were floating among the clouds.
Back in the Project Department, Sang Wan knocked on Cheng Jingran’s office door. Before she could speak, Cheng Jingran smiled and extended her hand.
“Senior Sang, welcome to Lou Corporation! Today is Thursday—take the weekend to rest. Come back Monday to complete the formal onboarding. Any questions?”
“None.” Sang Wan shook her head.
Leaving Lou Corporation’s tower, her first instinct was to send a WeChat message to Xu Yiyi.
【Darling, I found a job!】
【Let me guess… Lou Corporation?】
【……】
【Well? Was I right or not?】
Sang Wan admitted it.
Xu Yiyi replied with a cryptic smile emoji.
【I told you I had a feeling—do you believe me now?】
【……】
【Lou Corporation has the best project design department, so of course it offers the best benefits. And don’t forget *that certain someone*—with timing, place, and people all aligned. In short, I believe everything is arranged for the best! Darling, you’ve got this!!!】
Everything is arranged for the best. Yes, that’s right.
Sang Wan lifted her eyes to the blazing clouds at the horizon, mirroring her bright mood.
Sang Wan was about to message Xu Yiyi to set up a proper celebration. Before she could send it, her phone chimed.
Lu Jinnian’s call.
She hung up.
It rang again.
She hung up.
It rang again.
She remembered telling him just yesterday never to call her again. Yet Lu Jinnian clung on like a shadow. A troubling thought crept in—had Lu Xiaomu’s condition worsened again?
When the phone rang once more, Sang Wan finally answered.
Lu Jinnian’s angry voice burst through: “Sang Wan, you didn’t come back to the hotel last night. Where were you?”