Although Shu Hua was laid-back, her action-oriented side was undeniable.
The next day, 9:50 a.m., at the Pei Group headquarters building.
Shu Hua stood in front of the towering skyscraper, taking a deep breath. The glass curtain walls glimmered sharply under the sunlight—cold, imposing, and untouchable—much like Pei Yanzhou himself: strong, perfect, yet distant.
She adjusted the light beige Chanel suit she had carefully chosen for the interview and stepped inside.
The design department was on the 12th floor. In the waiting area, four people were seated: three men and one woman.
As soon as Shu Hua entered, nearly all eyes turned toward her.
She was dazzling today. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders like satin. Her face was the picture of “first-love innocence,” flawless, with slightly upturned eyes that gave her an unintentional hint of charm. The perfectly tailored suit accentuated her curves, and every movement radiated natural elegance and poise.
A man in a blue shirt with slicked-back hair immediately stood up and approached enthusiastically. “Hello! You’re here for the interview too, right? I’m Zhang Ming.”
“Shu Hua,” she replied with a slight nod, polite but distant, and found an empty seat.
Zhang Ming slid in next to her, launching into chatter. “Shu Miss, which school did you graduate from? You look so young. I graduated from a 985 university in China. This time at Pei Group, I feel… I’m destined to get this job…”
Shu Hua opened her portfolio, flipping through it with occasional “hm” sounds, not responding to him.
Zhang Ming noticed her cold reaction; his enthusiasm waned into a barely perceptible awkwardness. Still, he couldn’t resist stealing glances at her exquisite profile and long, slender legs. “Shu Miss, after the interview, want to grab lunch together? I know a great restaurant nearby…”
“Sorry, I have plans for lunch,” Shu Hua said, giving a polite, rehearsed smile.
Rebuffed repeatedly, Zhang Ming’s expression faltered.
He looked over her seemingly simple—but actually high-value—outfit and her stunningly beautiful face, and let out a half-mocking chuckle. “Hmph, acting all high and mighty. I’ve seen plenty of women who rely on their looks to get ahead. Pretty, but useless. Your interview will probably just be a formality.”
The waiting room fell silent. The other, quiet-looking girl cast a worried glance at Shu Hua.
Shu Hua closed her portfolio, slowly lifted her head, and instead of anger, a brighter, more dazzling smile appeared on her face.
She scanned Zhang Ming from head to toe, voice soft but cutting: “Thank you, the flower vase is beautiful. I’ll take that as a compliment. As for what I’m pretending to be…”
She paused slightly, lips curling redly, “That’s not something at your level to worry about.”
“You—!” Zhang Ming’s face flushed instantly.
Shu Hua didn’t give him a chance to retort and continued slowly: “By the way, which school did you graduate from? With your caliber, you’re practically ruining your school’s reputation.”
Zhang Ming had been struck at a sensitive spot—his undergraduate school wasn’t exactly top-tier.
He straightened his neck and retorted with a hint of malice: “Big mouth, huh? So which school did you go to? Graduate degree? Don’t tell me it’s some no-name college!”
Shu Hua calmly picked up a water bottle beside her, unscrewed it, and took a slow sip before responding: “No need for you to worry. Yale, combined undergrad and grad program.”
“Yale?!”
“No way, really?”
“That’s a top program globally!”
A few suppressed murmurs echoed through the waiting room. The other girl looked at Shu Hua with newfound admiration.
Zhang Ming’s face turned red and white in succession, as if someone were choking him. He couldn’t utter a single word.
At that moment, the conference room door opened, and a secretary called his name. He practically slunk in, tail between his legs, looking completely defeated.
“Wow! You were amazing!” The round-faced, cute girl sitting nearby leaned closer, eyes sparkling. “You completely shut him up! If it were me, I’d probably have cried out of anger and wouldn’t dare speak back.”
Shu Hua smiled gently. “You can’t be afraid of people like that. The more you fear, the more they push.”
Try to bully her? No chance.
“Got it! I’m Yao Zhiyuan. You’re so beautiful!” Yao Zhiyuan nodded vigorously, clearly having found her idol.
“Shu Hua,” she replied.
They chatted briefly and discovered they got along well. Watching the other candidates being called in one by one, Yao Zhiyuan grew increasingly nervous, clutching her clothes tightly.
Noticing her anxiety, Shu Hua took a beautifully wrapped fruit candy from her small handbag and handed it over. “Here, eat this. It’ll calm your nerves. Good luck.”
Yao Zhiyuan took it, nearly moved to tears. “Thank you! You’re so kind!”
When it was Shu Hua’s turn, she walked into the conference room with calm confidence.
Three interviewers were present: two women and one man. The poised woman in the middle was clearly the lead interviewer, Design Department Director, Joanna. As they looked at Shu Hua, all three paused for a moment.
“Please sit. Nervous?” Joanna asked with a smile.
Shu Hua seated herself, back straight, exuding elegance without arrogance. She shook her head and replied clearly, “Not nervous.”
A flicker of surprise and admiration passed through Joanna’s eyes. “You’re in great form—by far the most composed candidate I’ve seen today.”
The female vice director and the slightly portly male director, Wang Peng, also nodded in acknowledgment.
“Thank you,” Shu Hua replied, calm and unflustered.
The interviewers flipped through her resume and portfolio, all showing signs of satisfaction.
Joanna began asking in-depth professional questions, from design philosophy to software skills, to her views on current brand design trends. Shu Hua answered with ease, offering unique insights and even suggesting creative ideas that impressed Joanna.
Joanna’s admiration grew visibly.
The other two interviewers nodded repeatedly.
After the technical questions, the male director, Wang Peng, pushed up his glasses, glanced at Shu Hua’s beautiful face, and asked with a smile, “Shu Miss, with your qualifications, you must have many admirers. Are you seeing anyone?”
Shu Hua’s brow twitched subtly, then smoothed out. She looked at Wang Peng calmly, replying politely but firmly, “I’m sorry, but my personal relationship status has no logical connection to my professional ability or the requirements of this role. If there are no further professional questions, I believe my interview can conclude.”
Wang Peng was caught off guard, laughing awkwardly, “Haha, no connection, just asking casually, showing concern for outstanding young talent.”
Not wanting to leave any room for misinterpretation, Shu Hua responded clearly, “I’m married.”
The three interviewers froze for a moment, apparently surprised at her young age and marital status. Wang Peng’s eyes flickered with a trace of disappointment before he regained composure.
The interview ended with Joanna personally escorting Shu Hua to the door. “The results will be sent by email tomorrow. Please keep an eye out. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.”
There were three internship positions available, each with a three-month probation period.
Now, it was only a matter of time to see who would get the offers.
The interview concluded right around lunchtime.
Shu Hua followed the crowd down to the grand first-floor lobby.
Her stomach growled loudly, pressing her front to her back. She was about to decide where to eat when she looked up—and her heart skipped a beat.