Su Luoyan placed her creations on the table: fried eggs, sandwiches, and milk. She felt she was simply too talented and had to take out her phone to snap a photo for keepsake.
Fu Cheng Shen had already changed into his clothes, wearing a white shirt with a black suit jacket over it. His hair was neatly styled, combed back and specially blow-dried.
He held a black tie in his hand, wrapping it twice around his palm, his expression cold and restrained.
Su Luoyan looked at the tie in his hand, and some inappropriate images flashed through her mind. She couldn’t help but swallow.
It must be because she was on her period, with excessive hormone secretion and heightened hormones. That had to be it.
“Yan Er, come help me with my tie.” Fu Cheng Shen beckoned her over, speaking as if it were the most natural thing.
Su Luoyan walked over, took the tie from his hand, and tugged at his collar. “Bend down a bit. I’m not tall enough.”
Fu Cheng Shen obediently lowered himself. Su Luoyan looped the tie around the back of his neck, her slender, fair fingers holding the tie, looking quite elegant.
When they were together, Fu Cheng Shen’s ties were almost always tied by her, and he had taught her how to do it himself.
Su Luoyan skillfully tied a Windsor knot. After finishing, she adjusted his collar and straightened the tie.
Fu Cheng Shen watched her movements and asked, “Where are you going later? Do you want me to drop you off?”
“I have an interview scheduled today, recommended by a senior from my university. I’m planning to check it out. I’ll drive myself later.”
“A senior? Hmm?” Fu Cheng Shen pinched her chin with his fingers, forcing Su Luoyan to meet his meaningful gaze. She faintly sensed danger.
“Don’t misunderstand. The senior already has a girlfriend, and they’re deeply in love.” Her eyes conveyed sincerity.
When she first entered university, he had pursued her for a while but lost interest and gave up. Now that he had a new girlfriend and heard she had returned to the country, he had asked about her job situation. The company he genuinely recommended was one she couldn’t easily refuse.
Just as Fu Cheng Shen was about to say something, Su Luoyan quickly interjected, “Let’s have breakfast.”
She eagerly escaped from his side.
Since she was going for an interview, Su Luoyan applied light makeup, using earthy tones for her eye makeup to keep it subtle. She wore a white Chanel suit with a matching Chanel coat over it, paired with low-heeled pumps. When she wasn’t smiling, her bright and beautiful face took on a cold expression, bearing a slight resemblance to Fu Cheng Shen’s demeanor.
The company was located almost in the suburbs. Su Luoyan drove for nearly an hour. Fortunately, she didn’t hit rush hour traffic, or she wouldn’t have arrived by 10 a.m.
Her senior had mentioned that he had already informed his friend in advance. After arriving, she first registered at the front desk and told them she was there for an interview with Manager Zheng. The receptionist would then arrange it for her.
Su Luoyan parked her car in the garage. Her blue Maserati stood out conspicuously among the dozens of cars worth hundreds of thousands. She couldn’t help but wonder if she was being too flashy.The underground parking garage had an elevator that went directly to the 18th floor. Upon arriving, she found the company was quite large, occupying the entire floor. The entrance was designed with a grand aesthetic, and the rooms were separated by glass walls, allowing a clear view into each space. She could see employees moving about, each wearing a blue-and-white work badge on their chest.
After checking in, the receptionist led her to a nearby meeting room to wait.
Su Luoyan placed her resume and design portfolio on the table, planning to hand them to the interviewer when they arrived.
This was her first formal job interview. The need to gain approval from others to secure a position inevitably made her somewhat nervous.
During breakfast that morning, she had tried to glean some advice from Fu Cheng Shen, only to meet with failure.
“Did you ever have to interview for a job?”
“I started my own business, so I never had to interview.” He said it in the most sincere tone, yet it was incredibly frustrating.
“…”
“Then, when you interview others, what qualities or skills do you usually look for?”
“The positions I interview for are typically at the director level or other key roles. I tend to focus on overall capabilities—not just professional skills, but also leadership, negotiation abilities, and so on. A good leader can foster employee growth, which naturally improves work efficiency.”
Fu Cheng Shen smiled. He was well aware of Su Luoyan’s abilities; she was far from just a pretty face—she possessed strong professional skills.
He reassured her, “This is just a regular interview. Don’t be so nervous. Besides ability and first impressions, there’s also an element of luck involved.”
“Fu Cheng Shen, after hearing your comforting words, I’m even more nervous now.” Su Luoyan shot him a reproachful look.
“Hello, are you Su Luoyan?”
“Yes, I am. Are you Manager Zheng?”
“Nice to meet you.”
Manager Zheng was a middle-aged man with thinning hair, a plump build, and glasses. His eyes gleamed with shrewdness when he looked at people—clearly a very astute individual.
“Likewise. Here is my resume and portfolio. You can take a look.” Su Luoyan slid her resume across the table to Manager Zheng.
Manager Zheng didn’t open it immediately. He had some understanding of Su Luoyan’s background—she had been recommended by a colleague within the company, and her academic qualifications and appearance were indeed outstanding.
“Please introduce yourself.”
Su Luoyan had already memorized this part thoroughly. She elaborated in detail on her study abroad experience, awards, and her three-year and five-year career plans.
After she finished, Manager Zheng spoke up, “Miss Su, do you have a boyfriend now?”
Su Luoyan felt displeased. She had prepared diligently for this interview, yet the interviewer was asking such irrelevant questions.
“What does that have to do with the interview?”
“Miss Su, to be honest, you really are as beautiful as my colleague said—even more so than many celebrities. Beauty can indeed help some girls gain resources and job opportunities, but things obtained too easily are often abandoned just as quickly. We’ve had very pretty girls here before; I trained one as a lead designer, but she got married and had a child within a few months. So I have to be cautious.”Su Luoyan understood—Manager Zheng was implying in a roundabout way that she had only gotten this interview opportunity by relying on someone else, reducing her to a mere vase dependent on a man.
“Manager Zheng, I’m sorry, but perhaps our philosophies don’t align. I don’t think we should waste each other’s time.”
Su Luoyan directly picked up her resume and design drafts from the table and left.
Once in the car, she tossed her bag and documents onto the passenger seat, took out her phone, and sent a WeChat message to her senior. She was going to let him down—her understanding didn’t match the interviewer’s, and she wasn’t a good fit for this company.