“Let’s stop talking about men and discuss your job situation instead,” Su Can said as she handed Xu Mian a cup of rich, fragrant coffee, deliberately switching the topic.
At the mention of work, Xu Mian couldn’t help but feel utterly despondent. “I definitely can’t work with Ji Yuanhang. My only option now is to resubmit my résumé and look elsewhere.”
Xu Mian had never expected her first attempt at getting a job to end like this. From the initial interview to the re-interview and finally to today’s final round, she had prepared meticulously every single step of the way, filled with anticipation each time.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t hurting inside.
Regarding Ji Yuanhang’s sudden appearance today, she actually harbored a faint suspicion that something fishy was going on. Yet, she felt there was no reason for him to go to such great lengths just to get close to her.
He was a successful man now, undoubtedly surrounded by plenty of admiring young women. She, on the other hand, was a married woman with a child, so why would he still be obsessed with her?
Besides, in her heart, Ji Yuanhang had always been a refined and honorable man. Sabotaging things behind someone’s back was simply not his style.
He must have truly been unaware that she was interviewing at his company.
“Instead of running all over the place looking for a job, why don’t you work for yourself?” Su Can suggested earnestly, looking into Xu Mian’s clear, bright eyes.
“Work for myself?” Xu Mian was taken aback.
She had always been conventional and cautious by nature, and her plan in life had always been to find a stable job after graduation. She had never even considered opening her own company to become her own boss.
Su Can, however, had the exact opposite personality: wild, unrestrained, restless with the status quo, and daring to push forward. That was why she had set up her own studio right after graduation, and business was booming today.
Su Can reminded her, “Don’t you have an account where you regularly post outfit illustrations and teach drawing techniques? I took a look, and you already have around twenty to thirty thousand followers. You could totally focus on cultivating that account and growing it into something big.”
Xu Mian had a background in fine arts. Over the past few years, while raising her daughter and completing her master’s degree, she had enjoyed sketching outfit illustrations and posting them online in her spare time. She possessed great taste in fashion and a refreshing, comfortable art style; even though she had never treated it as a serious career, she had still managed to gain a loyal fanbase.
A book editor had even reached out to her previously, asking her to publish an illustration book dedicated to four-season fashion. At the time, she felt it would be too much trouble, and with her focus purely on her daughter and her studies, she politely declined.
She hadn’t expected Su Can to suggest running that account.
Su Can continued, “We’re in the era of new media now. Doing a great job with this account will be much better than working a nine-to-five at some company.
“Furthermore, aren’t you deeply knowledgeable about historical costumes across different dynasties? I can connect you with people in the industry. You can build your own account while working as a costume designer for period drama crews. See? You have so many paths to do things on your own. Why join a company and be at someone else’s mercy?
“Most importantly, running your own studio gives you flexible hours, so it won’t interfere with you spending time with Tangtang.”
Su Can knew her daughter was the apple of Xu Mian’s eye, so she chose to persuade her from this angle.
Xu Mian had to admit she was deeply tempted.
Having lacked parental companionship growing up, she knew firsthand how painful it was to grow up lonely. Therefore, ever since her daughter was born, she had provided her with constant, all-around companionship, striving to shower the little girl with abundant love.
How could she not be tempted by an option that allowed her to work while retaining more time to be with her daughter?
Of course, she was also quite bewildered. “But I have no experience at all, and I don’t know the first thing about managing an account.”
Su Can laughed and patted her chest reassuringly. “Don’t you have me, your senior sister? I’ll pass down every bit of experience I’ve gained from running my studio over these past few years to you.
“I also have plenty of friends in the new media industry. Later on, I’ll set up a meetup with a few top influencers who have millions of followers so they can share some of their expertise with you.”
With Su Can’s reassurance, the lingering anxiety and unease in Xu Mian’s heart vanished in an instant, leaving her so touched that her eyes welled up with tears.
“Senior Sister, thank you for showing me a clear path forward.”
Heaven knew how anxious and stressed she had been over job hunting recently. Starting her own studio might be tough at first, but as long as she was willing to work hard and put in the effort, a way forward would always open up.
For instance, she could reach out to that editor right now to reopen discussions about publishing the illustration book; she would willingly stay up all night drawing if she had to.
Su Can’s eyes lit up as well. “So you’re willing to do this on your own?”
Su Can had initially worried that Xu Mian’s conservative nature might make her hesitant to branch out on her own. After all, starting a business was tough and risky, but if she succeeded, it would greatly elevate Xu Mian’s social standing.
That way, Xu Mian wouldn’t feel so inferior in front of Jiang Yuanchuan in the future, right?
That was what Su Can was thinking.
“I am,” Xu Mian nodded solemnly. “But before that, I need your help with one thing.”
Without a second thought, Su Can asked, “What is it?”
“Help me pick an office location. I don’t want to work from home, or Jiang Yuanchuan will drive me crazy.”
This was Xu Mian’s request.
She, Jiang Yuanchuan, and their daughter, a family of three, currently lived in a three-story villa measuring over 300 square meters. The villa even featured her own dedicated art studio, so she could easily work from home.
However, whenever Xu Mian thought about her routine since her daughter started kindergarten, she frowned in frustration. Jiang Yuanchuan would constantly drop by home at lunchtime under the pretext of having lunch with her.
Yet every time after lunch, he wouldn’t leave right away. He would always wrap his arms around her, whispering sweet nothings into her ear, which inevitably set off spark and fire.
She had grown terrified of him coming home. She simply couldn’t understand how a man his age still possessed such a voracious appetite.
Therefore, working from home was strictly out of the question.
Su Can smiled. “I actually kept an eye out for that too. There happens to be an office space available for rent right downstairs from mine. How about I accompany you down to check it out in a bit?”
Xu Mian was beyond pleasantly surprised. To express her gratitude, she quickly offered, “Let me treat you to a feast tonight!”
Su Can readily accepted.
The sun was already setting by the time Jiang Yuanchuan’s phone call came through.
Xu Mian and Su Can had just returned from checking out the office downstairs. Xu Mian was very satisfied with it; most importantly, being on the floor right below Su Can’s studio gave her a sense of security.
Having a new plan for her future put Xu Mian in a wonderfully bright mood.
“You’re not at home?”
Jiang Yuanchuan asked over the phone in a tone that seemed casual, but Xu Mian could hear the subtle trace of grievance in his voice.
She explained calmly, “Mom called this afternoon saying she was going to pick up Tangtang from kindergarten, so I’ve been over at Su Can’s place all afternoon asking her for advice about work.”
The “Mom” she referred to was her mother-in-law, Jiang Yuanchuan’s mother, a very kind and easygoing woman who doted on Xu Mian like her own daughter, even though Xu Mian was technically considered an unsuitable match for the Jiang family.
She then added, “By the way, I’m having dinner with Su Can tonight. We still have important things to discuss, so I might get back a bit late. You don’t need to wait for me.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Then, Xu Mian heard the crisp flick of a lighter, causing her to knit her brows slightly. Was he smoking again?
“Oh?” Jiang Yuanchuan’s voice carried a sarcastic sneer. “Work matters?
“You’ve been asking for advice all afternoon, and now you have to eat dinner together to keep asking?”
His words were a clear accusation; in other words, he didn’t believe for a second that she and Su Can actually had serious business to discuss.
Both angry and aggrieved, Xu Mian couldn’t help but protest softly, “Jiang Yuanchuan, what on earth are you being so sarcastic for?”
The anger Jiang Yuanchuan had been suppressing all day finally erupted. “Am I the one being sarcastic? Isn’t it because you saw your old flame that you suddenly don’t want to see me, using dinner with Su Can as an excuse to dodge me?
“You dodged lunch, and now you’re dodging dinner. Are you going to tell me next that you’re not coming home tonight and sleeping over at Su Can’s place instead?
“Xu Mian, you are my wife, Jiang Yuanchuan’s wife! Just where do you think you can hide?”
After Jiang Yuanchuan finished his slightly out-of-control tirade, his only reward was Xu Mian hanging up the phone on him.