In a certain CBD area of H City, the crowd was bustling. It was rush hour. Tao Xinrou, dressed in professional attire, hurriedly jogged through the crowd.
Today was her interview at Yunlu Hotel. Unfortunately, the ride-hailing car she had booked broke down halfway. Despite having had a prophetic dream, the skeptical Tao Xinrou still braced herself and got in—sure enough, she was almost late.
Watching the elevator numbers climb slowly, Tao Xinrou wished she could just take the stairs.
Fortunately, the elevator doors opened smoothly at her floor. Like an arrow off the string, Tao Xinrou dashed out.
"Number 26, Tao Xinrou."
"I'm here! I'm here!"
Following the staff member's voice, Tao Xinrou raised her hand and ran over, smoothly receiving her number tag.
Then came a flood of future snippets from the staff member's mind:
"Cindy, how could you hire someone like this? How am I supposed to explain this to the higher-ups!"
"Boss, it wasn't me..."
"What do you mean it wasn't you? Look at what you've done!"
An angry voice rang in her ears. A folder was thrown over, startling Tao Xinrou back to reality with a jolt.
Watching the person walk away, Tao Xinrou concluded that this staff member named Cindy had offended someone and made a mistake.
Once she sat down calmly, Tao Xinrou stared blankly at her number tag, rehearsing in her mind the interview questions she'd studied all last night. At that moment, she wished an interviewer would walk out—maybe she could see the questions in advance and prepare.
Just then, a girl walked over to her and whispered, "Excuse me... is this seat taken?"
Tao Xinrou looked up. Standing opposite her was a girl with a quiet, elegant demeanor. She smiled lightly. "No, it's not."
After the girl sat down, she sat bolt upright, her gaze fixed ahead, not daring to relax for a moment.
"Shuhui..." Tao Xinrou called out unconsciously.
The girl, addressed as Shuhui, turned around, looking at Tao Xinrou in shock. "Huh? How do you know my name?"
Tao Xinrou froze for a moment, then pointed at the number tag in the girl's hand.
Zheng Shuhui finally broke into a smile, her previously straight back relaxing. "Ah, I see. Hello, I'm Zheng Shuhui."
Her adorable smile somehow reminded Tao Xinrou of a baby panda.
"Hello, I'm Tao Xinrou."
Tao Xinrou extended her hand. As their hands clasped, images flashed in her mind:
"Shuhui, buy me a coffee."
"Shuhui, make a copy of this for me."
"Shuhui, could you take out the trash? I'm busy with something."
...
Those faces were full of humanity's challenges, yet the girl named Shuhui accepted everything without complaint.
Tao Xinrou clenched the other's hand slightly, though she maintained a polite smile.
The atmosphere grew awkward. The interviewer called names; people came out and went in.
Tao Xinrou felt her palms sweating, while Zheng Shuhui gripped the hem of her pencil skirt and swallowed nervously.
Tao Xinrou patted her arm. "Don't be nervous. You'll pass."
"Tao Xinrou."
"Here!"
Tao Xinrou stood up and walked toward the interview room. Just as she reached for the door, it was yanked open from inside. A tall figure burst out, and Tao Xinrou's body uncontrollably fell backward.
Time seemed to slow. She clearly saw the arc of his white shirt cuff slipping down and caught the clean woody scent on him.
The next second, a warm hand clamped onto her wrist, yanking her falling body back.
Instantly, Tao Xinrou's mind seemed to hit pause. Countless images that weren't hers flooded in like a movie:
"President Ying, the other side is asking for fifty million."
"Tell him to get lost."
"President Ying, President Chen's side invites you to a banquet tonight, hoping to improve relations between the two companies."
"What a hassle. Let them play by themselves, or send someone you trust."
"President Ying..."
President Ying?!
The words exploded like thunder in Tao Xinrou's mind. Her blood seemed to freeze instantly.
Her gaze locked onto the man's face, tracing every inch in slow motion.
Sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, a high nose bridge, clear lip lines. It was the same face as the cold, aloof CEO in her mind, but now it wore a warm smile. "Sorry, miss, I was in too much of a hurry. Are you alright?"
Tao Xinrou's eyes uncontrollably moved down to the blue cord hanging around his neck. At the end of the cord was a badge that read "Temporary Access Pass." On it were two strikingly clear characters: Fang Rong.
Her mind was a mess—reality and the images in her head wildly intertwined and collided.