"I’ll just rewrite the report. It definitely has its issues," Pei Youwen said after a long moment of thought, his expression growing solemn. "I think I understand what President Jiang meant."

"What did my dad mean?"

"It’s hard to say. It could be because I mentioned your name in the report, or maybe it was simply subpar. It could also have something to do with Mo Nana."

"So it has to do with her, too." Chen Yuan savored the tea in his cup, finding it surprisingly good. Ever since he’d last sat down to quietly drink the tea Ningning had brewed, he’d suddenly discovered the pleasure in it.

"Her grandfather is on the board of directors at headquarters. Two years ago, President Jiang arranged for her to intern here. Two months later, she became an associate director, and then she was promoted to director."

"No wonder she’s so arrogant all the time, and no one dares to rein her in." Having learned the reason, Chen Yuan nodded. ’This world really runs on connections and unspoken rules.’

Bauhinia Company was something of a talent pipeline for Jiang Zhengfeng. Promising individuals slated for headquarters would first come here to burnish their credentials and gain experience before being promoted.

In fact, the Jiang Corporation had subsidiaries all over the country, constantly transfusing resources upward to ensure the continued strength and prosperity of the headquarters.

"At least she doesn’t dare act arrogant in front of you, and that’s enough. You have no idea—I couldn’t manage her at all before you came. Mo Nana has toned it down a lot since you arrived," Pei Youwen lamented. "It’s a classic case of a small fry meeting the big boss."

"Alright, enough joking around. Let’s head down together."

Chen Yuan got up from his chair, checked the time on his phone, and got ready to head downstairs with Pei Youwen to interview new staff.

He’d been in class all day, with one more lecture in the afternoon, after which he had come straight to the company. The finance department was a crucial one; its members had to be chosen with care.

Chen Yuan didn’t have to be there, but with so many people in the company watching, he had to go through the motions, even if it was just for show.

He took the elevator down with Pei Youwen and strolled to the room at the very end of the hall. When he pushed the door open, a dozen or so managers were already seated inside.

"Come with us. Director Mo said they’re ready," Pei Youwen called out.

"Understood."

The group filed out, lining up behind Pei Youwen according to their roles and ranks. They followed his lead, with Chen Yuan, naturally, at the very front in his suit. His posture was ramrod straight; though slender, he was tall, and at first glance, he walked with a certain commanding presence.

All told, there were over a dozen of them. The sound of high heels and leather shoes on the polished floor—CLICK-CLACK—created a faint sense of pressure.

After descending one floor to the interview area, Chen Yuan, leading the group, saw at a glance that the entire corridor was jam-packed with interviewees—men and women of all ages.

The moment he appeared, nearly every eye in the hallway focused on him, each gaze filled with a different emotion.

Chen Yuan didn’t slow his pace. He walked coolly to the door, pushed it open, and went inside. The others followed, leaving behind the countless wide-eyed interviewees, who stared with complex emotions at the intimidating procession.

They didn’t even dare to whisper, feeling the pressure suddenly mount like a mountain.

"Interviewee number one, Zhan Ziyun, please come in."

At the call of the proctor at the door, a petite woman who looked to be in her thirties stood up from the crowd. She glanced around nervously, then grabbed her purse and resume and hurried over with quick, short steps.

She wore her hair in a short, neat ponytail, and a stray, curled lock of bangs rested on the left side of her forehead. While not unattractive, fine lines were beginning to appear around her eyes, giving her the look of a career-focused woman.

Inside the room.

Everyone passed around Zhan Ziyun’s file, a RUSTLE of flipping pages filling the air. Chen Yuan looked down at his copy, scanning her alma mater and work history before looking up a moment later.

Bauhinia Company was something of an anomaly. It offered generous salaries and demanded high-quality employees, valuing ability above all else. The environment was intensely competitive, and on top of that, it carried the prestigious name of the Jiang Corporation.

There were three main interviewers: Mo Nana, one of her financial managers, and someone from company administration.

From a row of chairs by the window, Chen Yuan and a dozen or so senior company executives watched Zhan Ziyun approach. Their gazes remained fixed on her until she was seated.

The pressure of their collective stare was immense. Someone with weaker nerves would probably be unable to speak coherently. Even Zhan Ziyun, a seasoned professional, couldn’t help but feel her heart hammer in her chest.

Her phone and other devices had been confiscated when she entered.

"The interview will now officially begin. The candidate will have three minutes to answer each question. I have a timer here. After the lead interviewer poses a question..."

The interview process was formal, crisp, and efficient. It was Chen Yuan’s first time being a part of something like this, and he found it surprisingly novel and interesting.

He could see the style of efficiency that Pei Youwen had cultivated in the company, and he couldn’t help but feel a newfound appreciation for the man.

Young people today hated nothing more than red tape and endless unwritten rules. Get things done quickly and don’t waste anyone’s time—that was Pei Youwen’s credo.

In truth, Chen Yuan was exhausted. He hadn’t napped at noon and hadn’t gotten enough sleep the night before, yet he forced himself to stay sharp, busying himself with these company trivialities.

After days of reflection, and considering Jiang Zhengfeng’s wishes for him, Chen Yuan felt that regardless of whether he chose Ningning or Yaoyao, he first had to become a man who could stand on his own two feet—a man capable of shouldering the future.

Only then would he be worthy of them.

He was gradually starting to accept things he used to hate, and he was now willing to try things he’d once been reluctant to do, all for the sake of maturing.

The interview session, lasting over two hours, was a challenge for everyone involved. In such a high-pressure environment, no one relaxed; they all maintained their posture, reviewing every single candidate.

The candidates were certainly outstanding, hailing from various prestigious universities. And though their skills hadn’t been tested yet, their resumes offered a promising glimpse.

In recent years, the social rat race had become severe. Some people who thought they were on a fast track to a brilliant future found themselves quickly replaced by more capable individuals as they aged, leaving them with an indescribable feeling.

Then they discovered how hard it was to find work outside the company.

Let alone finding a suitable job with an easy commute in a decent city. Salary wasn’t even the top priority anymore.

Chen Yuan now had a clear understanding of this. Watching the desperation in these candidates’ eyes as they tried their utmost to present themselves, he was filled with mixed emotions.

Before he knew it, evening had fallen.

He stretched his aching back, went up to the top-floor office, and sank into a comfortable chair. Pei Youwen was chattering beside him, "The overall quality was decent. We should be able to fill the positions soon. There are over seventy more applicants tomorrow. I probably won’t have time, so I’ll find a substitute."

"Seventy?"

"And that’s after the initial screening. Anyway," Pei Youwen took a sip of tea, "I have a dinner engagement tonight, so I’m heading out, Chairman Jiang. You should head home early, too."

The door clicked shut.

Leaving Chen Yuan alone in the office. He spun his chair for a moment, then kicked off the desk to roll over to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring down at the endless streams of traffic below.

The cars looked like fireflies searching for an exit, lost in a torrent of steel as they flowed into the distance.

After watching for a while, Chen Yuan picked up his phone and called Jiang Yao.

The call connected instantly.

Yaoyao sounded delighted at first, but her joy lasted only a moment before a plaintive tone reached his ear.

"My little young master... so you do remember how to contact me. It’s been days since we’ve seen each other. If I don’t reach out to you, you won’t ever reach out to me, will you?"

Just from the sound of her voice, Chen Yuan could picture her pouting, and a warm smile spread across his face.