The Early Spring - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - I Advise You to Resign

Luan Nian had no desire to exchange pleasantries with Shang Zhitao, cutting straight to the point: "Let's get right to the subject." He was precisely that kind of person—concise, swift, and highly efficient. He hated wasting time and never dragged his feet.

Shang Zhitao nodded and said, "I'm currently studying the planning department's projects, and there are a few things I don't understand, so I'd like to consult you. By the way... I'd also like to invite you to be the subject of my employee interview." She sat up straight, resembling a diligent student listening intently in class. Her posture was rarely seen in the workplace, carrying an unmistakable air of humility.

"What don't you understand?"

Lumi was right; Luan Nian wouldn't make things difficult for people over work matters, and he was very earnest. Shang Zhitao had plenty of things she didn't understand, so she simply opened her notebook. "Would it be alright if I consult you project by project?"

"Fine."

Luan Nian leaned forward as he listened to her speak. He found this girl rather amusing; she didn't hide her shortcomings at all, wearing every ounce of her clumsiness right on her face. She didn't strike him as a particularly clever person. So just what relation was she to Tracy?

"It's like this, for this project, regarding the demo production expenses, I wanted to ask what exactly is included..." Shang Zhitao turned her laptop screen toward Luan Nian, pointing her fingertip at a specific spot. The light from the screen passed through her translucent white fingertip, casting a faint pinkish glow over it. She raised her eyes to look at Luan Nian, taking in his striking good looks.

"The demo list will be provided tomorrow." Luan Nian's gaze remained on the screen, scanning the other markers Shang Zhitao had made. She wasn't entirely useless; at least the notes she took hit all the right points.

"Oh, thank you."

"Then for this project, why is an advance expenditure required?" Shang Zhitao flipped the document to the next page.

"The suppliers don't advance funds."

"But the company's required payment process isn't structured like that..."

Luan Nian took her laptop, flipped to a certain page, and tapped his clean finger against the screen. Shang Zhitao saw a clause written on the page stating that in special circumstances, an application for an expedited special-approval payment process could be made.

Shang Zhitao's face flushed. "I'm sorry, I didn't see that just now."

"It's fine. Look closer next time."

Lumi had said that Luan Nian was very serious when talking about work, and Lumi certainly hadn't lied to her. At least up until now, things had gone smoothly.

Luan Nian's phone rang, and he answered it. The volume wasn't low, and Shang Zhitao heard a woman crying on the other end, seemingly uttering something about not wanting to break up. Goodness, crying like that—this breakup is getting ugly. All of Shang Zhitao's thoughts were written plainly across her face, but a second later, she realized: Wait a minute, this is the boss's private life. A sudden wave of mortification washed over her.

Noticing the rather rich display of emotional shifts across her face, Luan Nian frowned and said into the phone, "Don't ever call me from a different number again." He hung up and looked at Shang Zhitao, who sat frozen, her eyes darting around with nowhere to land.

She hadn't meant to eavesdrop on his private life, but some things were just a coincidence.

"Do you still have questions?" Luan Nian ignored her awkwardness. It had nothing to do with him, and he had no obligation to help her ease the tension, even if that tension was entirely of his own making.

"I'd like to look at the detailed summaries of these projects, not because I need to sign off on them yet, but purely because I don't understand anything."

"I'll have my secretary send them to you later."

"Then I'd still like to do the employee interview." Shang Zhitao was clumsy, but she possessed a wonderful quality: resilience. For her, many things might terrify her before she started, but once she took the plunge, she refused to give up.

"Go ahead." Luan Nian maintained his previous posture—leaning forward, legs slightly apart, elbows resting on his knees, and hands clasped together, looking as though he was deeply interested in the conversation. Shang Zhitao didn't know it back then, but this was merely a corporate posture, a common stance among bosses that appeared kind and approachable, while inwardly Luan Nian was already cursing how dreadfully dull Shang Zhitao was.

"Why did you choose to join this company?"

"My dad pulled some strings to get me in." Luan Nian was a serious man, and everything he said sounded entirely genuine, including that statement.

This answer caught Shang Zhitao completely off guard. She studied Luan Nian's expression closely, trying to discern whether he was joking or serious, but she couldn't tell at all.

"What qualities about Limelight do you find fantastic?"

"They pay well."

"That's true. Limelight is more generous than other companies." Shang Zhitao nodded, wholeheartedly agreeing with Luan Nian's answer, because otherwise, someone with her qualifications would never have landed such a salary.

"So, do you like this job?"

"No."

Shang Zhitao stalled. Once again, she wanted to know whether Luan Nian was teasing her or being serious. But Luan Nian was Luan Nian; when he was serious, he wore a total deadpan expression. Trying to read sincerity or falsehood off a deadpan face? In your dreams. At this point, however, Shang Zhitao had no idea how to carry on with the interview.

Luan Nian didn't rush her, but he glanced down at his watch.

He was giving her the boot—Shang Zhitao could finally tell. Panicking slightly, she asked, "If you don't like it, why do you work at this company?"

"To make money and squander it."

"Then could you give me some advice?"

"Are you sure you want my advice?" Luan Nian raised an eyebrow, asking her.

"I'm sure." Shang Zhitao nodded.

"Find another job as soon as possible. Limelight isn't suited for you." Luan Nian paused and added very seriously, "That is my piece of advice to you."

Shang Zhitao had no idea what kind of answers other people received during their senior employee interviews, but the answer she got was humiliating. She couldn't bring herself to say, "I can definitely make it here," because the truth was, she didn't even know if she could survive. For a brief moment, it was utterly mortifying. She pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes stinging slightly as they grew red. She kept her mouth sealed shut, terrified she might burst into tears right then and there.

It was only years later that Shang Zhitao realized her connection with Luan Nian had been predestined from the very beginning. He stood high above, completely indifferent to everything, while she trailed closely behind him, constantly learning from him. The roles of the giver and the receiver, the teacher and the student, were never equal.

Luan Nian wasn't surprised by her reaction. He had interviewed her remotely, and the moment she opened her mouth with a single greeting, he had already decided to fail her. It wasn't because he was arbitrary, but because the advertising industry demanded people who had seen the world and were willing to throw caution to the wind.

"Any other questions?" Luan Nian asked her again.

"Yes."

"Ask."

"Why do you think I'm not suited for this place?"

"Probably because you're asking for the reason right at a time like this?" Luan Nian stood up. "The demo list we discussed earlier will be sent to you tomorrow."

Shang Zhitao packed up her materials and laptop. Sensing Luan Nian's gaze upon her, she straightened her posture, striking a slightly stubborn pose, yet remaining meticulously polite: "Alright, thank you."

Shang Zhitao didn't dare look at him. She felt as though Luan Nian's eyes were stamped all over with the words: You don't have what it takes. The moment he blinked, those three words would leap out from his eyes and hang glaringly right above her head. Feigning composure, she walked out of his office and returned to her workstation. Lumi had already left, leaving a sticky note on her desk: Head home early, there'll be plenty of overtime ahead of us!

Shang Zhitao had no intention of going home. She opened her computer to write her interview feedback. She was entirely honest, not writing a single false word—especially the part that read: "Luke advised me to find a job as soon as possible, saying I'm not suited for this place." She finished typing and clicked confirm.

She wasn't trying to pick a fight with authority, nor did she even know that interview records weren't just viewed by HR and mentors; they also went straight to direct supervisors and the interviewees themselves. She simply wanted to be honest. It was her first day at Limelight, and she couldn't fabricate a logically coherent, harmoniously worded fake interview log.

Just as Luan Nian was packing up his things to leave, he noticed a pop-up notification from the system. Opening it, he read the contents Shang Zhitao had written.

She genuinely had no brain at all.

Tracy's phone call came in immediately: "Did you tell the new recruit that you work to make money and squander it?"

"What else?"

"And you advised the new recruit to resign?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"..." Knowing what kind of temperament Luan Nian had, Tracy let out a sigh. "Do you know your official appointment is about to drop?"

"Does whether my appointment drops or not have anything to do with me giving an interview?"

"It doesn't have a direct connection, but you need to respect diversity in hiring."

"Does me respecting diversity in hiring have anything to do with me thinking she isn't cut out for this?"

There was simply no talking to him. Luan Nian had left Tracy utterly speechless. She paused for two seconds: "If you weren't my junior, I'd really love to file a complaint with the board of directors and have them fire you."

"Be my guest."

Luan Nian hung up the phone, took another glance at the feedback Shang Zhitao had written, and was so exasperated he couldn't help but chuckle.