Chapter 6, Panic and Escape

Zhao Xiaojun was too lazy to turn on the light, nor did she take off her clothes, and she heavily threw herself onto the bed. In the darkness, the light leaking in from the window was dimly visible, small points here and there, like scattered red flowers on the ground, sparse and thin. Zhao Xiaojun lay face down in a star shape on the bed, her mind tumultuous, struggling and refusing to rest. As time passed, she felt her breathing becoming labored and extremely uncomfortable, so she turned over and saw the reflection in the mirror, everywhere was dark and gloomy. She rested her hands behind her head and roughly sorted through the events of the day; no matter what, she had to find a way to sever Chen Qiaoqi's abnormal attachment. If the means were too drastic, it might provoke greater trouble due to his impulsiveness. It would be best to quietly divert his attention. When he grew older, perhaps he would be able to forget these matters. Zhao Xiaojun decided to find a job as soon as possible. This way, she would have a legitimate reason to maintain a certain distance from Chen Qiaoqi without arousing his resentment and suspicion.

A few female colleagues nearby were quietly discussing until they got off the elevator: "President Cheng is really handsome! Every day I secretly steal a glance at him, and I feel my face flush and my heart race. He is truly the epitome of a dream lover, a prince charming!" Another female colleague said with a hint of mischief: "President Cheng is still unmarried! Everyone, let's work hard!" Someone chimed in: "The revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades must continue to strive!" Everyone nearby burst into laughter, creating a lively atmosphere. Zhao Xiaojun followed behind, thinking to herself that he is young, wealthy, and talented, truly a perfect catch. The thought made her smile as well.

Chen Qiaoqi took a glass to pour water, first filling it with a little cold water, then switching to hot water. After feeling that the temperature in her hand was about right, she handed it to her. Zhao Xiaojun, even on a hot day, still preferred to drink hot water. However, if it was too hot, she couldn't drink it, so Chen Qiaoqi always remembered to pour a little cold water before the hot water. Zhao Xiaojun sat on the sofa with a frown, her left hand unconsciously resting on her lower abdomen, sipping slowly until she finished. Chen Qiaoqi went back into the kitchen and came out holding two pills. Zhao Xiaojun, seeing this, blushed slightly; they were the painkillers she usually took. Chen Qiaoqi seemed a bit embarrassed as she moved closer to her, said "here," and then placed them in her hand. Zhao Xiaojun lowered her head and swallowed them. Another silence ensued, the atmosphere was both subtle and awkward

Chen Qiaoqi pressed her lips together and did not respond. Zhao Xiaojun waved her hand and said, "It is certainly good if you can cook by yourself. Next time, just follow me and you will learn it." She thought to herself that once she found a job, she would naturally become busy. If Chen Qiaoqi could cook by herself, it would save her a lot of worry. Thus, she wholeheartedly encouraged Chen Qiaoqi to learn how to cook, enthusiastically teaching her that when boiling rice, the water should cover the back of the hand, and when stir-frying vegetables, the monosodium glutamate should be added last. To her surprise, Chen Qiaoqi really started to learn. At his age, it was likely that very few could cook.

After going back and forth several times, I finally saw Zhao Xiaojun sitting by the roadside, staring blankly. Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, I recalled my words and Zhao Xiaojun's reaction, and my heart tightened again. The dim yellow light gradually brightened, casting heavy shadows of trees in clusters, mottled and mixed, like a forest hidden in the dark night. Chen Qiaoqi stood in the shadowy darkness, quietly watching Zhao Xiaojun, who was curled up with her knees drawn up, tightly hugging her legs, her head weakly resting in the crook of her arm, her face revealing no discernible expression. After standing for a while, I noticed that she instinctively shrank back again, realizing that the night breeze was rising and she was feeling a bit cold. So, I stepped out of the darkness, moving one step at a time to sit beside her, wrapping my arms around her tightly, leaning her against myself.

Zhao Xiaojun did not go to school. Such a thing, even Lin Qingchuan, she did not dare to speak of it, it was simply unbelievable! She walked to the nearby subway station, descending the long steps in a daze. The low tunnel pressed heavily down from above, winding and extending forward, the air was particularly cool, and the touch was icy. The large billboards on both sides emitted a dim white light, resembling the faces of ghosts in a movie. Zhao Xiaojun only felt a chilling gloom, cold and eerie, as if this path led to another unknown world. In the midst of her fear and trepidation, she wanted to run, but her steps were heavy and sluggish, almost unable to lift her feet.

Zhao Xiaojun quickly said, "This food is not nutritious, and it won't fill you up. Let's go out to eat tonight. I will treat you." Chen Qiaoqi, seeing her say this, immediately picked up the spoon he had just used and took a big mouthful of rice, quickly spitting it into the trash can, frowning and saying, "So salty!" He hurriedly ran to pour a large glass of water. When Zhao Xiaojun saw him return looking sullen, she comforted him, saying, "It's already quite good that it turned out this way. Just remember to put less salt next time. What made you suddenly want to cook?"

Zhao Xiaojun did not wait for the school's arrangements and began to look for a job on her own. She searched for a lot of information online, sending out her resume one after another, leaving early and returning late, running around everywhere, and even attending several interviews, yet still received no news. With a frown, she complained to Lin Qingchuan, "Why is it so difficult to find a job! Are college graduates really that worthless? You have no idea, the places I applied to were packed with people, it was almost suffocating!" With a sigh, she continued, "..." Lin Qingchuan comforted her, "This is not the best time to look for a job; you should wait a little longer! However, I just heard from a senior in the graduate department that 'Qicheng Company' is hiring. She wants to go for an interview; do you want to try going as well?"

The next day, the sun shone through the window, yet she remained in a deep slumber, unaware of the passage of time. Chen Qiaoqi impatiently kicked the door open and shouted, "Zhao Xiaojun, what time is it? Get up already!" Zhao Xiaojun, bombarded by his loud calls, merely grunted a couple of times and continued to bury her head under the pillow, showing no signs of movement. Chen Qiaoqi sat down abruptly in front of her bed, tugging at her blanket, saying, "Get up, get up! You promised to accompany me to the movies today! What time is it! Hurry up and get up!" Zhao Xiaojun instinctively covered her head with her hand, mumbling incoherently, "Isn't it annoying? Can't we just watch at home?" Chen Qiaoqi's expression changed, and he asked in a low voice, "Are you getting up or not?" Zhao Xiaojun kept her eyes closed, remaining still.

She was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat, having gone through a near-death experience, and her spirits improved slightly. The pain in her arm brought her some clarity. Wandering aimlessly on the street, what on earth was happening? Chen Qiao Qi actually said such things! He said he liked her and wanted to date her; it was simply insane! He was still a high school student, just a child who knew nothing! How could he say such things! Zhao Xiao Jun felt a bit scared. What exactly was making her afraid? Was it really just the crazy words spoken by Chen Qiao Qi? Was it really? Wasn't it her own feelings that made her even more afraid? The fear in her heart was something only she knew! What could Chen Qiao Qi do? What she feared was her own downfall! Zhao Xiao Jun desperately tried to stop herself from thinking further. Wasn't it her own feelings that made her even more afraid? The fear in her heart was something only she knew! What could Chen Qiao Qi do? What she feared was her own downfall! Zhao Xiao Jun desperately tried to stop herself from thinking further.

Zhao Xiaojun sighed with her eyes downcast: "I can't even tell when someone is being perfunctory! Do you think I'm a fool? Alas, there's no hope anyway! My heart is dead!" Zhao Xiaojun chuckled a couple of times, allowing her to vent. Finally, Zhao Xiaojun changed her tone and said pitifully: "Qingqing, given how miserable I am, please treat me to dinner at Taibai Tower tomorrow!" Lin Qingchuan's expression changed dramatically, and before she could protest, Zhao Xiaojun continued to bombard her with requests. Lin Qingchuan, with a pale face, exclaimed: "Zhao Xiaojun! I must have been incredibly unlucky to have met you! Are you deliberately trying to make me lose money?" Zhao Xiaojun cheerfully hung up the phone. The next day, she indeed extorted a lavish dinner from Lin Qingchuan. On the way back, Lin Qingchuan maintained a cold expression, her heart aching.

Zhao Xiaojun hurriedly asked, "What kind of candidates are they looking for?" Lin Qingchuan shrugged, "I'm not very sure either, it seems there are several positions. You should check online and prepare in advance; you might just get in." Zhao Xiaojun said somewhat dejectedly, "It's not that easy to get in. Qi Cheng Company is not small, but it's also not a tiny company, the competition must be fierce. Just look at the university students on the streets, they are everywhere." Lin Qingchuan kept comforting her, "How do you know it won't work if you don't try? Qi Cheng Company may not be small, but it's also not a tiny company, the competition must be fierce. Just look at the university students on the streets, they are everywhere." Lin Qingchuan kept comforting her, "How do you know it won't work if you don't try? You have nothing else to do anyway, so you might as well give it a shot; at least it's an experience." Zhao Xiaojun indeed found the materials and started preparing item by item. She was applying for a position as an assistant clerk or something similar. However, for such a menial job, the number of applicants nearly filled the room.

Suddenly, a black Mercedes turned out from a small alley. Zhao Xiaojun, seemingly oblivious, wiped her tears with the back of her hand and charged straight ahead. The car slammed to a halt, the sharp sound reaching Zhao Xiaojun's ears, and only then did she react. Her face instantly turned pale, devoid of color, and she fell heavily to the ground, tears gushing forth. Her arm was scraped, blood dripping down drop by drop. She seemed to hear someone asking if she was okay, if she was hurt anywhere, if she needed to go to the hospital, but all of it sounded like whispers in a dream, failing to register in her mind, leaving her completely bewildered. Shakily, she stood up, wiped her tear-streaked face with the pure white handkerchief offered to her, then threw it on the ground and walked away, ignoring the people behind her who were calling out to her. Shakily, she stood up, wiped her tear-streaked face with the pure white handkerchief offered to her, then threw it on the ground and walked away, ignoring the people behind her who were calling out to her.

Zhao Xiaojun stood still, allowing him to wrap his arms around her, her thoughts pausing for a moment. After a while, she finally reacted. Gently pushing him away, she stood up silently and said calmly, "It’s dark; let’s go back." Chen Qiaoqi was somewhat surprised by her reaction, scrutinizing her for a moment before slowly nodding and responding with a soft, "Mm." The two of them returned to their residence one after the other, without exchanging a word. Upon opening the door, they were met with complete darkness. Zhao Xiaojun was momentarily taken aback, then cautiously reached out to feel for the switch. She fumbled left and right, always just missing it by a little bit. Chen Qiaoqi stepped past her, placing a hand on her chest, and said softly, "I’ll do it!" His voice was right by her ear, and she could almost feel his warm breath. For some reason, Zhao Xiaojun began to feel flustered. In the darkness, there was a sudden "pop" as the lights flickered on, and Zhao Xiaojun quickly turned her head away, it was too bright, and her eyes took a moment to adjust.

Zhao Xiaojun thought that if she did not go, it would be a waste, and it would also leave him with the opportunity to mock her, saying that she did not keep her word and lacked credibility, so it was better to go. She ordered Chen Qiaoqi to clean up the dishes and saw his smug expression, which reminded her of the events of the morning, causing her anger to flare up. She pulled Chen Qiaoqi and said sternly: "Chen Qiaoqi, you are not allowed to enter my room casually from now on!" Chen Qiaoqi turned his face away and coldly snorted: "You just need to remember to lock the door!" Zhao Xiaojun was so angry that she jumped up and stared at him, saying each word clearly: "Chen Qiaoqi, I will remember this!"

Zhao Xiaojun knew she couldn't escape, so she decisively invited a few familiar classmates, generously spending a large amount of money. In her own words, she said it was "to puff up her face to appear more impressive." A few people insisted on pouring drinks for her, and Zhao Xiaojun repeatedly pleaded, saying she was allergic to alcohol. The others would not relent, insisting that if one was allergic to alcohol, drinking more would help them get used to it. In the future, when rolling in the workplace, one couldn't avoid drinking! Zhao Xiaojun, feeling happy, drank a little, and on her way back, she miraculously did not throw up excessively, but fell into a deep sleep.

She made her way along the path, finding doors ajar everywhere, unable to distinguish one place from another. After turning a corner and walking for a while, she noticed a small brass plaque hanging above the door. She reached out and pushed it open; the light was too bright, everything was dazzling, shadows were heavy, flickering with harsh light, all of it shining down on her, making her feel somewhat overwhelmed. Zhao Xiaojun stood in front of the washbasin, looking at the bright, transparent marble, feeling a bit nauseous, unsure if it was due to nervousness or a loss of confidence. After turning a corner and walking for a while, she noticed a small brass plaque hanging above the door. She reached out and pushed it open; the light was too bright, everything was dazzling, shadows were heavy, flickering with harsh light, all of it shining down on her, making her feel somewhat overwhelmed. Zhao Xiaojun stood in front of the washbasin, looking at the bright, transparent marble, feeling a bit nauseous, unsure if it was due to nervousness or a loss of confidence. She simply splashed some water on her face, soaking the hair at her forehead and temples. She casually wiped her face and saw a passageway to her right, with a window open to the breeze, so she walked over, thinking to calm down before going back.

Returning to the residence, she tossed her shoes, coat, and bag aside. Chen Qiaoqi looked at her and asked, "How did the interview go? Are you very tired?" Zhao Xiaojun plopped down on the sofa. Chen Qiaoqi leaned over and said, "Aren't you going to eat first?" Zhao Xiaojun lazily asked, "Did you buy it outside?" Chen Qiaoqi turned her head away and after a long pause said, "No!" Zhao Xiaojun asked in confusion, "No? Then where did the food come from?" As she spoke, she sat up to look at the covered bowls and chopsticks on the table. Upon closer inspection, she saw a large bowl of tomato and egg fried rice and asked in surprise, "Did you cook this?" Chen Qiaoqi nodded somewhat shyly. After a long pause, she said, "No!" Zhao Xiaojun, puzzled, asked again, "No? Then where did the food come from?" She sat up again to look at the table, and upon seeing the large bowl of tomato and egg fried rice, she asked in astonishment, "Did you cook this?" Chen Qiaoqi nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. Zhao Xiaojun used a spoon to stir it a couple of times; the rice was somewhat burnt, the tomatoes were sticky, and the eggs were thick chunks lying on top of the rice, fortunately not burnt yet. She took a small spoonful of rice to taste, finding that the salt was not evenly mixed. Seeing Chen Qiaoqi's expectant expression, she hurriedly swallowed hard and asked, "Have you eaten?" Chen Qiaoqi shook her head slightly.

She constantly persuaded herself, exerting all her effort to convince herself that Chen Qiaoqi was still a rebellious youth in his teenage years, and it was not unusual for him to engage in some outrageous behavior. He merely shifted the emotional reliance onto himself temporarily, that was all. Every boy has a certain degree of Oedipus complex, perhaps because he has been accompanied and cared for by her for a long time, which has created a psychological dependence. Chen Qiaoqi must be under the influence of such feelings towards her. However, due to his young age and lack of experience, he cannot distinguish what true affection is, so he himself is unaware of it. As long as he is guided properly, it will surely be resolved. Zhao Xiaojun continuously used this excuse to numb herself. Thus, by forcefully twisting the direction of the situation and thinking it through, she eventually convinced herself that it was indeed this way, firmly asserting to herself that it was so. Chen Qiaoqi must be confused for this reason. He was merely momentarily bewildered. Zhao Xiaojun found a foothold in the situation and suddenly felt justified. The previous feelings of hesitation and fear sank into an unseen darkness—only temporarily; she subconsciously refused to think deeply, unwilling to consider that direction.

He suddenly asked from behind, "Are you here for an interview?" glancing at the job application resume in Zhao Xiaojun's hand. Zhao Xiaojun smiled and nodded, quickly walking ahead. The man continued to follow behind, pointing to the left and saying, "The interview meeting room is over there, this is our office area." Zhao Xiaojun's face suddenly flushed, and she hurriedly thanked him, quickly turning left. When she reached the end of the corridor, she suddenly froze, unsure whether to go left or right, stretching her neck to carefully recall which way she had come from. The man continued to follow behind, pointing to the left and saying, "The interview meeting room is over there, this is our office area." Zhao Xiaojun's face suddenly flushed, and she hurriedly thanked him, quickly turning left. When she reached the end of the corridor, she suddenly froze, unsure whether to go left or right, stretching her neck to carefully recall which way she had come from. In such office buildings, most are similar, and it is quite normal to feel a bit confused, especially on the first visit combined with nervousness.

Zhao Xiaojun and the senior who came to the interview together sat among the crowd, watching the confident expressions of those around them. Cold sweat dripped down her forehead, and she whispered, "Heavens! Why are there so many people?" The senior, who was much more accomplished than her, replied calmly, "It's the same everywhere now; 'Qicheng Company' is considered quite good in the industry. Everyone wants to get in." After a while, she asked, "Have you heard of the president of 'Qicheng'?" Zhao Xiaojun absentmindedly shook her head, her focus solely on the glass door of the interview room. The door opened and closed, mirroring the ups and downs of her heart.

While lying on the sofa feeling weak and watching television in the evening, Lin Qingchuan called to ask how Zhao Xiaojun's interview went. Zhao Xiaojun poured out her grievances: "There is completely no hope! I heard that a few of them are actually students from Tsinghua and Peking University! It's just a small assistant position! Why is it like climbing a mountain of knives and descending into a sea of fire? Why is it so difficult? When I heard the chief examiner coldly say, 'Miss Zhao, please go back and wait for our news,' my heart sank! It's just a small assistant position! Why is it like climbing a mountain of knives and descending into a sea of fire? Why is it so difficult? When I heard the chief examiner coldly say, 'Miss Zhao, please go back and wait for our news,' my heart sank! This is really a year of misfortune!" Lin Qingchuan hurriedly said, "It's okay, it's okay. Which chief examiner doesn't say that? They didn't explicitly reject you, just asked you to wait for news, so there is still hope."

The person answered another phone call, and when he finished, he noticed Zhao Xiaojun still standing there and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?" Zhao Xiaojun turned around and, feeling embarrassed, said, "I don't remember which way to go." He blankly pointed to the right. Zhao Xiaojun hurried back to the interview meeting room as if being chased by a ghost, feeling utterly useless. If he couldn't even find his way, how could they possibly want him as an employee! Zhao Xiaojun hurried back to the interview meeting room as if being chased by a ghost, feeling utterly useless. If he couldn't even find his way, how could they possibly want him as an employee!

Zhao Xiaojun nervously kept drinking water, and at this moment, many interviewees entered. She looked at the dense crowd, buzzing with noise, feeling a tightness in her chest and a bit of discomfort. She stood up and quietly said, "I need to go to the restroom." The senior nodded, stepped aside to let her out, and softly reminded her, "Come back quickly. It’s about to start soon." Zhao Xiaojun squeezed her way out, feeling a bit dizzy. She was still not accustomed to being in such a high-rise office building, feeling as if everything looked the same, with small blocks separated finely, one layer inside and one layer outside, combined like the character "乞," making it hard to distinguish directions.

However, the affairs of the world are often beyond one's expectations. Two days later, Zhao Xiaojun unexpectedly received a notification for a second interview from "Qicheng Company." Although it was called a second interview, it was essentially just a formality, a chance to undergo some training, and to meet new colleagues and supervisors. She was so delighted that she almost wanted to announce it to the world, celebrating with everyone. Although it was merely a menial job, in this day and age, being able to secure a meal is already quite commendable. When Lin Qingchuan learned of this, she exclaimed, "Zhao Xiaojun, what kind of incredible luck are you having this year! That graduate student senior didn't even get in, and you, a half-baked undergraduate, actually made it!" She insisted on taking her out to treat at "Tianyi" building.

Zhao Xiaojun selected two sets of conventional professional attire and began her three-month internship at "Qicheng Company". If her performance is good, she will be able to stay; otherwise, she will have to leave. On the first day after work, many colleagues were waiting for the elevator when suddenly, Manager Cao from her department respectfully called out to a young man walking by, saying, "General Cheng." A few colleagues she had just met also respectfully echoed, "General Cheng." He nodded, smiled politely at everyone, and then went off in another direction.

Zhao Xiaojun waited until the crowd after work had mostly dispersed before she listlessly crossed the busy zebra crossing and walked towards the bus stop. The green light on the pedestrian crossing was already flashing, and Zhao Xiaojun hurriedly ran forward. Just as she crossed the lanes of motor vehicles, a car sped past her, and a gust of warm wind swept her clothes and hair wildly. Startled, Zhao Xiaojun jumped to the side and couldn't help but look back, letting out a whistle. The sleek black car, shining darkly, reflected the silhouette of a person, and the license plate number was a shocking six zeros. Oh my! Just as she crossed the lanes of motor vehicles, a car sped past her, and a gust of warm wind swept her clothes and hair wildly. Startled, Zhao Xiaojun jumped to the side and couldn't help but look back, letting out a whistle. The sleek black car, shining darkly, reflected the silhouette of a person, and the license plate number was a shocking six zeros. Wow, how cool! She clicked her tongue, stepped up the stairs, and couldn't help but glance back. Then she saw the bus mixed in the traffic, coming towards her, which was the one she needed to take. Immediately, she had no mind to think of any other chaotic matters and dashed towards the platform like a gust of wind.

As she turned in, she saw a man standing sideways, talking on the phone. She paid him no mind, gently leaning against the white stone wall, enjoying the breeze from the window. Her heart, which had felt constricted, eased slightly. The man was dressed in formal attire, his posture straight, and she could not hear what he was saying, only a few simple responses like "uh-huh" and "okay." His expression was unclear. When he turned around, he saw Zhao Xiaojun and seemed somewhat surprised. He stared at her for a moment. Zhao Xiaojun smiled at him, feeling that she might have disturbed him, so she dared not look longer and straightened up to leave.

While still wandering nearby, Chen Qiaoqi was anxiously searching for her everywhere. He called Lin Qingchuan, who said she hadn't seen Zhao Xiaojun all day. Even someone as calm and composed as Chen Qiaoqi's expression changed with worry. Zhao Xiaojun left home empty-handed, without her phone or anything else, except for ten yuan in her jeans pocket. Unable to sit still, Chen Qiaoqi ran frantically through the streets searching for her. Zhao Xiaojun left home empty-handed, without her phone or anything else, except for ten yuan in her jeans pocket. Unable to sit still, Chen Qiaoqi ran frantically through the streets searching for her.

From then on, Zhao Xiaojun diligently worked at the "Qicheng" company, bearing the burdens with a sense of duty. She placed great importance on this job, approaching every task with meticulous care and caution. Whenever she encountered something unfamiliar, she would gradually learn from her colleagues. The ability to read people's expressions and moods was something she had honed since childhood in the Chen family, allowing her to manage her interactions adequately. Although she inevitably faced some hardships and experienced exclusion, she remained quite satisfied and did not dare to voice any complaints. She earnestly hoped to continue working here after three months.

She did not know how she got on the subway, holding onto the handrail, standing there foolishly from one station to another. Later, upon seeing an empty seat, she sat down with a dazed expression. After an unknown number of stops, someone suddenly bumped into her, and the crowd had already thinned out. Hearing a familiar station name, she got off in a state of confusion. Unconsciously following the flow of people out of the subway exit, her eyes suddenly brightened, and a sharp pain struck her eyes as she caught sight of the deep red sunset, hanging at an angle like a backdrop on a stage, exceptionally red, heavily painted with color. There was not a trace of evening glow around, not a hint of accompaniment, it fell coldly downward. Zhao Xiaojun, who had finally dried her tears, saw such a sunset, and her tears burst forth like a flood released from a dam, flowing out uncontrollably. She could not see the astonished gazes of passersby, and in a daze, she turned and walked away.

Zhao Xiaojun stood at the back of the crowd, recalling that he was the one who had given her directions on the day of the interview. To her surprise, he turned out to be Cheng Wei, the boss of "Qicheng"! Suddenly feeling a bit anxious, she wondered if she had left a bad impression on him that day. Would it matter? Her future and fate were all at stake here. However, upon further reflection, she thought to herself that such trivial matters were unlikely to weigh on his mind. He must be busy with countless tasks every day! Thus, she felt more at ease.

Zhao Xiaojun stood up and said, "I am tired, I will go to sleep first." Just as she was turning the brass handle on the door, Chen Qiaoqi softly called out to her from behind, "Xiaojun..." His voice trembled slightly, filled with unease and uncertainty. Zhao Xiaojun turned her head to look at him, her gaze deep and cold, and said earnestly, "Qiaoqi, do not overthink things, focus on your studies, do you understand!" Chen Qiaoqi felt a bit wronged, staring straight at her, his eyes filled with the image of Zhao Xiaojun, layer upon layer, and he said in a voice full of sadness, "Xiaojun, Xiaojun!" Zhao Xiaojun's expression darkened, and she turned back to look at him, her gaze deep and cold, and said seriously, "Qiaoqi, do not overthink things, focus on your studies, do you understand!" Chen Qiaoqi felt a bit wronged, staring straight at her, his eyes filled with the image of Zhao Xiaojun, layer upon layer, and he said in a voice full of sadness, "Xiaojun, Xiaojun!" Zhao Xiaojun's expression darkened, and she admonished, "Chen Qiaoqi, you need to study properly! Do not keep thinking about this and that all day!" Then she forcefully slammed the door, leaving Chen Qiaoqi outside.

After completing the written test, the next step was the interview. The examiner asked several common questions, but Zhao Xiaojun could not remember what she had answered. She walked out in a daze, only recalling the examiner's expressionless words: "Please wait for our news after you return, Miss Zhao." With her head hanging low, Zhao Xiaojun walked out feeling defeated, sensing the sun above her was pale and weak, and the entire street was desolate. In a fit of frustration, she ran to the nearby McDonald's and devoured three spicy chicken leg burgers, washing them down with a large cup of cola. She only remembered the examiner's final expressionless statement: "Please wait for our news after you return, Miss Zhao." With her head drooping, Zhao Xiaojun walked out feeling defeated, sensing the sun above her was pale and weak, and the entire street was desolate. In a fit of frustration, she ran to the nearby McDonald's and devoured three spicy chicken leg burgers, washing them down with a large cup of cola. After a bout of ravenous eating, her stomach felt full, and she felt much more comfortable. She let out a big sigh. Then she wandered around a boutique, only looking and not buying. Regardless of the saleswoman's extravagant pitches, she finally smiled and said, "I didn't bring any money today; I just came to take a look." The saleswoman immediately lost interest in her, still perfunctorily saying, "It's fine, it's fine, take your time to look around." She then turned to attend to other customers.

Then the senior whispered in her ear: "I just heard someone say that the CEO of Qicheng is very handsome." Zhao Xiaojun responded with an "Oh" and asked, "Isn't he an old man?" The senior laughed and said, "Qicheng has only been listed for a few years, and their CEO, Cheng Wei, is said to be a graduate of MIT, who started from scratch relying on technology, so he is probably quite young." Zhao Xiaojun nodded perfunctorily and casually remarked, "So impressive! Another genius!" The senior also sighed, "Indeed, comparing people can be infuriating! At such a young age, he is already a CEO, while we are still struggling in the crowd." Zhao Xiaojun felt a bit thirsty, took a sip of water, and said, "I don't care how impressive the CEO of Qicheng is; I just want to get into his company and be an ordinary employee. That would be enough to thank heaven and Buddha."

Zhao Xiaojun took a deep breath and climbed up, sulking as she sat down at the table. She saw Chen Qiaoqi sitting nearby with his legs crossed, smugly watching television, the chopsticks making a loud "bang" sound. Throwing the bun in her hand, she angrily said, "We are not going to the movies today!" Chen Qiaoqi turned to look at her and asked, "Why not? Didn't we agree on this earlier?" Zhao Xiaojun glared at him fiercely, saying, "I am too angry to go! What movies are there to watch!" Chen Qiaoqi hesitated and said, "But I have already bought the movie tickets!" As he spoke, he pulled out two movie tickets from his pocket. Zhao Xiaojun was somewhat taken aback, struggling internally for a moment, then asked, "When is it?" Chen Qiaoqi shook the movie tickets in his hand and said, "It's for the morning show."

Chen Qiaoqi suddenly threw back her blanket. Zhao Xiaojun felt a chill, opened her eyes, and exclaimed, "Wow!" Half of her nightgown had slipped down, and seeing him staring at her without a hint of embarrassment, she quickly grabbed the blanket and angrily shouted, "Chen Qiaoqi, what are you doing!" After a moment, Chen Qiaoqi finally came to his senses, pretended to cough, and coolly said, "I called you to get up!" Zhao Xiaojun's face turned red with anger as she pointed at his nose and scolded, "Is this how you wake someone up?" Chen Qiaoqi snorted disdainfully and replied, "Who told you to sleep like a pig? I can't even wake you up!" He was quite self-righteous about it! Zhao Xiaojun, furious, clenched her fists and crawled over, ready to punch him twice.