{It was the first time she realized that she could also have selfish motives 3}

The next day, Qian Xu clocked in for work as usual. She and Zhao Tian had a discussion during the early meeting about this quarter’s costs and budget. The few senior employees who were particularly dissatisfied with her didn’t show up to the meeting, as some of them had decided not to come to work due to the cold weather and poor road conditions. So, the meeting room wasn’t filled with much opposition.

Although Qian Xu knew that she too might eventually get old and have issues with her joints one day, she couldn’t help but feel a little relieved that she didn’t face any resistance in the current situation.

She was becoming more and more aware of her own selfish motives and no longer tried to portray herself as someone without flaws.

And in this regard, Zhao Buhui had, by nature, become the best teacher for her.

So, when a colleague from the HR department asked her if she wanted to participate in the company’s second recruitment summit, she didn’t hesitate and immediately agreed.

“I think it’s a good opportunity to learn about the future talent in various fields of the company. Plus, I’d love to take this chance to meet everyone.”

Qian Xu smiled politely, completely unaffected by the turmoil from yesterday.

As she saw Zhao Tian pick up his briefcase to leave, she called out, “Mr. Zhao, the company has its annual recruitment event today. Are you attending?”

“I’m meeting with Mr. Gao from Zhiling for tea later, so I won’t go,” Zhao Tian was unconcerned with such small matters and casually responded. “Qian Xu, I’ll leave the second-round interviews for the new recruits this year entirely in your hands.”

Qian Xu replied as usual, “Thank you for your trust, Mr. Zhao.”

Just as they were about to part ways, Qian Xu sensed that Zhao Tian had something on his mind, but he hesitated for a moment and didn’t know how to start. Eventually, he said something that didn’t quite make sense.

“There’s some fine Qimen black tea from Mr. Gao. I’ll bring some back for you. You can take it to your relatives during the New Year.”

“Thank you, Mr. Zhao,” Qian Xu replied. In the workplace, she wasn’t overly formal.

“Qian Xu…” Zhao Tian hesitated again, finally deciding to leave the matter unspoken. “Forget it, I shouldn’t be so shameless at my age just because of someone.”

Qian Xu always felt that her superior, Zhao Tian, wanted to say something but never did, and she, as his direct subordinate, had no reason to pry into it.

Her thoughts were still wandering towards the second-round interviews related to Li Xiyin. In the cold, bright light of the restroom, she saw her own face in the mirror—clear, straightforward, and impartial. Her cheekbones were naturally not very high, and her chin had a standard curve, never sharp.

Qian Xu felt as though she was bound by the constraints of her past, and the warm, helpful atmosphere of her family had led her to always carry goodwill with her wherever she went.

But sadly, not every corner of the world was filled with the virtue of kindness.

“Repaying kindness with kindness, but what if it’s time to repay hatred?”

—

Zhao Tian Group: Today, among the interviewers, the front-page figures from yesterday’s meeting appeared again. Since Qian Xu was among the interviewers, there were some doubts raised about her presence. Many wondered how someone so young—who was probably even younger than most of the applicants—had managed to get into Zhao Tian Group.

Li Xiyin was no exception.

She seemed fragile as she mentioned how she hadn’t slept well the night before and had borrowed questions from a male candidate nearby, but she also casually mentioned one of the main interviewers, the “newcomer” Qian Xu, and said she was an old friend of hers.

The male candidate was envious. “Doesn’t that mean you’re practically guaranteed to get in?”

“With your best friend in a senior position, there’s no way she’d just kick you out, right?” the male student said, concerned. “It’s so hard to find a job these days. If she doesn’t help you out, then she isn’t really a friend.”

Li Xiyin’s eyes glinted with a subtle pleasure, but she still spoke with a tone of bitterness, “I can’t really be sure, after all…”

Some things didn’t even need to be said out loud; the male student was quick to understand, and with a protective tone, he added, “It must be because you’re young and outstanding. I bet she’s worried about you taking her position since she worked so hard to get it. You know how women can get a little jealous…”

Li Xiyin believed this completely and firmly said, “Don’t say that about her. Qian Xu definitely isn’t like that.”

The well-meaning male student, fresh out of college, replied, “You always have to be cautious.”

Li Xiyin nodded absently, as if not really listening to what he was saying, then shook her head a little belatedly.

But when this male student finally saw Qian Xu among the interviewers—recognized her as the “Qian Xu” they had been talking about—he immediately took back everything he had said.

He thought to himself, How could someone with such a perfect face ever be jealous of anyone?