Chapter 076.1: Work

After interning in the banquet department for four weeks, Jing Li and Fang Zhenzhen were assigned to intern at the front desk, while Chen Wenbin was assigned to work as a waiter in the Western restaurant. Chen Wenbin argued with Jing Ran to let him go to the front desk, but the internship supervisor felt that Chen Wenbin lacked social skills and was afraid of offending guests at the front desk. Since he couldn’t work alongside Fang Zhenzhen, Chen Wenbin felt it was meaningless and planned to resign.

Fang Zhenzhen criticized him for having a three-minute enthusiasm and being an unreliable man.

To change Fang Zhenzhen’s opinion, Chen Wenbin insisted on working at the hotel.

In the early afternoon, when the hotel had low customer traffic, Jing Li and Fang Zhenzhen sat at the front desk chatting.

“Zhenzhen, when are you going to reconcile with Chen Wenbin?” Jing Li gossiped. Mainly because if Chen Wenbin couldn’t reconcile with Fang Zhenzhen, he would pester Jing Ran. The day before yesterday, Chen Wenbin had a day off and actually spent the night at their house, staying up all night playing games with Jing Ran.

Fang Zhenzhen asked, “Senior, do you think I should reconcile with Brother Wenbin?”

Jing Li thought for a moment; she really couldn’t give advice. Chen Wenbin was a decent person, just too good at irritating others. Initially, Fang Zhenzhen had planned to reconcile with him, but due to some inappropriate words, he angered the little girl. After all, not everyone was as tolerant as Jing Li, who had a “tsundere” temperament, always accommodating Jing Ran.

Fang Zhenzhen said, “If Brother Wen is even half as good as Senior Jing Ran, I probably wouldn’t be so conflicted.”

Little girl, do you have a misunderstanding about the little prince?

In Jing Li’s eyes, Jing Ran and Chen Wenbin, this pair of good buddies, were both high-achieving students. When dealing with girls, their emotional intelligence was particularly impressive. Sometimes, those crude ideas for pursuing girls were also suggested by Jing Ran.

Perhaps due to Jing Ran’s previous image issues, he gave people the impression of being particularly dull. However, he had clear goals and reasonable steps in his actions. Others might think he was burying himself in books, but little did they know that he had solved many operational challenges for the company in the past two years.

Now he has changed his image and looks more shrewd. He is doing well in business, and many people appreciate him. Jing Ran doesn’t talk much with women, and everyone thinks he has a cool personality, but in private, he is a childish person.

“I think that between two people, there should be mutual tolerance. If there are certain behaviors that you don’t like, it’s best to speak up and coordinate together. It’s no use being upset. Boys and girls have different ways of thinking. Boys are more direct, while girls have many considerations and speak more tactfully. If you don’t tell him, he won’t know what you’re thinking.”

Fang Zhenzhen felt that Jing Li’s words made more sense and nodded in agreement.

At this time, a deliveryman came in holding several packages. Jing Li saw that they were company employee packages, signed for them one by one, and placed them in a plastic basket on the front desk.

A male colleague in his twenties may have received a call from the deliveryman and came to the front desk to say to Jing Li, “Hi, beauty, pick up the express delivery.”

Jing Li held the registration book and asked, “What’s the name?”

“Song from the Information Department.”

Jing Li found Song’s name, habitually smiled, and said, “Wait a moment.” Then she squatted down, found Song’s delivery in the basket under the table, stood up, and handed it to him.

“Thank you.” After receiving the delivery, Song thanked her and didn’t leave. He started chatting with Jing Li, “Are you new here?”

Jing Li replied, “I’ve been here for a few weeks. I was in the banquet department before, and now I’m rotating at the front desk.”

Song asked with concern, “Oh, an intern, are you getting used to it?”

“It’s okay.”

“I’m Song, the head of the Information Department.” Song glanced at Jing Li’s name tag and said, “Jing Li, Molly(Lily), both names sound nice.”

Jing Li politely responded, “Thank you.”

Song extended an invitation, “Are you free after work tonight? How about we go for a cup of coffee?”

Due to her position at the front desk, Jing Li consistently responded politely to Song, “My boyfriend picks me up after work in the evening, so I’m afraid I can’t go for coffee.”

Song awkwardly smiled and politely said, “I see. Well, maybe some other time then.”

Before, Jing Li and Fang Zhenzhen interned in the banquet department, with minimal interaction with colleagues from other departments. Two young girls joined the front desk, attracting the attention of the hotel’s single male colleagues. Many male colleagues would engage in small talk with them when coming in and out.

In the late afternoon, a few Indians came to check-in. The front desk supervisor had passed the Professional English Level 4, but due to the significant difference between Indian English and standard American and British English, he couldn’t understand. He pulled a front desk lady and asked, “What is he saying?”

The front desk lady, also an English major, could barely understand a bit, but the Indians spoke quickly, making it difficult for her to comprehend.

Jing Li approached the supervisor and said, “Supervisor, let me talk to them.”

Jing Li communicated with the Indians in English. Despite the heavy Indian accent, Jing Li could still understand and communicate effectively.

After completing the check-in for the Indian guests, the supervisor praised her, “Molly, I didn’t expect you to understand Indian English.”

Jing Li felt a little embarrassed by the praise and said, “When I was young, my neighbors were Indians, and I often heard them speak Indian English.”

“Oh, I see.”

Just as Jing Li was receiving Indian guests, Jing Ran ‘s parents entered the hotel lobby and witnessed the scene. As they passed by the front desk, the staff stood up and greeted them, “Mr. Jing, Mrs. Jing, good afternoon!”

Jing Ran’s father nodded at the staff and looked at Jing Li, encouraging her, “Do well.”

Jing Li politely responded, placing her hands on her abdomen, “Yes, Mr. Jing.”

*

A few weeks later, the summer vacation came to an end, and the internship period was successfully completed. Jing Li and the other interns went out for a farewell dinner, exchanging WeChat contacts to stay in touch. The interns were all students and would be returning to school for classes. The only one staying to work at the hotel was Jing Li, a senior in her internship period. Chen Wenbin was studying architecture, which had a five-year program, so he would start his internship next year. His aspiration was to become an architect, so he wouldn’t stay at the hotel. Now that he and Fang Zhenzhen had reconciled, they had resolved their issues.

During the dinner, Chen Wenbin and Fang Zhenzhen were being affectionate, making the single colleagues around them envious. Jing Li suddenly thought of Jing Ran and wondered what he was doing at home tonight. She really wanted to go home and see her little princess.