Chapter 40: Applying for the Translator Position, Shocking Everyone

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone around was left speechless. Even someone as composed as Xie Zhi couldn’t help but be surprised. His usually indifferent expression cracked slightly as he turned to examine the girl beside him. How had he never realized before that Jiaojiao was so talented?

The beautiful girl’s face was filled with determination. For someone who had prepared for the TOEFL exam, English was nothing more than child’s play. Her pronunciation was very fluent, leaning more towards an American accent.

Hu Yunsheng’s hands trembled as he adjusted his glasses. “I’ll go get some materials.” With that, he quickly walked inside.

“That sounded amazing, even though I couldn’t understand a word.”

“Exactly! This female comrade is not only beautiful but also knows English. No wonder she can make money.”

Wen Jing’s face twisted with jealousy, and she glared at Jiaojiao with resentment. Her voice suddenly rose. “Impossible! How could you possibly speak English?”

Jiaojiao put on an innocent expression. No one knew that the soul inside this body had long since changed, so why not take this opportunity to build a reputation as a hardworking learner?

“Why not? I study English every day with the radio. Or do you think all rural people are uneducated?”

“I know you look down on people from the countryside; otherwise, you wouldn’t be so hostile toward me.”

After saying that, Jiaojiao deliberately sniffled and threw herself into Xie Zhi’s arms. Her slender body trembled slightly, evoking a strong sense of pity.

“Who here isn’t from the countryside?”

“Exactly! Looking down on rural people—this kind of person should be sent to the countryside to experience hardship.”

People in this era were simple and hardworking. They understood the difficulties of labor and deeply despised arrogant, brainless individuals like Wen Jing.

Xie Zhi gently stroked the girl’s head, his expression furious. Deep down, he knew Jiaojiao was purposely making things difficult for Wen Jing, but he didn’t mind at all. In fact, he found her as irresistible as a little kitten.

Wen Jing had always been a proud young lady, looking down on others for years. No one had ever dared to challenge her except Xie Zhi. But now, as she looked at the people around her sneering, and at the man who was entirely focused on comforting Jiaojiao, she broke down, her eyes welling with tears.

Truth be told, a pretty girl crying was indeed a heartbreaking sight, and the mocking voices around her softened slightly.

Hu Yunsheng’s expression darkened as he looked at Wen Jing. He had never expected that the once-lovely child he knew had grown into such a bitter and mean-spirited person.

With a hint of anger, he commanded, “Wen Jing, go inside.”

“Uncle Hu!” Wen Jing’s tear-streaked face looked pitiful.

“Go inside!”

She shot them a venomous glare before storming into the Western restaurant. Hu Yunsheng waved his hand at Xie Zhi and Jiaojiao, signaling them to follow. The crowd gradually dispersed.

Inside, Hu Yunsheng led them to his desk and gestured for them to sit down.

“Jiaojiao, translate this document. Our translation requirements for this event are very high, involving international trade terminology. Simple conversational English won’t be enough.”

Jiaojiao took the document, nodding firmly. Hearing Uncle Hu’s words, she felt a little nervous. Even though she had studied a lot of specialized vocabulary, knowledge always felt lacking when put to the test.

“Jiaojiao, your pronunciation doesn’t sound like British English.”

“That’s because I learned from the radio, interpreting a lot on my own.”

Hu Yunsheng was even more shocked. He carefully examined the delicate girl in front of him, astonished that such a petite figure could hold such immense ability.

“Mao once said that women can hold up half the sky. Today, I truly see it. Mastering a foreign language completely is very difficult. Even Xie Zhi only became fluent because he was sent abroad.”

Jiaojiao looked at the man who was intently choosing dishes for her and asked in surprise, “It must have been tough for you, right?”

Xie Zhi was caught off guard. His eyes turned slightly red, but he smiled and shook his head. “Not at all.”

Jiaojiao flipped through the document. It wasn’t too difficult—some words were long and tedious to translate, but that wasn’t a big problem. Hu Yunsheng clearly didn’t understand the pressure of modern-day college entrance exams or TOEFL.

After scanning the contents, she confidently translated the text aloud in fluent English. Most of the terms were complex, yet she handled them with ease.

Xie Zhi was utterly captivated as he listened. The girl in front of him was so dazzling that he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Hu Yunsheng grew more and more satisfied as he listened. He slapped his thigh in excitement. “Jiaojiao, I’ll confirm you and Xie Zhi for the position! Starting tomorrow night, make sure you both show up!”

“The job lasts for seven days, and the pay is 700 yuan along with ten universal grain vouchers.”

Jiaojiao was visibly shocked at the mention of the payment. She leaned close to Xie Zhi’s ear and whispered, “Seven hundred yuan! That’s more than my mother’s salary for several years!”

“Intellectuals are valuable. This isn’t much,” Hu Yunsheng said with a smile.

He was right. At a time when the country needed development, intellectuals naturally enjoyed the best treatment.

After a pleasant dinner, Jiaojiao and Xie Zhi walked hand in hand through the lively streets of Qingcheng. His hands were warm in hers.

Jiaojiao turned to him and asked, “Xie Zhi, do you think the sky here is more beautiful or the one abroad?”

“The sky here. Jiaojiao, as long as I’m with you, anywhere is beautiful.”

Xie Zhi’s eyes were long and narrow. When he didn’t smile, he looked cold and intimidating, but when he did, he was breathtakingly handsome. It was impossible to look away when he gazed at someone so intently.

Suddenly, Jiaojiao tugged him under a large tree. The bright streetlights illuminated the night, allowing her to see his eyes clearly. She reached out to touch them, mesmerized. “Xie Zhi, your eyes look like water.”

Then, unable to hold back anymore, she kissed him.

Xie Zhi felt the warm, damp sensation on his eyelid. He immediately wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her firmly. His grip was possessive as he cupped the back of her neck and kissed her deeply.

“Jiaojiao, I love you. Don’t leave me.”

She felt his hot tears land on her shoulder, burning as if imprinting his emotions onto her skin.

“You two aren’t afraid of being charged with indecency?” A teasing voice called out before fading into the distance.

Jiaojiao buried her blushing face in Xie Zhi’s chest, unwilling to move.

He stroked her hair gently. “Jiaojiao, do you want to go see the Lantern Festival?”

“Lantern Festival?” The memory of Shen Yun showing off the lantern that Xie Zhi had given her surfaced in her mind.

“Jiaojiao, isn’t this lantern beautiful? Xie Zhi bought it for me. Thank you for giving him up to me. I wish you and Sheng Jie happiness.”

Jiaojiao couldn’t quite remember how she had responded, but she did recall the look of despair in Xie Zhi’s eyes—so heartbreaking.

She had always sensed that the body’s original owner cared about him. But a person who had been proud for too long was unwilling to lower their head. They had been destined to miss each other.

“Hubby, would you buy a lantern for someone else?”

“No,” Xie Zhi replied firmly.