Chen Xi never could have imagined that her employment would begin just one hour after sitting on the street eating jianbing guozi with Leng Ran.
She had originally taken a taxi to the creative cuisine restaurant she’d arranged to meet Qin Lie at, ready to celebrate properly.
But before she could even order, Leng Ran’s assistant called, asking her to come to the studio for a meeting.
Chen Xi hung up the phone and looked at Qin Lie sitting across from her with shock.
She said incredulously, “Leng Ran wants me to go to a meeting right now.”
Qin Lie smiled and extended his hand to Chen Xi.
“Welcome to the crazy workplace.”
Chen Xi seriously shook hands with Qin Lie and said with a smile, “Who’s afraid of whom?”
Qin Lie drove Chen Xi to the Tangdou Film Industry building.
Chen Xi jumped out of the car with her canvas bag on her back, excitedly waving at Qin Lie.
“You go home first. If it gets late, I’ll just take a taxi back.”
Qin Lie smiled and nodded, watching Chen Xi walk away with light steps, as if invisible wings had spread behind her.
Bright, flamboyant, carrying a kind of wildness that outsiders couldn’t see through.
Even in Beijing, this prosperous and unfamiliar city, Chen Xi was forever that bright and wild Dunhuang woman.
He smiled as he rolled up the car window, warmth filling his heart. He picked up his phone and dialed.
“Hello, Xiao Tang, call those people from this afternoon. We’ll continue the meeting in half an hour.”
Above them were scattered a few stars, both heading toward the brilliant dreams in their hearts.
Chen Xi got home close to midnight. Qin Lie sent her a WeChat message saying he’d be back in half an hour.
Chen Xi took a shower and collapsed exhaustedly on the bed.
She had a bellyful of interesting things she wanted to tell Qin Lie, forcing herself to keep her heavy eyelids open as she waited for him.
But drowsiness was like a large hand waiting by the pillow, pulling her into bottomless deep sleep with one grasp.
Chen Xi slept until the alarm went off.
She drowsily turned over and naturally burrowed into Qin Lie’s embrace.
She stubbornly lingered in bed for a little while amid the annoying alarm music.
Qin Lie’s voice, carrying a trace of hoarseness, reached her ears: “What time do you go to the studio?”
Chen Xi buried her face in his warm neck, lazily humming, “Eight o’clock.”
Qin Lie glanced at the time, smiled helplessly, and suppressed certain thoughts.
He patted Chen Xi’s back. “Time to get up. Morning traffic.”
Chen Xi nuzzled against Qin Lie’s chest, then, in the blink of an eye, sat up with sharp alertness.
From washing up to eating breakfast to getting in the car, Chen Xi raced against time to tell Qin Lie about yesterday’s bizarre interview experience.
After listening with a smile, Qin Lie asked Chen Xi, “Did the onboarding go smoothly last night?”
Chen Xi said admiringly, “Leng Ran is a tough character who keeps a pack of wolves under her.”
“I barged in sideways, completely overturning the original designs. The design team had big opinions and treated me coldly.”
“The team leader was bluntly sarcastic, saying I was hired through connections.”
She paused and looked at Qin Lie. “Guess what Leng Ran said?”
Qin Lie cooperatively raised an eyebrow. “What did she say?”
Chen Xi: “She leaned back in her chair and said arrogantly, ‘That’s right, Chen Xi is exactly a connection hire.'”
Qin Lie looked at Chen Xi with some surprise.
Chen Xi: “I thought right then, this woman is someone I’m sticking with.”
“Leng Ran said, ‘Chen Xi is someone I hired through connections. If you’re not convinced, draw something better than hers. If you can’t, then cooperate with her properly.”
Chen Xi finished her vivid account and laughed.
Qin Lie couldn’t help but laugh too.
When the car reached the Tangdou Film Industry building, Qin Lie seemed to casually ask Chen Xi, “Are you scared?”
Strange workplace, complex interpersonal relationships, explosive work pressure.
Chen Xi suddenly leaned over and kissed Qin Lie’s cheek.
“What do you think I’ve ever been afraid of?”
She pushed open the door and got out, gently tapping the car window.
The dark glass slowly lowered. Chen Xi leaned on the car window and smiled brilliantly at Qin Lie.
“Qin Lie, in this world, except for death, I’m not afraid of anything.”
After saying this, she waved at Qin Lie and walked gracefully toward the office building.