C1 No Place to Go

"Next, Shu Ann."

A girl sitting in the corner of the waiting room quickly stood up when she heard her name. She walked over calmly, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open.

Shu Ann took a seat in the only empty chair in the room, facing three interviewers. The woman on the left, who looked both professional and elegant, was the first to speak. "Please introduce yourself."

Thankfully, they didn’t start with any difficult questions. Shu Ann felt a bit relieved and became even more focused on the importance of this interview.

Jingtai Company had made a miraculous rise five years ago, rapidly capturing the market and outpacing many competitors to become one of the top companies. Its CEO, Lih Jingyan, emerged as a formidable figure, known for his sharp tactics and commanding presence, earning him the title of the most charismatic man in recent polls.

Shu Ann chose this company because of its impressive growth.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Shu Ann. I'm a junior at F University, majoring in Business Administration, and I'm currently interning."

The lead interviewer set down the file, which described a shy girl with large eyes who seemed easily startled. In contrast, the confident and poised girl before them seemed like a completely different person.

The lead interviewer adjusted his glasses. "Why did you choose our company?"

Shu Ann smiled and began speaking eloquently, bringing smiles to the faces of all three interviewers.

"Now, for the final question, what position are you hoping to secure within the company?" The lead interviewer rested his chin on his hand, his sharp gaze assessing her through his glasses.

A position? Like you’d just hand me a manager role if I asked! Shu Ann thought to herself, rolling her eyes internally. Outwardly, she smiled and said, "I’m willing to contribute to the company’s growth in any capacity."

Her confident smile prompted a brief exchange among the interviewers before they concluded, "Please wait for our notification. Thank you. Next."

Shu Ann thanked them and walked out, unfazed by the complex looks from others, leaving with a composed demeanor.

Meanwhile, the lead interviewer stared thoughtfully at her file, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the table.

Shu Ann felt a wave of relief wash over her as she left the company. It would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous; after all, it was her first interview. She had scoured the internet for tips, hoping she'd make it through.

Now, as she looked up at the bright sun in the sky, she decided it was time to grab some lunch. She hailed a cab and stopped at the entrance of a fancy restaurant. After paying the fare, she was stopped by the doorman.

"This is a members-only place, open only to the elite," the doorman said with a smirk, looking Shu Ann up and down.

He was mocking her.

Shu Ann simply smiled, flashing a platinum membership card that gleamed in the sunlight, causing the doorman's face to turn pale.

"Oh, ma'am, my apologies. Please, come right in," the doorman stammered, bowing deeply. After she entered, he complained to his colleague, "That's a platinum card! When did someone so low-key join the upper circles?"

Inside, Shu Ann declined the server's offer to take her to a private room on the third floor. She was alone and preferred to sit in the main hall.

While waiting for her food, she found her spot quite strategic. Hidden by a potted plant, she could observe others without being seen. Hmm, isn't that the grandson of the Qi family? Engaged and still out with another woman—bold move. And there's the eldest of the Chen family. Seems like his political career is going well if he has time for lunch. Last time, I didn't hit him hard enough...

Suddenly, the sound of someone tapping on tableware interrupted her thoughts. Who's being so rude? Wait, the sound is right next to her.

Shu Ann turned abruptly to find a man sitting across from her, resting his chin on one hand while waving a fork with the other, grinning broadly.

"Mooh Yang," Shu Ann said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Mooh Yang raised an eyebrow. "Why can't I be here?"

"No, that's not it," Shu Ann replied, rubbing her temples in exasperation. "When you come looking for me, it's never for anything good."

"Uh," Mooh Yang said, looking a bit sheepish as he put down the fork and sat up straight. "You're overthinking it."

"Hello, here's your steak." The waiter placed the steak down and looked up to notice another guest.

Strange, was this gentleman here from the beginning?

"Sir, you..."

Mooh Yang interrupted him, "I ordered the same meal as this lady. Why hasn't it arrived yet?"

"Oh, sorry, sorry, that's our oversight. Your meal will be ready shortly." With that, he hurried off to prepare it.

Well, that was a successful bluff.

Watching the man smile so brazenly, Shu Ann almost wanted to leave right then and there.

"I'm not even going to ask how you found me. You won't tell me anyway. Just let me know what you want this time, and be honest." Shu Ann emphasized her words, not wanting to hear anything, knowing it would be trouble.

"Hey, don't be so cold." Mooh Yang pushed a glass of red wine toward Shu Ann, trying to appease her. "This time, it's a big job. Your skills are much better than those two. Only you can handle it."

With Shu Ann's silence, Mooh Yang knew she was considering it, so he quickly outlined the situation. Since she hadn't said no, he took it as a yes.

"I've sent the details to the chat room. Check it out when you get back. I'll handle the negotiations. These family matters are the worst, but they pay the most. I was really torn about taking it," Mooh Yang said, pretending to be troubled, though his expression betrayed him.

Would he really pass up such a big job? Ha, trouble? If they dared to bother him, he'd make sure their systems crashed and secrets flew everywhere.

Shu Ann still didn't speak. Mooh Yang looked up at her, puzzled, to find her eating her steak piece by piece, not even sparing him a glance.

"Shu Ann," Mooh Yang said, dissatisfied.

Shu Ann put down her fork, leaving only a knife spinning in her hand. "So, my vacation is over, huh?"

"Uh..." He had forgotten about that.

"Ha ha ha, no way. Once this case is over, I'll push all the tasks away for you, at least give you a month off."

Shu Ann didn't say anything, just smiled at him.

Mooh Yang felt a chill run down his spine and quickly held up two fingers, "Two months."

Shu Ann still remained silent.

Mooh Yang was about to explode, "Three months! Not a day more! Our team only has four people!"

Only then did Shu Ann pick up his fork, pop the last piece of steak into his mouth, and take a sip of red wine. "Three months, deal."

"I'll head home to check on the assignment. Enjoy your meal." Shu Ann stood up cheerfully and, in a good mood, said, "See you later."

Mooh Yang suddenly regretted taking on this case in the first place, gritting his teeth and vowing to make it as tough as possible. If he didn't, it wouldn't justify losing two months of vacation!

As he reached the door, the server's enthusiastic greeting echoed, full of flattery but not overly ingratiating.

Shu Ann casually glanced back, catching the man's furrowed brow and impatient gaze.

This was someone used to being in charge.

In a day, he met dozens of people, and it was impossible to remember them all. Even if someone stood out, they only left a fleeting impression, soon forgotten.

Shu Ann walked away without looking back, unaware that the man had also noticed her, nor knowing that this brief encounter was just the beginning.

Some connections are forged through countless passing encounters.

Back at her small apartment, Shu Ann felt completely relaxed. She tossed her clothes onto the sofa, brewed a cup of tea, and logged into the chat room on her computer to check the assignment.

The chat room was buzzing with chatter.

Cat of Gu Li: "Are these people out of their minds? Trying to mess with me, they're just a bunch of losers!"

Qin? Qin!: "Tsk tsk, if you can't handle this, how can I trust you as a partner in the future?"

Cat of Gu Li: "Who says I can't handle it? Trying to mess with me without asking if I'm on board first!"

Qin? Qin!: "Whether you're on board or not, they're still targeting you. Get it together."

Shu Ann's cat suddenly became a sensation, sparking a lively debate as soon as the video started. Shu Ann wisely chose to let them have the floor, allowing them to argue to their heart's content. After all, it's not right to deprive others of their fun. Knowing Qin Simiao's penchant for mischief, Shu Ann then opened the encrypted page to check the task at hand.

The Lih family's defenses had been breached? Shu Ann sipped her tea, realizing this was a significant development. The Lih family's computers surely held many secrets, and they would have hired top-notch experts to set up two firewalls. Even the most daring hackers wouldn't usually target the Lih family's defenses, given their influence. Clearly, whoever was behind this was a formidable adversary willing to challenge the Lih family.

The Lih family. Isn't Jingtai Company one of their enterprises? If they can't handle a hacker, maybe they should consider switching companies for their internship. However, the fact that they sought help from Shu Ann showed they had good judgment. For the sake of a future employer, she decided to reluctantly lend a hand, but it would come at a steep price.

Shu Ann closed her laptop with a smile, contemplating how to make a profit from this situation.

The next morning, Shu Ann got up early for breakfast. A professor, rumored to be a dual-degree graduate from the U.S., was giving a lecture at F University, and Shu Ann decided to attend. Even at seven, she was a bit late; the auditorium was packed, with some people even standing.

Shu Ann had moved out in her sophomore year due to the confidential nature of her work and irregular tasks, which prevented her from enjoying a typical college life. She was aware of the whispers from her three roommates, but she dismissed them as trivial and never let it bother her. Over the years, they had managed to coexist peacefully.

However, this time she was at a disadvantage. Those who arrived late had friends saving seats for them, so Shu Ann had to find a spot to stand, lest even that be taken. She couldn't help but marvel at the professor's reputation. She found a corner to stand in and waited for the lecture to begin.

It wasn't long before a young man stepped onto the stage. With just a glance at the audience, the noisy hall fell silent, and he began speaking in his distinctive tone.

Even if someone seems composed, that slightly flippant tone can reveal their true nature as a bit of a goofball.

Why did Mooh Yang come to her school? She thought he was some impressive professor, which made her get up early without checking. What a mistake.

Their group’s identities were confidential, so they didn’t know each other. While it wasn’t forbidden for acquaintances to know, Shu Ann was clueless about these things. She didn’t plan to stay long, so the less she knew, the better.

A double major, and he’s not even 25 yet? Shu Ann mused, rubbing her chin.

The man on stage had started speaking. A good-looking guy with a bit of charm was always popular, and the room was noticeably filled with more women than men.

No matter how well Mooh Yang spoke, Shu Ann wasn’t interested in staying. She yawned and turned to leave.

Mooh Yang noticed her departure out of the corner of his eye but continued speaking without missing a beat.

Once outside the hall, Shu Ann found herself at a loss. She hadn’t received any notification about the interview results, and she wasn’t in a hurry with her tasks. Suddenly having free time, she didn’t know where to go or what to do.