RAHHSFL - Chapter 78
Chapter 78
On March 1st, S University officially started its spring semester. Having gained further recognition from the national competition during the winter break, Secretary Yan called Qin Juran, asking if she would be willing to speak at the opening ceremony.
Qin Juran was about to decline when Ruan Nan said she wanted to see Qin Juran in a suit, giving a speech in front of everyone. Qin Juran, amused, asked her little wife what kind of peculiar hobby that was.
Ruan Nan tilted her head and patted Qin Juran’s shoulder. "Xiao Qin, this isn't a hobby, it's the chairman's expectation. I see you're a promising young talent. Don't disappoint your investor's trust~"
President Qin gritted her teeth.
She had finally accepted Ruan Nan's investment. With five million yuan in startup capital, the company's resources and development prospects were far beyond what they had been with only 300,000 yuan. She hadn't accepted the investment personally but insisted Ruan Nan follow proper procedures. Therefore, Ruan Nan was now the largest shareholder of "Ju Nan Cultural Media Co., Ltd."
But Qin Juran was familiar with the process, having done this in her past life.
She signed a few established influencers. Their "City Memory" series had just concluded. After a brainstorming session, the creative department came up with a few themes for their next project: "Flavors of Youth," "Human Fireworks" (similar to "City Memory"), and a food-themed series, "Mountains and Seas Between Us, Yet We Feast Together."
These themes were currently trending and had good potential for quick returns. During the meeting, everyone enthusiastically discussed the options and agreed that their next project should be "Memories of Youth." After all, the company staff was relatively young, some barely in their thirties, most even younger, especially their CEO, Qin Juran, a third-year university student.
It was a great selling point.
Qin Juran listened to their discussion but remained silent.
A senior staff member from the operations department noticed Qin Juran’s silence and gently interrupted the meeting. "President Qin, do you have any suggestions?"
Qin Juran leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers on the document she had prepared. After a moment of thought, without revealing the document's title, she asked, "If we did a series on 'Second Chances & Choices,' would that be too difficult?"
Her question brought the meeting to silence.
Xiao Zhang asked, "You mean, give a hypothetical scenario, like, if you could have a second chance at something, what would you choose?"
The senior staff member from operations interrupted him. "Not just one thing, right? A person? A family? Even a city? Thinking broadly, there’s a lot we could do with this theme.”
A lot they could do, but also very challenging. Like an essay with a broad, sweeping theme, how could they make it fresh and original without going off-topic? That was the question.
After some discussion, Huang Ying asked curiously, "President Qin, you mentioned second chances. Have you personally experienced any second chances? Or is there someone who has? Among us... I think only President Qin has changed significantly.”
Classic Huang Ying, hitting the nail on the head.
Qin Juran forced a professional smile. "It's just a topic I’ve been interested in recently. As for whether it can be our next theme, or in what format, we’ll need to discuss it further. For now, let's stick to the popular themes you all suggested."
Everyone nodded in agreement, thanking Qin Juran for her understanding. After all, the company was still in its early stages, and popular themes were the quickest way to attract followers and traffic.
Now that she was in a relationship, Huang Ying wouldn’t allow Qin Juran to continue living in the dormitory, saying she was afraid of accidentally seeing the beautiful CEO clipping her toenails and becoming the target of workplace revenge.
Qin Juran said Huang Ying had given her far more reasons to hold a grudge than that.
Since Ruan Nan was leaving for her exchange program in half a month, Qin Juran moved into Ruan Nan's apartment. Ruan Nan felt bad that Qin Juran would be living alone for a semester, but Qin Juran insisted on experiencing the solitude her wifey had endured.
In the second semester of their third year, finance majors had very few classes, only one required and one elective course per week. Most students were either preparing for postgraduate entrance exams or looking for internships.
Their advisor had just learned about the Xia Jin incident after the start of the semester. Having been the one to connect Qin Juran with the journalism school, he felt responsible and insisted on helping her find an internship. He wasn't aware that Qin Juran had already started her own company.
Qin Juran didn't want to attract too much attention. "It’s okay," she said, "I already have an internship.” The old professor's eyes widened. "At what company? Is it a reputable company?"
"A newly established MCN company. Good scale, promising future.”
"What's the name? I know most of the well-known MCN companies in S City. If I haven't heard of it, then it's probably not good!”
"..."
"Who's the CEO? Do they have any investors or backing?"
"A young woman. Good investment portfolio, stable finances, not a fly-by-night operation, Professor.”
"A young woman?" The professor's skepticism was evident in his voice. "I don't think that's a good idea, Juran. Be careful, don't be fooled. These 'talented' young CEOs are usually all talk and no substance. I bet you’re more capable than her.”
"..." Qin Juran couldn’t help but chuckle. "Yes, yes, I’ll tell her to work on something other than her 'talk.' Thanks for your concern, Professor.”
Qin Juran hung up and returned to work. Lin Wei was leaving for his exchange program a week before Ruan Nan. Qin Juran had wanted to throw a farewell party for Ruan Nan, but she said it was too much trouble. They coordinated with Lin Wei and chose a weekend to have dinner with their friends.
Many members of Ruan Nan's band, "Midsummer," were also third-year students, starting to look for internships and jobs. With Ruan Nan leaving as well, a sense of melancholy permeated the gathering, hinting at the band’s possible disbandment.
Everyone felt the shift. In their first and second years, they talked about which cafeteria had the best food. Now, the focus was on their careers and futures, even their dinner conversations taking on a more serious tone.
Although it was Lin Wei's farewell dinner, Zhou Ziqing drank the most. After finishing half a bottle of liquor, he stood up, leaning on Lin Wei's shoulder, and slurred, "Brothers and sisters, only with you guys can I truly be myself. The other day, some rich kid from S City invited me to dinner. You wouldn’t believe it, he was showing off so much, practically brought his property deeds to the table. Kept calling me 'Mr. Zhou' throughout the meal. I’m no 'Mr.' anything.”
Everyone laughed. Zhou Ziqing, even drunk, realized his words could be misconstrued and quickly waved his hands. “Qin Juran, I didn’t mean you. You're a real CEO, a true President Qin. Whatever happened before… I respect you.”
He gave a thumbs-up.
Lin Wei teased him, "Hey, hey, hey, Zhou Ziqing, didn’t you say you'd eat shit upside down if you ever made peace with Qin Juran?"
Before Lin Wei could continue, everyone at the table threw orange peels at him. "We're eating! Don't talk about such disgusting things!"
Everyone had had a bit to drink, their faces flushed under the warm light. They talked about life, dreams, and the future. The clinking of glasses was a symphony of youthful aspirations.
Qin Juran and Ruan Nan were among the few who hadn’t drunk any alcohol. Qin Juran, with her arm around Ruan Nan, amidst the laughter and chatter, enjoyed the intoxicating warmth of friendship.
With a week left before Ruan Nan’s departure, Qin Juran didn't let her go to the office, telling her to focus on preparing for her exchange program. On Saturday, Qin Juran took Ruan Nan to the mall. The climate in Los Angeles wasn’t drastically different from China’s, perhaps a bit drier, but generally manageable.
Qin Juran picked out clothes for Ruan Nan, from short sleeves to sweaters. Ruan Nan tried on two hoodies, and they both agreed the green one looked better. However, when Ruan Nan asked for Qin Juran’s opinion, she said, "The gray one.”
"Why?"
Qin Juran pointed at the hood of the green hoodie. "Bad luck."
Ruan Nan laughed at her childishness, but Qin Juran refused to budge on the "green hat" issue. Ruan Nan gave in and bought the gray one. Qin Juran wanted to continue shopping, but Ruan Nan stopped her. "It's okay, I'm going to America, not outer space. I can always buy more clothes there.”
Qin Juran agreed. She could buy anything she needed in America; the suitcase should only contain things she couldn’t get there.
After the mall, they went to IKEA. Qin Juran wanted to buy Ruan Nan a night light, but Ruan Nan insisted on taking the cat-shaped night light Qin Juran had given her.
"No way," President Qin protested.
"Why not?" Ruan Nan raised an eyebrow.
"You’ll be gone, and I’ll be all alone in that big apartment. I’ll need the cat light to feel like you’re with me.”
"No," Ruan Nan retorted. "I won’t have anything familiar there. I’ll need the cat light to feel like you’re with me.”
And so, the chairman and the CEO of Ju Nan Cultural Media engaged in a serious and rather heated business negotiation in the middle of IKEA.
In the end, President Qin conceded. "Fine, take it. But you have to bring it back in one piece."
The chairman patted President Qin's head. "I will."
As her departure neared, Ruan Nan attended a two-day pre-departure orientation with the university. Qin Juran's workload at the company was increasing, and she still had classes to attend. Hiring an assistant was becoming a necessity.
The role of an assistant involved handling business matters, managing schedules, even driving and running errands, offering ample opportunities for close interaction.
Qin Juran had considered this before, but worried that Ruan Nan might feel insecure, she hadn't prioritized it. Now, with the increasing workload and her WeChat overflowing with messages, she had to start the hiring process.
Ruan Nan, seeing through her thoughts, pouted. "Am I really that petty?”
Qin Juran raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"
"..."
Ruan Nan scoffed. "Go ahead and choose someone. Interview them before I leave. I’ll vet them personally. Just to be safe.”
Qin Juran smiled and asked HR to draft a job posting. After an initial screening by the HR department, the interviews were scheduled for Friday afternoon in Qin Juran's office.
Qin Juran didn't want someone much older than herself, setting the age limit at around 25: young, energetic, and capable. Ruan Nan reviewed the job description. "You didn't specify any required work experience?"
Qin Juran shook her head. "I don't mind that. Everyone deserves a chance to start from scratch.”
They both realized the irony of her words, and Qin Juran raised an eyebrow at Ruan Nan, teasing, "Yes, everyone deserves a chance to start from scratch.”
Ruan Nan blushed, retorting, "Indeed. And so will President Qin.”
Qin Juran frowned. "I don’t think Ah Ruan can give me that opportunity.”
Ruan Nan scoffed, gesturing towards her passport on the table. "President Qin, I'm going abroad to study," she said, emphasizing the word "study" and glancing pointedly at Qin Juran.
Qin Juran raised an eyebrow, walking over and tilting Ruan Nan’s chin up. "What do you plan to study, baby?"
Ruan Nan replied nonchalantly, "Advanced techniques, open-mindedness, and – how to top.”
Qin Juran was amused by her adorable threat. "And how do you plan to learn that?"
Ruan Nan paused, surprised by Qin Juran’s serious tone. After a moment of thought, she said shyly, "Through observation, reflection, and practice?"
"Not a bad approach..."
Ruan Nan's voice trailed off as Qin Juran’s gaze intensified. She quickly grabbed Qin Juran’s arm. "Don't worry, I… I only have eyes for you."
"Why do you like me?"
Ruan Nan's answer was simple and straightforward. "Because you're Qin Juran.”
Qin Juran was taken aback. She’d heard many compliments and descriptions of herself, but Ruan Nan never used them. It was as if, simply being Qin Juran, with all her strengths and flaws, was enough for Ruan Nan.
Friday, 18th floor of Xinghui Tower.
Over twenty young women waited in the hallway, whispering among themselves as they queued for their interviews. It was a new company, so their knowledge of CEO Qin Juran was limited to: S University student, competition winner, and someone with a powerful background.
Being able to start a company of this scale clearly indicated significant backing, but the nature of that backing remained a mystery.
A few women in their thirties, seemingly more experienced, waited near the door. Perhaps due to the long wait, after two cups of tea, they grew impatient and started talking amongst themselves, complaining about the lack of organization and the busyness of the other staff members. Their voices gradually rose, and a few of the younger candidates, fearing trouble, quietly moved away.
Among them, a young woman with her hair in a bun, her features striking, observed the older women, then quietly typed a message on her phone.
A while later, a young woman with a ponytail rushed in. She was late for her scheduled interview time, and the security guard stopped her. She said something to him, and to everyone’s surprise, he let her in.
The woman with the bun watched her with interest. The latecomer glanced around nervously, nodding apologetically at the others, then, choosing a seemingly friendly face, walked over to the woman with the bun.
"Hi there! Are you here for the interview too?"
The woman with the bun nodded, not saying anything.
The woman with the ponytail looked at her, surprised. "You didn't bring your resume? They asked for two printed copies! How could you forget something so important?"
The woman with the bun blinked. "Oh, it’s okay. I'm just trying my luck. Doesn't matter if I don't get it. "
"That's not okay! There’s a print shop downstairs. I’ll talk to the security guard. Come on, let’s go print your resume!”
The woman with the bun chuckled, about to be dragged away, when she said, "I already submitted a digital copy. I’ll explain it to them. No need to trouble yourself."
The woman with the ponytail relented. "Fine, fine. Just make sure you explain it properly.” She extended her hand. "I'm Feng Qing. You are?"
The woman with the bun smiled and whispered, "Ruan Nan."
Feng Qing nodded. "Beautiful name. Almost as good as mine. My name means 'abundant celebration.' It's like a built-in good luck charm!"
Ruan Nan was amused by her confidence. "But there’s only one position, and so many candidates. Are you sure you’ll get it?"
Feng Qing waved her hand dismissively. "No problem. Top three, guaranteed."
...
Ruan Nan nodded, about to turn away, when Feng Qing nudged her with her elbow. "Ruan Nan, have you heard about that incident with CEO Qin Juran of Ju Nan?"
"What incident?"
"You haven't heard? When they were still a small team, she had a falling out with another girl, who left the team and posted videos about it. It was a big deal."
Ruan Nan's fingers tightened imperceptibly. "I think I heard something about it."
Feng Qing waved her resume. "To be honest, I became a fan of their CEO after that incident. She’s so cool! A university student handling a crisis like that? She’s a role model! That’s why I applied for this assistant position as soon as I saw it. Honestly, she's lucky to have attracted talent like me."
Ruan Nan covered her mouth, trying to suppress her laughter. Feng Qing, seeing her reaction, frowned. "You don't believe me? It’s okay, Ruan Nan. I’ll give you my number. Even if I get the job and you don’t, I can recommend you to other companies. I’m older than you, I have connections.”
Ruan Nan raised an eyebrow. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
Feng Qing also raised an eyebrow, shrugging and tilting her chin up. "Because you seem different from the others. I like your vibe.”
Ruan Nan traced a finger along her document. "Have you heard anything about Qin Juran's personal life?”
Feng Qing looked at her, understanding the pointed question. "You mean CEO Qin's sexual orientation?"
"Yes."
"Do you mind?"
"Do you mind?"
Feng Qing shook her head, slightly puzzled. "Everyone has the right to love whoever they want. Her courage to be open about it is also a way of protecting her partner. Besides, I’m applying to be an assistant, not trying to steal her girlfriend. Why would I mind?"
Then, her eyes widening, she lowered her voice. "Wait, does CEO Qin have a habit of, you know, taking advantage of her employees? Am I in danger, being this pretty?"
She was indeed quite attractive, but not as stunning as Ruan Nan or Qin Juran. Ruan Nan, amused by her misplaced confidence, chuckled and shook her head. "Her girlfriend is quite pretty, I hear.”
"How pretty? Prettier than you? I think you’re the one in danger. You're gorgeous.”
Ruan Nan paused. She had indeed been considered "dangerous" once. She smiled faintly. Before Feng Qing could say anything more, the interviews seemed to be over, and no one else was being called in. Feng Qing panicked, rushing to the door. "Excuse me, why haven’t I been called in yet?"
The staff member shook her head. "I'm sorry, miss, you missed the reporting time. The interviews are over.”
"I had a legitimate reason for being late! Could you please ask CEO Qin to give me a chance to explain?" She looked genuinely distressed, as if a great opportunity had slipped through her fingers.
As the staff member tried to stop her, Ruan Nan took Feng Qing's resumes and walked to Qin Juran's office, knocking on the door. "President Qin, there's someone else who would like to try for the position."
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