He rode the electric scooter with one hand, holding an umbrella with the other.
"Leng Xunze?" Wen Yan sounded a bit surprised.
"Finished work?"
"Mm!"
Just as Wen Yan was about to ask why he was there, the man parked the scooter, took off his jacket, and draped it over her. It was always particularly cold at night, and with the rain, the temperature had plummeted, making her skin prickle. The sudden warmth enveloping her seemed to warm her heart as well.
"I just finished work too, and I was passing by to see you," Leng Xunze's voice was deep and steady.
Wen Yan's lips curved upwards. "Mm, then let's go home."
"Get on."
She sat behind him, holding the umbrella. To cover them both, she had to lean close to his back.
His broad back exuded a sense of security.
Her warm breath brushed against it. Leng Xunze tightened his grip on the handlebars and suddenly accelerated. The girl leaned heavily against him, and slowly, she reached out to embrace his waist.
Her chest was almost pressed against his back.
Leng Xunze's expression flickered under the streetlights, his dark eyes unfathomably deep.
As soon as they arrived home, he went straight into the bathroom. Wen Yan, thinking he was soaked, felt a pang of guilt and prepared a dry towel for him.
Outside, the rain pattered softly. Inside, the atmosphere was warm and cozy. Though the room was small, listening to the sound of water from the bathroom, Wen Yan suddenly felt quite happy.
The next day, Wen Yan resumed her job search, working harder than ever, sending out resumes and attending interviews.
Three days passed quickly.
Wen Yan had interviewed with no less than twenty companies, but each time she was rejected.
She began to doubt herself.
Was she really not suited for this line of work? Yet her grades in school had been excellent.
She was a service design major and had won numerous awards during her time at university.
Wen Yan's finances grew tighter, and her heart felt heavy.
One day, as she left a company, Wen Yan followed the interviewer.
"Sister, do you think I have a chance of being hired?" she asked, mustering her courage.
The interviewer glanced at her. "Wen Yan, right?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Here's your resume. You can try applying again," she said indifferently.
Wen Yan's expression faltered slightly.
"Sister," she gathered her courage again, "May I ask what my shortcomings are?"
The interviewer gave a knowing smile. "Perhaps you should look for the reason within yourself."
With that, she left.
Wen Yan stood rooted to the spot, feeling a chill run through her.
Lost and dejected, she walked out of the company building. The sunlight outside stung her eyes. Wen Yan raised her hand to shield them. The next moment, a red sports car pulled up in front of her.
Seeing the woman who emerged from it, Wen Yan frowned.
Why was Li Mengyao here?
She was on the phone, her red lips curved upwards. "Yes, I've arrived at your company. Sister Juan, let's go out for afternoon tea!"
Sister Juan?
The person who had just interviewed her was surnamed Juan.
Wen Yan harbored a bold suspicion, yet she couldn't quite believe it.
Li Mengyao's gaze swept over her arrogantly, her smile confirming Wen Yan's thoughts. "Wen Yan, have you been enjoying these past few days?"
"You did this!"
At this moment, there was nothing left to misunderstand.
She had always been at the top of her class in school, yet her job search was repeatedly hitting dead ends.
It turned out Li Mengyao had been sabotaging her all along!
Wen Yan clenched her fists in anger. "Li Mengyao, do you have to be like this? We're cousins, after all. What good does treating me this way do for you?"
"Cousins? I haven't forgotten the embarrassment you caused me at the restaurant!" Li Mengyao looked down at her condescendingly.
"That was your own doing."
"Hmph, Wen Yan, stop struggling. The Li family might not be what it was, but my word can make it impossible for you to work in the fashion industry. No one will hire you. Why don't you come work at Li Group!"
The Li family also had a fashion company.
But it was chaotic, with a poor atmosphere. Most of the talented designers had already left.
Furthermore, if Li Mengyao let her in, she wouldn't have an easy time of it.
"I really didn't expect you to be so afraid of me," Wen Yan suddenly narrowed her eyes.
Li Mengyao seemed to hear a joke. "What are you talking about?"
"Aren't you just afraid that my reputation will overshadow yours, which is why you're targeting me?" Wen Yan said with feigned casualness, looking at her with a hint of disdain. "This is all you're capable of, isn't it, Li Mengyao!"
As if struck a nerve, Li Mengyao became flustered. "Wen Yan, who do you think you are? I'm already somewhat well-known, a genius girl. You're just a fresh graduate who hasn't even found a job. How dare you compare yourself to me!"
"Then your constant obstruction already reveals your inner self."
"Self-righteous!"
"Then stop blacklisting me and let me find any company to work for."
"Alright..." Li Mengyao almost agreed, but then she suddenly snapped back to reality as the words left her mouth. Damn it, she had been tricked by Wen Yan.
How ridiculous, why would she be afraid of her?
"You're provoking me? Dream on," Li Mengyao sneered. "I just want you to know that I can crush you with one hand. You will never be my match!"
Just then, Sister Juan arrived. Li Mengyao chatted and laughed with Sister Juan as they went for afternoon tea.
Wen Yan clenched her resume, almost crumpling it into a ball. Finally, she smoothed it out slowly. After all, printing it had cost five yuan, and this resume was worth that much!
Another day of fruitless effort.
Wen Yan returned home, cooked dinner, and waited for Leng Xunze.
"You're back, quickly wash your hands, I'll serve you your meal." As soon as she heard him at the door, Wen Yan got up to serve the food.
Leng Xunze washed his hands and sat opposite her, eating.
They ate in silence.
Normally, Wen Yan would chat about her day, but today she was clearly dejected.
"What's wrong?" Leng Xunze asked, as if casually, while serving her food.
"I didn't find a job again today," Wen Yan's voice was low.
"Is that all? If you don't find one, you don't. I can still support you," his voice was magnetic and indifferent, full of charm.
Wen Yan's heart stirred slightly. "But I can't let you support me forever."
Leng Xunze glanced at Wen Yan, sensing she was holding something back.
"Are you hiding something from me?"
"I..."
Wen Yan finally spoke. "Li Mengyao is forcing me to work at her group, but I can't go. If I don't go, I won't have a job."
Leng Xunze, being a smart man, immediately understood the implication.
Li Mengyao was blacklisting Wen Yan.
No wonder she was so down.
"Then why don't you find a company even more powerful than the Li family?"
"I've thought about it, but those big companies require experience, and I've just graduated."
Leng Xunze: "Truly smart companies need talent. I heard Xing Hua Company is quite good."
"That's more than just good!" Wen Yan became serious, earnestly explaining to Leng Xunze. "That's one of the top companies in our industry. Although their main business isn't fashion design, they have no shortage of funds or resources. It's a place many people dream of working."
Leng Xunze's eyebrows twitched.
So his subsidiary company was that impressive?
"Then why don't you try?"
"I, I definitely won't make it." Wen Yan's confidence in herself had dwindled.
"Silly."