Zhou Yi offered a faint smile but still declined.
"No, you should get some rest. I'll see you at the company tomorrow."
From his understanding of Jiang Ruolan, he knew she was likely testing him.
Perhaps the alcohol had momentarily clouded her judgment tonight.
But what if she came to regret this decision once sober?
He couldn't risk that.
Of course, he refused without hesitation.
After all, what truly belonged to him would naturally fall into place.
There was no need to force anything.
Upon hearing his response, Jiang Ruolan raised an eyebrow.
Her lips curved into a deeper smile.
It seemed President Zhou was as composed and principled as ever.
Far from being disappointed, this only heightened her esteem for him.
[Jiang Ruolan Affection Level +2]
"Thank you for sending me home, President Zhou. See you tomorrow."
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
---
The next day, at Huanyu Company.
Jiang Ruolan had fully embraced Zhou Yi's philosophy.
She scheduled the interviews for 10 a.m.—not too early, not too late.
At least, that's how she interpreted his approach.
Arriving at the office at 10 a.m. struck the perfect balance.
If the interviews ran long, lunch was already arranged.
Everything was designed with thoughtfulness in mind.
One of today's candidates was Li Hua.
She had graduated from university a year ago.
Her previous job had been at a major internet company.
It was notorious for its grueling work hours—starting at 8 a.m. and often ending at 10 p.m., six days a week.
Though officially labeled as having one rest day per week, that "rest day" was usually spent working overtime.
She had no personal space or life to call her own.
She was growing weary of this endless cycle of burnout.
When she first received the offer from the big tech firm, she had been ecstatic.
As a fresh graduate, such companies were seen as dream destinations, haloed in prestige.
Back then, she would have worked for free just to be part of it.
Now, she realized how naive she had been.
During her internship, she earned barely any salary—just a few hundred in stipends.
It barely covered rent in Huaihai.
Rent alone cost $2,000 a month, leaving her perpetually in the red.
But the company excelled at manipulating interns.
They fed them lines about how rare and invaluable this opportunity was.
How fortunate they were to be there.
They used the allure of the corporate brand to dull their critical thinking.
In short, it was all smoke and mirrors.
At the company, employees weren't even allowed to use their real names.
They were assigned so-called "flower names."
A practice that stripped away individuality.
It added a layer of absurdity to the corporate culture.
Li Hua felt herself growing numb to this world.
Her days revolved around work and sleep, with little room for anything else.
Her only leisure time came when she scrolled through her phone before bed.
Fortunately, she stumbled upon Huanyu's recruitment post.
She found it while browsing trending topics online.
At first, she found it hard to believe such a considerate workplace existed.
But after some persuasion from her roommate, Wu Ying, she decided to give it a shot.
Standing beside her now was Wu Ying, her college roommate.
Together, they gazed up at the luxurious office building in awe.
"Huanyu is housed in such a grand building..."
"I remember the post said they're a new company."
"With someone like President Zhou at the helm, renting a prime commercial space is nothing."
"Still, the view here is breathtaking."
Wu Ying's admiration for Zhou Yi stemmed initially from his striking appearance.
But learning that he owned his own company only deepened her fascination.
"Ying, are you nervous? You're about to meet your crush."
"I can't even imagine how handsome he'll look up close."
"I hope I don't lose my composure."
"You're already losing it, and you haven't even seen him yet."
"What if you start drooling during the interview?"
The two laughed nervously as they stepped into the building.
Huanyu occupied the 11th floor.
When the elevator doors opened, they quickly composed themselves and walked out.
The entrance to Huanyu's office was wide open.
A young man and woman stood at the doorway.
Both exuded vitality and charm.
As soon as they spotted Li Hua and Wu Ying, they greeted them with warm, welcoming smiles.
"Good morning, and welcome to Huanyu."
Li Hua and Wu Ying exchanged surprised glances.
"Hello! We're here for the interview today."
"Please, come right in."
As they entered, another young woman appeared.
She was a vision of sweetness with a radiant smile that revealed two adorable dimples.
Her presence instantly put everyone at ease.
Her voice was soft and melodic, carrying a gentle warmth.
"Ladies, please follow me this way."
Seeing Wen Sisi, Li Hua and Wu Ying immediately relaxed.
With their prior work experience, they felt comfortable engaging in small talk.
"Are you an employee here?"
Wen Sisi shook her head with a smile.
"No, I'm just temporary staff."
"President Zhou hired me to serve as the company mascot."
Curious, Wu Ying asked, "And those two at the entrance—are they mascots too?"
Wen Sisi chuckled patiently.
"They're professional models."
"I can't compare to them, haha."
As for why professional models were serving as greeters, that was another example of Zhou Yi's unconventional methods.
Models: What can we say? President Zhou pays handsomely.
"Have you ladies had breakfast?"
"There's a breakfast station over there."
"If you haven't eaten, feel free to grab something."
"Don't let yourselves go hungry."
Wen Sisi gestured toward a nearby table.
Li Hua couldn't help but marvel at how considerate this arrangement was.
After confirming that they had already eaten, Wen Sisi led them to the conference room.
"The interviews haven't started yet."
"You can wait here until it's your turn."
"Good luck!"
Wen Sisi flashed them an encouraging smile.
Her demeanor was effortlessly charming.
Li Hua waved back with a grateful grin.
The conference room was already occupied by several people.
Most were recent graduates.
Only two women appeared to be in their early 30s.
Wu Ying and Li Hua sat quietly.
Nerves kept them silent.
Most candidates carried the same tense posture.
They were bracing themselves for the unknown.
At 9:55 a.m., Jiang Ruolan strode in.
She commanded attention as she approached the group.
She wore a sleek black Armani suit.
Paired with stockings and YSL heels.
She radiated authority and confidence.
Li Hua and Wu Ying were captivated.
She was stunning—the epitome of a professional woman they aspired to emulate.
Jiang Ruolan greeted them with a warm smile.
She engaged in light conversation—not about the interview itself, but about their well-being.
"How far did you travel to get here?"
"Do you need to leave by a certain time?"
Her questions helped ease their nerves.
They revealed a softer side beneath her poised exterior.
Once everyone seemed more relaxed, she glanced at her watch and smiled.
"It's almost 10."
"I'll head to President Zhou's office now."
"Ladies, good luck."
With that, Jiang Ruolan turned and left.
Her confident stride left a lasting impression.
Promptly at 10 a.m., Wen Sisi returned.
She was there to escort them to their interviews.
There was no fixed order—anyone ready could go first.
The two women in their 30s, seasoned professionals, volunteered to take the lead.