Ding Fan and Ning Luoxi were walking by the lakeside in the park, bathed in the afterglow of the sunset, finding a tranquil corner in the bustling city.

"Brother Fan, if you have nothing else to do, you can rest properly in Dongcheng for a while. I can take you around to see the sights," Ning Luoxi, with the improved health of her father from Ning Luo Mountain, had the gloom on her face dissipate, making her appear even more delicate and pretty.

"Afraid not this time. The day after tomorrow your father will need another round of acupuncture. After this session, he will be completely healed, and I will have to leave," Ding Fan said.

Leaving the day after tomorrow? Although she knew Ding Fan was bound to leave, Ning Luoxi couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness. Why she would feel this way about someone she had met for less than a day, even Ning Luoxi herself did not know.

"Brother Fan, can I ask you for a favor?"

Ding Fan didn't know what Ning Luoxi would ask of him and spoke indifferently, "If it doesn't waste time and I am able to help, then of course I can help you."

"Tomorrow, I have a job interview at a big company. Brother Fan, can you accompany me there?" Ning Luoxi's pretty face was filled with anticipation.

"Well..." Ding Fan pondered for a moment. "I don't think I can be of much help if I go, and I don't know much about job interviews..."

Ning Luoxi explained, "Brother Fan, you don't need to do anything else, just wait outside for me. After the interview, I can take you to Tiger Head Mountain in Dongcheng for some fun."

Ding Fan realized then that Ning Luoxi wanted him to accompany her to the interview just to save time to go to Tiger Head Mountain afterward.

Ding Fan wasn't interested in mountain climbing for fun. In the Cultivation World, he often climbed mountains in search of Spirit Grass when he had nothing else to do. However, at this moment, he found himself unable to decline, as Ning Luoxi's expectant gaze made it impossible for him to refuse.

"Alright," Ding Fan nodded in agreement.

"That's wonderful..." Ning Luoxi jumped with joy.

Ding Fan watched from the side and smiled faintly, appreciating Ning Luoxi's innocent and adorable side.

...

That night, Ning Luoxi arranged a separate room for Ding Fan. The night passed without incident, and early the next day, Ding Fan and Ning Luoxi headed out early.

Since today was the interview day, Ning Luoxi was dressed in a suit of professional attire. The pure and lovely young girl, now wearing professional clothing, not only did not diminish her beauty but added a few touches of a mature woman's charm.

"Brother Fan, how do I look today?" Ning Luoxi straightened her back, her chin lifted slightly with a bit of haughtiness.

"Nice, very pretty," Ding Fan sincerely complimented her.

Complimented by Ding Fan, Ning Luoxi was very pleased. The two got ready and left the house cheerfully.

The company Ning Luoxi was going for an interview with was called Qin's Group Company. This company had a significant reputation locally, and it was said that Qin's Group Company in Dongcheng was just a subsidiary. The headquarters was in Yanjing, rumored to be run by a major Yanjing family.

Ding Fan and Ning Luoxi hailed a taxi, and the driver started chattering endlessly as soon as he heard they were going for an interview at Qin's Group Company.

"Little sister, Qin's Group Company is quite remarkable, I've heard that even an ordinary employee makes more than eight thousand a month. When you become a middle manager, the company provides housing and a car... tsk tsk... If you can get into Qin's Group Company, that's truly a blessing accumulated over eight lifetimes."

The taxi driver then shared everything he had heard over the years about how impressive employees at Qin's Group were.

Ding Fan listened quietly from the side, discerning that Qin's Group indeed had substantial prestige locally. At this moment, Ding Fan thought of Qin Manshu.

When he had decided to leave Dancheng, Qin Manshu had mentioned she had a company in Dongcheng, but Ding Fan was not yet sure what relationship, if any, Qin's Group had with Qin Manshu.

The taxi eventually stopped in front of a very modern-looking skyscraper. Ding Fan looked up to see that the building had dozens of floors, with the bold letters "Qin's Group" dominating the highest part.

Next to the building was a parking lot as large as a football field, already full of cars at that time. A crowd of people were gathered around the parking lot.

Ning Luoxi pulled Ding Fan towards the parking lot. Ding Fan looked over and noticed a sign that read "Interview Assembly Area."

It seemed that everyone there was going to attend the interviews today. Ding Fan did a quick count; there were at least two hundred people just in the parking lot.

And on the way here, Ning Luoxi had told Ding Fan that Qin's Group was apparently recruiting only six people.

Two to three hundred people vying for just six positions; the competition was truly fierce. It seemed a bit like crossing a single-plank bridge with a thousand troops.

"Yo-ho, I thought I was seeing things, but it really is Ning Luoxi..." As Ding Fan was lost in thought, a somewhat frivolous voice came from the side.

Ding Fan followed the voice and looked over. At that moment, a woman with ordinary looks and a barely acceptable figure, sporting glasses, strode confidently towards them, her chest puffed out.

The woman wore a badge on her chest that read "Employee of Qin's Group Company."

Seeing this, Ding Fan understood why the woman walked with her small chest thrust out so prominently. She wanted to prove her affiliation with the company, to assert her sense of superiority.

Ding Fan had no fondness for such people.

"Ning Luoxi?" Ning Luoxi was startled, clearly not expecting to see this woman here.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Chen Hong, the woman in question, curled her lips dismissively and lightly dusted off the badge on her chest. "I'm now an official employee of Qin's Group."

"Then congratulations to you," Ning Luoxi said.

"Congratulations? It seems like you might be jealous of my success today." Chen Hong snorted lightly.

Ning Luoxi's brows furrowed slightly. Then she said, "Chen Hong, you've misunderstood something about me..."

"Misunderstanding!" Chen Hong's voice suddenly rose an octave, drawing the attention of the people around them.

"How is it a misunderstanding? If it were, why would my boyfriend have broken up with me to shamelessly pursue you?"

As soon as Chen Hong finished speaking, the people around them began to whisper and point at Ning Luoxi.

Ning Luoxi bit her lip. "Chen Hong, I've explained this to you many times. I really didn't know about your boyfriend, and I've never been with him anyway."

Chen Hong huffed coldly. "Don't think I don't understand what you mean. You want to humiliate me, to show me that what I've desperately sought is so beneath your notice..."

"I..." Ning Luoxi found herself at a loss for words in response to Chen Hong.

"Don't worry, though. We'll certainly have the opportunity to settle this account." With that, a sly smile flashed across Chen Hong's eyes before she walked away.

Ning Luoxi and Chen Hong were college classmates. In their freshman and sophomore years, they were very close friends, but in the second semester of their sophomore year, Chen Hong started dating a wealthy boyfriend.

At one gathering, Chen Hong's boyfriend took a fancy to Ning Luoxi and then broke up with Chen Hong, persistently pursuing Ning Luoxi.

Ning Luoxi had always tried to explain things to Chen Hong, but no matter what she said, Chen Hong harbored deep hostility towards her.

"If you're going for the interview today, you need to be careful. That woman will try to harm you," Ding Fan said to Ning Luoxi, clearly sensing the chilly aura emanating from Chen Hong.

Ning Luoxi's spirits were obviously down as she nodded slightly.

"Alright, everyone, quiet down. Qin's Group welcomes all of you. All the candidates here for the interview, please line up in an orderly fashion... we will enter the office building in sequence shortly."

Chen Hong picked up a megaphone at that moment and addressed the job applicants.

Ding Fan had intended to wait outside for Ning Luoxi, but considering the situation, he decided to go inside with her after all, if only to feel a bit more assured.

Ding Fan could see that Chen Hong was a sneaky person, the kind who could be extremely cruel.

Following Chen Hong's instructions, a long line of candidates quickly formed, with Ding Fan standing behind Ning Luoxi.

After everyone lined up, the staff came over to distribute numbers, and Chen Hong took the opportunity to go over some things that everyone needed to pay attention to when entering the office building.

Ding Fan didn't really listen; he wasn't there to apply for a job. His sole purpose was to ensure that Ning Luoxi wouldn't be bullied.

With preparations complete, the candidates, led by the staff, made their way into the office building. Upon entering, Ding Fan saw a huge portrait.

It was a photo of an elder, which vaguely resembled Qin Manshu. Ding Fan could almost be sure that this Qin's Company was likely the same one Qin Manshu had mentioned to him in the past.

After entering the main door, the crowd came to a large corridor where they stood on both sides. Having led them there, Chen Hong entered an office.

Ding Fan scanned the area with his Divine Sense and clearly saw Chen Hong sitting deliberately on the interviewers' laps inside the interview room, flirting shamelessly.

Ding Fan could now be certain that, with Chen Hong's character, she would definitely not let Ning Luoxi off easily during the upcoming interview...