He seemed to have suddenly grown a beard and looked much more haggard overnight.
Upon seeing her, I wasn't surprised and simply said, "Come have dinner with me."
Shi Nan said, "Let's go to the same restaurant as yesterday and finish our meal."
Ye Feng looked at her and said, "Shi Nan, there's no need. Not everything needs to be compensated."
“............”
"You've never been interested in me, and I thought it was because you didn't want to have a boyfriend in college. But last night I realized," Ye Feng turned his head away, "He's the one you're in love with, isn't he?"
"Ye Feng, I don't want to say any of that bullshit like 'You're great,' 'You'll definitely find a good girl,' or 'I wish you happiness.' Our problems have nothing to do with him. I just don't feel any attraction for you." Shi Nan hardened her heart.
"You're so straightforward," Ye Feng said with a wry smile, "but that's what I like about you."
Shi Nan remained unfazed; she was already used to his confessions and didn't care, letting him say whatever he wanted.
Instead of going to the cat's eye candy shop, the two ate in the cafeteria. As usual, Ye Feng picked out the beef brisket for Shi Nan. Shi Nan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn't refuse. "Ye Feng, thank you."
That evening, Landi called to let him know she was safe.
Not long after, Shi Nan received the package he sent, which contained two pieces of underwear. One was a white silk fabric, a very simple and basic style; the other was a white embroidered satin with lace trim.
She looked at the number 65D; the smallest circumference code in China is 70.
It worked perfectly after one try.
As if he could predict the future, Landi called the next day, "Did you receive it?"
"Hmm." Despite the physical intimacy, Shi Nan was still a little embarrassed.
Is it appropriate?
"Hmm... How did you guess you wanted to buy D?"
He remained silent.
"I'm asking you." Shi Nan was annoyed by his silence. Why couldn't a grown man just say it directly?
"After touching it all night, how could I not know?"
Shi Nan fainted and remained silent for a long time. It's no wonder he was silent; I won't press him next time.
He knew she was embarrassed, so he continued, "I was measuring with my hands, and the saleswoman thought I was a pervert. She almost called security to arrest me."
Shi Nan smiled.
“Since they fit, I’ll buy more. But,” he said seriously, “from now on, you’re not allowed to go without underwear!”
Shi Nan felt a sweet warmth in her heart and replied, "Mmm."
Finally, she said, "Shi Nan, I miss you."
".........I miss you as well."
After that, they stopped writing letters. It would be a lie to say they didn't miss each other; their first encounter, though not entirely successful, was unforgettable. Lan Di would call every now and then, and they would report on their "battles" as in their letters, exchanging only occasional sweet nothings, all very vague.
The days passed by like a dream.
Shortly after entering their senior year, everyone started sending out resumes and looking for jobs. Shi Nan was a bit slow, only starting to prepare during the last semester after winter break.
Shi Nan didn't actually have a clear idea of his future. Because he was good at English, he enrolled in the foreign language department and vaguely learned Dutch, only to later realize that it wasn't suitable for him. But what could he do? He had already learned it.
She disliked working in government agencies, so even before considering whether they would hire her, she rejected several major ministries. International radio stations? International organizations? Embassies? They seemed like good options, but all were more difficult to get into than foreign companies.
So she first sent her resume to several companies, both large and small, in the Netherlands.
The first company to reply to her was a well-known Fortune 500 company that started with light bulbs. Shi Nan hadn't specifically applied for any position, and her resume wasn't particularly impressive. She wasn't a member of the student union or any major club, hadn't won any awards, and even her first draft of her graduation thesis was criticized by her teacher as incomprehensible. So she simply introduced her major and grades. Unexpectedly, they actually invited her for an interview.
Her roommates all bought well-fitting suits for their job interviews, but Shi Nan didn't. It wasn't that she didn't care; it was that she felt the interviewers clearly knew she was a recent graduate, and there was no need to arm herself with a suit.
Shi Nan went to school as usual, wearing a white dress. The man who interviewed her was about 30 years old, with bloodshot eyes and a tired look on his face.
Upon seeing Shi Nan, she paused for a moment, rubbed her eyes, and said, "Finally, I see someone who came from campus."
Shi Nan had never experienced an interview before; the only opportunity he had was during his first summer break in college, which was taken away by Lan Di. What would this interviewer ask him? Shi Nan didn't know; it probably wouldn't be too technical. And surely the HR person wasn't fluent in Dutch?
The other party introduced himself first, "Hello Ms. Shi, my name is Cheng Bin, the Human Resources Manager." Polite yet authoritative, Ms. Shi began to feel pressured.
“I just looked at your resume, and to be honest, it’s not outstanding. Eight girls from your major in the foreign language department applied, and many of them have better grades than you.” He paused for a moment. “May I ask, what advantages do you have that would make me choose you over them?”
Shi Nan hadn't expected this. After listening to many of her classmates' interview experiences, she summarized them as follows: How much do you know about the company? What are your thoughts on the company? Why do you want to work here? What are your motivations for the job? What are your work ethic? Are you willing to work overtime? If you are hired, which department would you most like to work in? Are you willing to travel for work or be sent abroad? She had even heard questions like, "Why haven't you found a job yet?"
But now, this person is asking himself, what advantages does he have compared to his classmates that should make him eligible for admission?
Should she tell the truth? Her grades are comparable to others, but her biggest weakness is her spoken English?
She had no time to remain silent, so she had to tell the truth: "If it's a job that doesn't involve spoken language, I believe I can handle it."
So you mean...?
Shi Nan looked dejected. "My spoken English is very poor."
In the afternoon, Lan Di called to ask how the interview went. "I guess I didn't get the job. I guess I just took it as a test of my courage."
He was actually laughing on the other end, "It's okay. Shi Nan, don't take job hunting too seriously, and don't insist on getting into a Fortune 500 company. Just let things take their course."
"Don't value it? The domestic graduate market is saturated now. The problem isn't whether the jobs are good or not, but whether you can even find one!"
"That's alright."
Shi Nan felt like he was talking to a brick wall. "It's okay? Don't you know that prices in Beijing have gone up again? If I can't find a job, what will I eat and drink? Who will support me?"
"Me." Lan Di uttered only one word clearly.
What can be done?
Shi Nan ate dinner with Ye Feng, and felt that only he, who was also going through an interview, could understand her.
"And you, Ye Feng, how were you today?" Shi Nan asked him after reporting her own experience.
"It should be pretty good." That's probably a sure thing.
"Then I congratulate you in advance. Remember to call me when you get accepted."
"Shi Nan, have you ever thought about studying abroad?"
"No. I don't love my major. I've already worked myself to the bone after four years of studying it, let alone going to the Netherlands to listen to them speak gibberish. I wouldn't even think about it."
"Actually, I don't want to work. I might go to France."
What should we learn?
"European language history, perhaps." This person's taste is even more sour than his name.
"I didn't realize Ye Feng was such a scholar."
"Hurry up and eat. Stop insulting me indirectly. Just call me a pseudo-intellectual."
Life is truly unpredictable. Ms. Shi thought she had no chance with the light bulb company, but a week later she received a call asking her to come for a second interview.
Shi Nan was puzzled. Could it be that Dutch-speaking talent was so scarce that he accepted all eight resumes he received? If that was the case, why bother with interviews?
When I saw Cheng Bin again, he was in much better spirits.
To get straight to the point, "Shi Nan. Right? Although your answer last time was very discouraging, I've still decided to take you."
"Aren't you here for the second interview today?"
"It is indeed a re-examination, which is actually just some language assessment. If your scores are genuine, then there should be no problem."
"That means..."
"That means you've basically been accepted."
"But......"
"You want to ask me why?"
Shi Nan nodded in astonishment.
“Because you are honest. And that,” Cheng Bin took a sip of coffee and gave her an encouraging smile, “is very important.”
With Shi Nan's destination confirmed, everything became pleasant.
Instead of looking for a job, Tang Beibei decided to pursue a master's degree in business data analysis.
In the time leading up to graduation, Shi Nan was busy with his thesis while also interning at a light bulb company, so he asked Bei Bei to go shopping and buy some work clothes.
"Shi Nan, is there really no further development between you and that Feng guy from your school?"
"No, not even the above. Didn't I tell you before, there's nothing between us?" Tang Beibei had heard from Wang Fan that Shi Nan had a boyfriend at school, but she was skeptical because Shi Nan herself hadn't mentioned it to her. When asked, she said they were just good friends. At the time, Tang Beibei thought it was probably just a new beginning, and she was too embarrassed to admit it. But now graduation is almost here, and it seems there's been no progress between them.
"These four years of university have flown by. Such a precious time, and you've just wasted it like this. I still don't understand what was wrong with you back then, why did you break up with Wang Fan? Now look at you, all alone. Many of my classmates are planning to get married right after graduation. Look at them, they've already found jobs and husbands. Their lives will be so comfortable from now on."
Shi Nan wanted to say something in response, but couldn't find the words. She hadn't told Bei Bei about her relationship with Lan Di yet. It wasn't that she wanted to keep it a secret, but... what were she and Lan Di now?
Yes, they confessed their feelings to each other; yes, they gave each other their first time; yes, they talked on the phone about how much they missed each other. But they never officially became a couple...
Shi Nan had her doubts, but she felt some things didn't need to be said aloud; it was enough for them to be understood. Now, after Tang Beibei's words, she suddenly felt a little depressed, like a lover without a proper status. But she was determined not to ask Lan Di; if he didn't say, she would resolutely not ask.
I bought three dresses at Sogo, paired with four shirts and two pairs of high heels—all from regular department stores, not expensive. That way, I can have at least one different outfit a week. When I tried them on, Beibei kept praising me, "Shinan, you're such a clothes hanger! Clothes that cost a few hundred yuan look like they cost thousands on you. You have such style!"
But Shi Nan wasn't in a good mood. He just paid the money, grabbed the bag, and dragged Bei Bei upstairs to eat, as if he had completed a task.
I'm torn.
Shi Nan began her internship at a light bulb company. There were seven people in the office: two men and four women, besides her. She was the only newcomer. So, naturally, she became everyone's secretary. She was responsible for photocopying, faxing, finding documents, making coffee, and even making phone calls when they needed to order lunch.
That day, when she went downstairs to the color printing shop, she ran into Cheng Bin, the man who had interviewed her, in the elevator. Seeing him was like seeing a savior; she immediately asked, "So, all newcomers have to do menial tasks first?"
He was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, “Don’t underestimate menial jobs. You’ll see later that the more outstanding the senior management, the more familiar they are with the basic work.”