TES - 2

Shang Zhitao boarded the bus early, as the city was just waking up. The bus weaved through the morning mist, and she watched the streets with her earbuds in. “The people here are so hardworking,” she thought, seeing the bustling crowds already on the move.

She was one of them, hurrying along.

Today, she wore a white shirt dress, cinched with a light brown belt. Her hair was tied high, and though she wore no makeup, she exuded a fresh, youthful charm. Sitting quietly and obediently, she resembled the well-behaved child next door—outstanding, yet not overly so.

Shang Zhitao had always been this kind of person. Her academic performance was only above average, and her looks were similarly modest. Despite her diligence and humility, she remained unremarkable. From a young age, she learned to console herself: “I am just an ordinary passerby, an insignificant member of the masses. I can’t do extraordinary things, but I can live honestly.”

Over time, she developed an exceptionally good-natured personality. Her teachers often remarked, “Shang Zhitao has such a sunny disposition and upright character.” They couldn’t find much else to praise her for.

So when she submitted her resume to this top international advertising company, she didn’t expect to get far. Somehow, she made it through the first and second rounds. By the third round—a remote interview—the competition included graduates from Columbia University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tsinghua, Peking, and Renmin Universities. When it came to her turn, the interviewer, Luan Nian, was already exhausted. He glanced at her resume, noting her alma mater, and frowned. As he scanned further, his frown deepened.

Others listed titles like Student Council President, Outstanding Student Representative, International Math Olympiad Gold Medalist, or Special Admissions Scholar at prestigious universities. But what did she have? Minister of the Life Department. Beside him, HR representative Liang Xin shrugged, “You know, to avoid accusations of school discrimination.”

“Is this resume something you randomly downloaded from a job site?” At the time, Luan Nian served as the company’s Creative Consultant, overseeing the Planning Department. Originally scheduled for the final round of interviews, he had moved up due to a last-minute change in his itinerary.

Liang Xin, who had fifteen years of experience in HR, was accustomed to Luan Nian’s style. She smiled and said, “Why don’t you give her a try?” Having seen countless candidates, Liang Xin knew that Shang Zhitao must have some merit to make it to the third round.

“Fine.”

When the call connected, Luan Nian heard a cheerful voice say, “Hello.”

“Shang Zhitao, this is Tracy. The main interviewer today will be Luke Luan. Shall we begin?”

“Yes.” Even over the phone, her nervousness was palpable; her voice trembled slightly. Luan Nian mentally dismissed her candidacy right then.

Seeing Luan Nian glance at his phone, Liang Xin knew Shang Zhitao’s chances were slim—he had judged her based solely on that slightly shaky greeting. Luan Nian was known for being demanding; he surrounded himself with top talent and expected nothing less. Clearly, Shang Zhitao wasn’t among the best. Liang Xin didn’t anticipate much more from Luan Nian and took over the questioning herself. “Have you done any internships recently?”

“Yes, I’ve been working with classmates on exhibition design and reception for an art show.”

“What does exhibition design involve?”

“Main visual design, venue setup, event flow, etc. My classmate handled the main visuals, while I led the rest.” Shang Zhitao sounded less tense now, almost shyly adding, “It’s our first big project, so there’s a lot I don’t know.”

“And you still took it on?”

“Well… the art show didn’t have much funding, but we were interested… so…” Shang Zhitao spoke honestly—it wasn’t worth lying about. Her career counselor had emphasized that job hunting was a two-way process, and excessive embellishment wasn’t beneficial.

Liang Xin chuckled softly. This girl was refreshingly straightforward. Meanwhile, Luan Nian stood up, clearly finding the interview a waste of time. Liang Xin sighed internally as she watched him leave, continuing the conversation with Shang Zhitao. Remote interviews were recorded, and she spent half an hour discussing the project with her. Though Shang Zhitao’s experiences seemed clumsy compared to their standards, they reflected genuine effort and growth. Diligence, perseverance, and amiability became the labels Liang Xin attached to Shang Zhitao.

Afterward, Liang Xin sent the recording to Zhang Ling in the marketing department. “Didn’t you want someone down-to-earth? Listen to this and see if she fits your requirements. If yes, I’ll arrange an in-person interview.”

Zhang Ling reviewed the online process and hesitated. “This doesn’t follow protocol. Luke already rejected her.”

“Just listen without worrying about Luke.”

“Alright.”

Liang Xin called Luan Nian. “HR emphasizes diversity in hiring. Our company has too many elites floating in the clouds, unwilling to come down to earth. If this continues, the team will face problems. For this year’s campus recruitment, I want to hire a few grounded, hardworking, and not overly dazzling young talents. Please approve Shang Zhitao.”

“Is she related to you?” Luan Nian asked casually. “Is it worth it for someone so mediocre?”

“I wasn’t always qualified to be an HRBP either—we all need to learn.”

“Then consider this a favor.” Luan Nian hung up and promptly adjusted Shang Zhitao’s interview results.

Unaware of these developments, Shang Zhitao sat on the early morning bus, daydreaming about work. She wondered what exactly made her stand out enough to compete against candidates from Columbia, Harvard, and China’s top universities. She attributed it not to blind confidence but to sheer luck.

In the misty dawn of post-rain Beijing, she arrived too early, finding the office building deserted. A security guard directed her to a waiting area by a large floor-to-ceiling window overlooking a tall ginkgo tree.

With time to spare, she placed her backpack beside her and sat upright, hands resting on her knees, watching the scenery outside. It was 2010, and few girls in Beijing still sat like that anymore—most adopted relaxed poses, as if owning the world.

The aroma of coffee wafted by, and she turned to see a striking man walk past. Broad-shouldered and purposeful, he strode toward the access control, swiped his card, and disappeared into the elevator.

Excited, Shang Zhitao recalled Yao Bei saying that Beijing’s most stylish men worked at L&M. When asked to define “style,” Yao Bei teased her to figure it out herself. On her first day of work, Shang Zhitao suddenly understood what “style” meant—it was embodied by the man who had just passed by.

Style, perhaps, was precisely that man.

Of course, Luan Nian had no idea he’d been labeled as stylish. Today, they had a major case to review, and he needed to arrive early to prepare. He walked past Shang Zhitao without noticing her.

He entered the office, placed his coffee on the desk, and answered a ringing phone. A woman sobbed on the other end, “I regret it. I don’t want to break up. Can we start over?”

“Sorry, I don’t do second chances,” he replied curtly before hanging up and blocking her number with practiced efficiency. He then grabbed his laptop and headed to the meeting room.

Many in the company feared Luan Nian—he wasn’t known for being easygoing—but they admired him nonetheless. At just twenty-eight, he had risen to his current position through talent, ability, and effort, aided by his background. Everyone agreed: his future was limitless.