When He Xiaoyuan suddenly heard the words “PR Department,” half of his heart seemed to drop.
There was one thing he had always been very aware of:
He was undeniably good-looking, top-notch in appearance.
But he had never imagined that one day, the value of his face would outweigh his abilities and efforts.
—To him, being assigned to PR felt like a message: Your face is good. Since it’s good, you should make use of it. As for everything else, no matter how capable you are, it doesn’t matter as much as your looks.
He Xiaoyuan couldn’t remain indifferent. The hope he carried when he walked in had just turned into disappointment.
He forced himself to stay composed, controlling the sudden surge of emotions, showing no outward reaction. Calmly facing the HR supervisor, he asked, “PR Department… may I ask why?”
The supervisor replied plainly, “Because you’re suitable. We believe you’re suitable.”
After a pause, she continued, “Also, PR Director Lü really likes you. She’s notified HR several times, specifically requesting you.”
Finishing, she looked at He Xiaoyuan directly, without beating around the bush, and efficiently asked, “What are your thoughts?”
…
Half an hour later, He Xiaoyuan walked out of Conference Room C2. On the surface, he looked the same as when he had entered, but inwardly, his mood was somewhat low.
HR didn’t agree to send him to Finance, and he himself refused to go to PR. After failing to reach an agreement, HR stepped back and suggested several other departments. These departments were all decent, even quite good in He Xiaoyuan’s understanding—but he still wanted Finance.
The HR supervisor had even advised him bluntly:
“He Xiaoyuan, I’m not trying to block you. If you insist, Finance can always assign you a position, but you need to be clear: in Spirys, Finance isn’t an ideal place. You’re capable and quick to learn—wherever you go, you’ll develop well. But Finance… going there could really ruin your future.”
…
Walking back to the office, He Xiaoyuan felt a touch of frustration. He had finally had a place he truly wanted, a “financial heart,” yet now he was told Finance was a poor choice.
At this moment, he dug in stubbornly. If Finance wasn’t good, was PR really better?
Just the words “Public Relations” didn’t sound promising to him.
He pushed open the office door without expression and returned silently to his desk.
Seeing him like that, everyone knew the assignment hadn’t gone well. The office fell quiet; some craned their necks to look, some exchanged glances.
Jiang Weiwei leaned over: “Xiaoyuan, are you okay?”
Yuan Miao got up and came around the desk, pressing a hand on He Xiaoyuan’s shoulder: “What happened? Didn’t go as planned?”
Everyone had a sense—they understood HR probably wouldn’t let He Xiaoyuan go to Finance.
He Xiaoyuan paused for a moment, digesting it, then shook his head to show he was fine.
Everyone showed concern:
“Xiaoyuan, they didn’t let you go to Finance?”
“Where do they want to send you?”
He Xiaoyuan remained silent a moment more before saying, “PR Department.”
The office immediately went silent.
No one expected this answer, and now everyone understood why He Xiaoyuan returned in such a low mood. Anyone else would have been dissatisfied with this assignment—especially someone as stunning as He Xiaoyuan.
Everyone knew that sending him to PR was a clear message: compared to his abilities, it’s your looks that are most valuable.
Yuan Miao squeezed his shoulder firmly to comfort him: “It’s okay. You don’t want to go, and they can’t force you with a sniper rifle.”
Others echoed: “Exactly.”
Even those who hadn’t gotten their preferred department offered reassurance: “Same here, it’s not a big deal. It’s all negotiable, it’s a two-way choice.”
Zou Fanping added: “See? I didn’t get what I wanted either.”
He Xiaoyuan tried to adjust his emotions, forcing a calm demeanor, even turning it around to comfort others: “I know, it’s okay, really.”
Sitting alone at his desk, staring at the computer, He Xiaoyuan went quiet, lost in thought: So this is what it means to be beaten by talent?
No matter how hard he tried, no matter how much he pushed himself—as Jiang Weiwei and the others would say, grinding like his life depended on it—it still couldn’t compare to a face that hit the genetic lottery.
Work really was different from school…
Feeling too disappointed and stifled, he wanted to confide in someone. He opened the internal contact list for Xu Ruomeng, but thinking she might be even more upset or anxious than him, he closed the chat.
After a moment, he picked up his phone.
He Xiaoyuan: [Lu ge, the company assignment results are out.]
He Xiaoyuan: [They didn’t approve me going to Finance. They want me in PR.]
Two messages disappeared into the void, receiving no reply.
He Xiaoyuan kept checking his phone, disappointment mounting as if the company were personally sending him to PR. Finally, he gave up and tossed the phone beside his desk computer.
At that moment, Zhu Xuanmin from HR pushed open the office glass door and called: “Xiaoyuan, He Xiaoyuan.”
Everyone looked up, including He Xiaoyuan.
Zhu Xuanmin waved him over: “Come with me.”
He Xiaoyuan rose.
Someone asked, “Are you going to discuss the assignment again?”
Xin Rui offered encouragement: “It’s okay, Xiaoyuan. Go and talk it out—you might still be able to negotiate.”
He Xiaoyuan walked down the corridor with their support. Zhu Xuanmin waited at the door, motioning him to follow.
He thought they were going to re-discuss his department assignment, but as he walked, he noticed a strikingly beautiful, mature-looking woman standing further down the hallway.
He Xiaoyuan froze. The face in front of him was familiar—he’d seen it during the “Sui Sui Star” assessment. Beside him, Zhu Xuanmin whispered, “That’s PR Director Lü.”
Lü Shishi.
Lü Shishi was stunning and poised, with chestnut-colored, voluminous waves cascading down her shoulders. Her outfit was stylish and elegant, and she wore Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry on her neck and wrists. Arms folded, she stood with the air of a commanding career woman.
As He Xiaoyuan approached, she extended her hand, smiling confidently while sizing him up.
He Xiaoyuan shook her hand: “Director Lü.”
She withdrew her hand with a gentle smile. “Let’s find a place to sit and talk.”
The three of them moved to the tea area next to one of the office teams.
Lü Shishi and He Xiaoyuan sat across from each other, while Zhu Xuanmin carefully prepared coffee and left after politely handing it over. The door closed, leaving the two alone.
Forty minutes ago, He Xiaoyuan had just refused the PR Department assignment; now, the head of that very department had personally come to see him.
His memory served him well—he recalled Lü Shishi from the Sui Sui Star assessment, jokingly giving him full marks and suggesting he come to PR. At the time, he’d thought it was just to lighten the mood. Now, he realized the joke might have concealed a truth.
Lü Shishi stirred her coffee slowly with a metal spoon, her nails painted perfectly, the sound of metal against ceramic faintly crisp.
She lowered her gaze at first, quiet and unreadable, then suddenly lifted her long lashes, radiating poise and an air of determination.
“I heard you refused the PR Department.”
She put down the spoon, the faint clink echoing slightly.
“I’m curious,” she said, “when you refused, what did you think about PR—a department that sounds less than serious just from the name?”
He Xiaoyuan: “…”
Lü Shishi smiled knowingly, as if she had seen right through him. “It’s okay; everyone thinks that at first. When I joined PR, I cried—I thought I might have to dedicate myself to the company under compulsion, trapped by workplace pressure.”
He Xiaoyuan: “…”
She tilted her head, scrutinizing him, eyebrows raised. “So that’s really what you thought.”
He Xiaoyuan: “…”
Well, that was three verbal blows from the boss in a row—he felt completely floored.
Recently dragged into gaming sessions, he desperately needed a mana refill.
Seeing his silent, flustered expression, Lü Shishi couldn’t help but suppress a laugh.
She sipped her coffee and waved her hand. “Don’t take it personally—I was just teasing.”
After a few quiet moments of mutual eye contact, she softened her expression. “I don’t like beating around the bush, so I’ll be direct.”
She spoke clearly, her tone assertive: “I don’t care which department you initially wanted. Now, I want you in my team.”
“Rest assured, if you come, I’ll make sure your conditions are the best possible. You’ll get better treatment and promotion paths than the other graduates who joined with you.”
Hearing this, He Xiaoyuan’s heart skipped a beat.
She continued, “I can guarantee that in your first year, you’ll earn over 800,000 yuan. Within three years, you could buy your own house outright in this city. Within five years, you’ll surpass 90% of the people here, becoming the elite of the elite.”
He Xiaoyuan was astonished. Having just negotiated with HR and as a new employee, he had never encountered someone presenting opportunities and benefits so openly.
Lü Shishi, watching him, smiled—a mix of authority and gentle reminiscence.
After a moment, she softened completely and said warmly, “He Xiaoyuan.”
In some ways, they were alike: similar educational backgrounds, attractive appearances, the tension between ideals and reality, and modest family circumstances.
Because of this, there were things she couldn’t explicitly state. The most she could say was: “I can guess you’re not as well-off as some of the other management trainees.”
He Xiaoyuan understood immediately—she had seen that he lacked wealth.
His heart skipped again; he realized he had been read like an open book.
It was the first time anyone had delicately hinted at this to him since joining the company.
She went on, “HR probably already told you: Finance isn’t a good choice here. I don’t know why you insisted on it, but living in society means giving up illusions and moving forward practically.”
“I’ve seen your assessment—you’re logical, clear-headed, and have a broad business perspective. I don’t think you’re someone clinging to impractical dreams.”
“Come to PR. It’s not what you think—it’s an excellent starting point. If you have the advantage to be here, you should seize it.”
She smiled again. “And the first year, at least 800,000 yuan. Three years, full payment for your own home. Really—don’t you want to consider it?”
…
After Lü Shishi left, He Xiaoyuan sat alone in the tea area.
He wondered: had his appearance or attire revealed too much about his financial background?
And he thought: 800,000 yuan—that’s a lot.
Buying a house in three years? Could this really happen, or was it just a promise?
How bad could Finance be to make two different people advise him against it?
He Xiaoyuan’s mind was a jumble. He picked up his cup and downed the now-cold coffee in one gulp.
Back in the department, colleagues asked if he’d spoken with HR again, how the discussion went, but He Xiaoyuan kept his answers vague. He didn’t want well-meaning advice thrown at him, which would only make his head spin more. “I’ll think about it myself,” he said vaguely.
Sitting down, he reached for his phone and noticed two missed voice calls from Lu. He hesitated for a moment but ultimately replied, [Just stepped out, didn’t see them.] He didn’t bring up the department assignment either. At this point, other people’s opinions wouldn’t help—his thoughts were too scattered.
Yet Lu seemed to sense his frustration even through the phone. [Wanna go out?]
He Xiaoyuan leaned back in his chair: [?]
[Take a break.]
[Now?]
[Mm.]
[Where to?]
—
He went up to the 11th floor, a part of the building he had never visited and didn’t know the purpose of.
The elevator doors opened to an empty floor. A few large glass-walled offices near the lift were vacant, some corners stacked with boxes and miscellaneous items—clearly abandoned for some time.
He furrowed his brow, stepping cautiously down the corridor and calling softly, “Lu?”
“Lu?”
A steady voice replied from behind: “You’re quicker than me.”
He turned to see Lu Chen approaching, a cup in hand. Counting carefully, this was the fourth time He Xiaoyuan had seen him, the second official meeting.
He still felt slightly awkward. When he saw Lu, he instinctively thought of him as a company executive, not as the Lu he knew personally. He almost said, “Lu Zong,” but stopped himself.
When Lu reached him, he finally asked, curious, “Lu, where are we? What is this place?”
Lu Chen handed over the cup and explained calmly, “This floor is small due to the building’s design. When Administration was upstairs, they used this floor for storage. After they moved, it became empty. The company doesn’t need it, so it’s kept closed for now.”
Holding the cup, He Xiaoyuan’s curiosity piqued: “So…you brought me here to take a break?”
Lu nodded, leading the way through two glass doors, revealing a large terrace.
The terrace sat in an architectural recess of the Gemini Tower, partially covered overhead and visually isolated from other floors. From here, they could look out over the city without being seen—a perfect, scenic spot to relax.
He Xiaoyuan’s eyes lit up. He walked to the railing, gazing at the distant streets and high-rises. The space felt expansive compared to the cramped cubicles below, and his mind felt lighter.
He smiled, about to ask how Lu had discovered this hidden spot, but the executive’s serious expression made him hesitate. Finally, Lu caught his gaze, silently prompting him to speak.
“I…how did you find this place?” He asked. “Do you come here often?”
Lu, hands in pockets, eyes on the horizon, replied casually, “Occasionally.” He then gestured to the cup in He Xiaoyuan’s hands. “Drink. It’s brewed with the tea you gave me.”
He Xiaoyuan froze. The tea was specially prepared by Lu. He took a sip—he couldn’t distinguish much, but it was fragrant and pleasant.
Though he enjoyed it, he still instinctively treated Lu as a senior executive, so he wasn’t as relaxed as in WeChat chats.
Lu noticed, but said nothing. His calm presence reassured He Xiaoyuan, who gradually eased his guard.
The terrace fell silent, only the gentle breeze brushing past.
After a while, Lu Chen moved to a wrought-iron table and chair set, adjusted his trousers, and sat down. He Xiaoyuan followed, placing his cup on the table.
“Don’t want to go to PR?” Lu asked casually.
He Xiaoyuan returned his gaze from the terrace to Lu, nodded, and recounted how PR Director Lü had personally met him, promising benefits to entice him to join.
Lu said simply, “She’s that kind of person. If she wants something, she’ll give it her all. Those she’s trying to recruit will naturally do the same.”
“After talking with her… has your opinion changed?”
He shook his head.
Lu guessed: “Still unsure?”
“Yeah… unsure.” He held the cup with both hands, paused, and admitted, “Honestly, my mind is all over the place right now.”
Lu, sensing it, didn’t comment or offer advice. He leaned back in the chair, gazing over the railing, and said slowly, “Then don’t think about it for now. Just enjoy the breeze and your tea.”
He Xiaoyuan leaned back in the wrought-iron chair, taking a sip of his black tea. He set the cup down and turned his gaze quietly toward the terrace view. The CBD stretched out before him—skyscrapers clustered together, roads weaving like ribbons below. Up close, the pedestrians and cars moved like a living painting; far away, high-rises and patches of greenery formed serene, static images.
As he watched, his mind gradually calmed.
He cast a glance at Lu Chen beside him, then returned to the scene outside. He thought: Lu said this was just to relax, and it really was.
Not bad. At least for now, he could push thoughts of department assignments aside.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the breeze and open sky ease his body and mind.
Beside him, Lu Chen tilted his head slightly, his gaze resting steadily on the young man’s handsome face.
He Xiaoyuan didn’t realize that, in Lu Chen’s mind, this was their second “meeting date” since their last dinner. Though this location was less formal, even a little messy, Lu didn’t care about appearances—what mattered was giving the young man a chance to relax.
So when He Xiaoyuan opened his eyes, their gazes met. Lu’s dark eyes looked straight at him, unwavering and earnest.
Unaccustomed to such attention, He Xiaoyuan blinked a few times and quickly looked away, his cheeks coloring slightly.
Lu noticed the faint blush, smiled inwardly like a sly fox, and asked knowingly, “What’s wrong?”
He Xiaoyuan shook his head, returned his gaze to the tea, and sipped from the cup to hide his embarrassment.