In Jianghai City, June was so unbearably hot that one would rather escape to Africa to cool down.
Fortunately, whenever it rained, the weather became somewhat cooler.
But the continuous drizzle was equally frustrating—socks wouldn’t dry, forcing people to buy over a dozen pairs of socks and underwear just to cope.
Even when wearing clothes that had finally dried, there was still a persistent damp feeling that wouldn’t go away.
On the second day of her younger brother’s visit, she went to her internship company and resigned.
Sun Hong walked her to the company entrance, looking at her expectantly. “Did you find another job?”
Ju Li smiled and shook her head. “But I’m planning to submit my resume to Zhanyun Media.”
“Huh? Isn’t that company’s minimum education requirement a master’s degree?” Sun Hong looked at her in surprise.
“Worth a try.” Ju Li naturally didn’t share too much with her classmate. As for the resources provided by the [Little Secretary System], she still needed to verify them herself.
She wasn’t even sure if she could successfully get into Zhanyun.
“I heard that even many graduate seniors struggle to get in,” Sun Hong muttered, a hint of scepticism in her tone.
Everyone knew how prestigious and powerful Zhanyun Media was. Beyond its benefits and salary packages, the high-quality TV dramas and games it produced each year made young professionals desperate to join.
Some were even willing to accept lower salaries just to access the top-tier resources the company offered.
“Haha, I’m just saying. I’ve already got offers from other companies anyway. I’ll just take my time and pick the best one,” Ju Li said casually, unwilling to reveal too much. She hugged her belongings, stepped into the elevator as the doors opened, and bid Sun Hong farewell.
As the elevator doors closed, Sun Hong scoffed, “Delusional.”
She wanted to get into Zhanyun?
After quitting her job—
Day One.
Ju Li took the bus to Dishui Lake and spent the whole day by the water.
As night fell, she realised that after years of being immersed in studying, working, and then studying again, this was the first time she had felt such peace and comfort.
So, this was what it felt like to stop working and wholeheartedly pursue something that seemed ‘foolish’.
The damp night breeze, the vast expanse of the sea, and the flickering lights along the shore.
Under a sky sparsely dotted with stars, she walked into the night, carrying the shimmering waves of the ocean behind her, stepping toward her future.
…
Day Two.
She spent the entire day researching in her room.
Her roommate, thinking she had been fired from her internship and was now struggling to find a job, even washed an apple for her that night and tried to comfort her in a roundabout way.
Ju Li smiled serenely, thanked her for the kind gesture, and showed no signs of anxiety about unemployment.
Her younger brother, upon hearing that she was ridiculously aiming for Zhanyun Media, worried she would be discouraged if she failed and called to advise her not to put too much pressure on herself.
Ju Li didn’t explain much to him and quickly changed the subject.
…
Day Three.
The sky finally cleared. Wearing sportswear and a face mask, she spent the whole day running errands and only returned home late at night.
She stayed up sketching and writing at her desk, but made sure to finish washing up before midnight.
Setting her alarm for 6 am, she resisted the urge to stay up late and quickly fell asleep while counting dumplings.
…
Day Four.
Another sunny day.
Bright blue skies, thick white clouds, and a beautiful city where every street corner seemed to have a story. Even those caught in the fast-paced hustle couldn’t help but pause and take it all in with a sigh.
She put on a light beige short-sleeve top, simple dark grey cropped pants, and white high heels. With a touch of light makeup, she left early in the morning.
Ju Li had no time to admire the city. She had something important to do today.
By 6 am, the subway was already packed with office workers, their faces tired and spiritless as they sat or stood.
Stretching her neck, Ju Li glanced at her reflection in the subway window. In the darkness of the tunnel, the glass acted like a mirror, reflecting her face.
Delicate features, brimming with determination.
Over the past few days, she had reviewed all her job offers, and none of them satisfied her.
If she started at the wrong place, trying to jump from an administrative job at a small company to a major corporation would be nearly impossible.
Ju Li didn’t have an outstanding degree, her field of study wasn’t particularly rare, and she wasn’t exceptionally beautiful.
But she wanted a promising future. She wanted her mother and younger brother to live a good life. She couldn’t just drift along, nor could she settle for mediocrity.
All her classmates and friends advised her to accept any offer first, just to secure financial stability.
She disagreed.
At 7:23 am, she stood in the busiest district of Jianghai. In front of her was the Hong Kong Plaza South Tower, a mixed-use building with office spaces and a shopping mall.
Floors 20 through 38 of the office area all belonged to one company: Zhanyun Media.
Ju Li walked into the office building’s lobby and studied the floor directory. Behind each floor number, the companies operating on that floor were indicated.
Eighteen floors bore the name ‘Zhanyun Media’.
There weren’t many people around yet; most companies started work between 9:30 and 10:00.
She nodded politely at a young security guard who was eyeing her curiously, then turned toward the mall section.
On the other side of the first floor, there was a large gym—her real destination today.
When the receptionist at the gym saw her, she smiled reservedly, glanced around sneakily to make sure no one was paying attention, then quickly processed Ju Li’s entry.
Most of the gym’s members had monthly or annual memberships. Ju Li couldn’t afford one, but she had bribed the receptionist with a small cash gift and a meal the day before.
The receptionist had agreed to let her stay for an hour while the manager was away in the morning.
An hour was enough for Ju Li.
Walking into the gym, she moved with composure, blending in like a regular city professional coming for her daily workout.
She had spent the previous night reading numerous fitness posts on Zhihu* to ensure she wouldn’t embarrass herself.
As she quietly familiarised herself with her surroundings, she realised everything matched the descriptions she had read.
Feeling reassured, she carried herself even more naturally.
After changing into her workout clothes and running shoes, she found a treadmill by the window. Recalling the instructions she had studied, she clumsily but successfully started the slow-jog mode.
A few minutes later, a striking young man entered the gym—
The person she had been staking out and planning to meet: Zhu Jingyi.
Thirty-one years old, unmarried, administrative director of Zhanyun Media’s Jianghai branch. He had the authority to recruit and assign staff independently within the Jianghai office.
Every morning around 7:30, he would work out for 40 minutes at this exact gym in Hong Kong Plaza South Tower.
Ju Li had confirmed through surveillance and the [Little Secretary System] that the information was entirely accurate.
Today, Zhu Jingyi wore grey athletic shorts and a workout t-shirt. As usual, he planned to run on the fourth treadmill by the window.
As he walked past the fifth treadmill, he noticed Ju Li running and gave her a second glance—he was sensitive to unfamiliar faces.
His gaze lingered on her slender figure for a few seconds before he refocused and walked to his treadmill.
His gaze lingered on Ju Li’s graceful curves for a few seconds before he withdrew his eyes and walked over to his treadmill.
Once he started running, he would often feign casual side glances, using his peripheral vision to secretly observe the girl running to his right.
Quite a delicate beauty.
Zhu Jingyi was no inexperienced young man who hadn’t seen the world. After a brief assessment, he no longer paid much attention to the unfamiliar girl beside him and focused on his workout.
At one point, when he went to the restroom, Ju Li placed her phone on the ground beside the equipment.
Moments later, Zhu Jingyi returned. As he walked past her, his eyes landed on the phone lying on the floor.
He took a step forward, then paused, reconsidered, and stepped back to pick it up.
“Miss, you dropped your phone,” he said, handing it to her.
Ju Li turned her head, immediately offering a warm smile. “Thank you.”
Her tone was composed—neither overly enthusiastic nor cold—striking a balance she thought would be most comfortable.
Zhu Jingyi looked at her for two extra seconds before returning a gentlemanly smile. “You’re welcome.”
After this brief interaction, Ju Li left him with an impression of warmth and good temperament.
Forty minutes later, Ju Li changed her clothes, packed up, and left first.
Five minutes after that, she was sitting at a nearby breakfast shop when she spotted Zhu Jingyi, now dressed in professional attire—grey dress shirt, black trousers, and neatly combed hair. There was an understated arrogance to his refined appearance.
She only glanced at him before continuing to sip her soy milk. Good, everything was going according to plan—no surprises.
When Zhu Jingyi walked into the breakfast shop, he immediately noticed the girl who had been running beside him earlier.
Since she had arrived before him every step of the way, he didn’t suspect she was deliberately approaching him—he just chalked it up to coincidence.
After ordering his meal, he chose the table beside hers.
Just as Ju Li lifted her head, he happened to look over as well.
Their eyes met. Ju Li smiled gently and said softly, “What a coincidence.”
“Yeah, this place has great food,” Zhu Jingyi responded politely.
Ju Li smiled again but didn’t say more, returning to her breakfast.
Since she arrived first, she finished first. With composed movements, she stood up, picked up her bag, and, as she passed Zhu Jingyi, she nodded at him.
At the counter, she lowered her voice to the cashier. “I’ll cover both.”
She paid for both her and Zhu Jingyi’s breakfast. Before leaving, she patted his shoulder and said nonchalantly,
“Thanks for picking up my phone earlier. Breakfast’s on me. No need to thank me.”
Before Zhu Jingyi could react or insist on returning the favor, Ju Li had already turned away and disappeared from sight.
Spoon in hand, about to take a sip of soup, he came to his senses and couldn’t help but smile.
That girl was polite and kind—he had only picked up her phone, and he ended up getting a free meal.
He didn’t even know her name before she vanished.
If he assumed she was trying to hit on him, that would be a bit narcissistic.
Starting the day by doing a good deed felt great. He rode the elevator upstairs in high spirits, still humming a tune when he reached his office.
Meanwhile, Ju Li, who had orchestrated the whole encounter, exhaled in relief after leaving.
Everything was progressing smoothly.
She truly wished she could get a job at Zhanyun Media.
On the fifth day, Ju Li headed out in the afternoon, and by evening, she arrived at the Yanjiyou Bookstore1 near Xintiandi2.
She searched the bookshelves and found the book she was looking for. Inside, there was a simple bookmark tucked away.
A faint smile appeared on her lips. She ordered a glass of milk and sat in the corner by the window on the second floor.
Ten minutes later, Zhu Jingyi walked into the bookstore. He ordered a coffee first, then headed straight for his usual bookshelf.
But when he searched for the Agatha Christie novel he had been reading—Murder on the Orient Express—he found it missing.
After looking around nearby shelves for a while, he gave up and picked another Agatha Christie book before heading to his favourite window seat on the second floor.
Noticing a young woman already seated across the long sofa table, he paid her no mind. After all, Yanjiyou was always crowded. If one didn’t arrive early, even the stair seats would be taken.
Placing his laptop to the side, he opened his book and started reading.
A few minutes later, when the server brought his coffee, he absentmindedly glanced at the book in the hands of the girl across from him.
It was Murder on the Orient Express.
His hand froze mid-motion. He looked up at her.
When he saw her face clearly, Zhu Jingyi couldn’t help but chuckle.
What were the odds?
The girl sitting opposite him with his book was the same one from the gym and the breakfast shop.
Right then, Ju Li ‘coincidentally’ lifted her head, her expression naturally puzzled.
“Hi, do you remember me? You treated me to breakfast the other morning,” Zhu Jingyi said, dropping his usual aloofness.
Ju Li pretended to have a sudden realisation. “Oh!”
Everything unfolded naturally from there.
Zhu Jingyi added Ju Li on WeChat, thanked her again, and started chatting about Murder on the Orient Express.
From there, the conversation shifted to Agatha Christie’s other works, then to Western and Chinese detective novels.
An hour passed before Zhu Jingyi realized that Ju Li knew far more about detective fiction than he did.
Ju Li, having grown up in a poor household with few entertainment options, spent her childhood buried in books. Naturally, detective novels were part of her reading repertoire.
It was precisely because of her knowledge that she had designed the bookstore as another ‘coincidental’ encounter.
People were drawn to those who shared their interests. And if that person happens to be more passionate and knowledgeable about the subject, the bond grows even stronger.
When they left the bookstore, Zhu Jingyi hadn’t had enough of the conversation and suggested grabbing dinner together.
Fortunately, though young, Ju Li was straightforward and unpretentious. She didn’t shy away as if he were hitting on her—she readily agreed.
They found a Western restaurant in Xintiandi and continued their detective fiction discussion.
Every title Zhu Jingyi mentioned, Ju Li knew.
But some obscure references Ju Li brought up, Zhu Jingyi had never even heard of.
For a busy professional like him—especially one so young yet already in a senior position—finding time for a personal hobby was rare.
After reading detective novels for over a year, he was still just a newcomer to the genre.
After dinner and drinks, their conversation finally wound down. The topic seemed endless and his brain could no longer digest more information.
As they shifted to casual topics, Ju Li mentioned she was a recent graduate searching for a job. She didn’t want just any offer and was currently at a loss.
After asking about her major and career goals, Zhu Jingyi mused for a moment before casually suggesting, “Are you interested in Zhanyun Media?”
Ju Li raised an eyebrow. “I’ve heard of it. A lot of the top-rated dramas and popular games seem to come from that company.”
She didn’t seem particularly excited, maintaining the same composed attitude she had facing Zhu Jingyi, her fellow hobbyist who was a few years older than her and obviously a lot more successful than her. She was steady and confident.
Zhu Jingyi had never spoken about her private life and didn’t reveal that he was the company’s administrative director. Instead, he smiled warmly, like an older brother offering advice.
“I heard that they’re expanding since the president moved the headquarters from Yanjing to Jianghai. Why don’t you try submitting your resume to the administrative department of Zhanyun? They’re probably short on staff.”
“The president of Zhan Yun Culture is Zhong Liyan, right? I’ve read a lot of news saying that Boss Zhong is extremely strict, a firing maniac, and a complete workaholic. There are even gossip articles dedicated to him, saying that when he fires someone, he has security pick them up like a little chick, carry them all the way to the front door, and then kick them out of the company—like some kind of public execution. Afterwards, he even seals off the fired employee’s office with tape, scaring the other employees so much that they don’t even dare to breathe too loudly in the company.”
Ju Li frowned, looking like she had no intention of submitting her resume to this company.
Zhu Jingyi quickly waved his hand, earnestly trying to convince the reluctant girl:
“The president might like firing people, but he wouldn’t start with new hires. Less work, more pay, and close to home—that’s just begging on the streets. Zhanyun is a top-tier company in the industry.”
As the night deepened, Xintiandi became even more lively.
Urban men and women were just beginning their nightlife, arriving in groups of three or five, or sipping on drinks alone, savouring the moment…
A warm, humid breeze rustled through the parasol trees, their leaves swishing gently.
Ju Li turned her head toward a group of foreigners outside, drinking and chatting merrily. A sly, mischievous smile tugged at her lips.
“Alright, I’ll give it a try when I get back tonight. Thanks for the information!”
“Why are you being polite? After working for so many years, it’s rare to meet someone I can have a good conversation with—I should be the one thanking you.”
Zhu Jingyi took a sip of his drink and also glanced outside.
Because of that, he missed the cunning glint in the girl’s eyes.
The world was such a wonderful place.
Ju Li took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of alcohol mixed with the slow, melodic music of the Western-style restaurant. Under the hazy lights, she felt a little intoxicated.
It seemed that her plan had worked perfectly.
When she turned back, her gaze toward Zhu Jingyi was filled with a kind of affectionate fondness—
A successful, accomplished man, yet so pure and adorable. How nice.
Zhu Jingyi had no idea that, in Ju Li’s eyes, he was a prey caught in her trap. He thought that admiring look was one of respect. Feeling quite pleased with himself, he happily sipped his drink, completely self-satisfied.
- Yanjiyou Bookstore – A modern Chinese bookstore chain known for its stylish design, curated book selections, and integration of cultural spaces such as cafés, art exhibitions, and lifestyle products. It aims to create an immersive reading and shopping experience. ↩︎
- Xintiandi – A fashionable shopping, dining, and entertainment district in Shanghai. Known for its blend of traditional Shikumen architecture and modern urban design, Xintiandi is a popular destination for both tourists and locals, offering upscale boutiques, restaurants, and cultural attractions. ↩︎
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