After three years of studying abroad and being away from her family, Xiaoqi's finally able to get back in her home town. After arriving at the airport, she smelt the warm breeze of her country. She arrived earlier than expected to surprise her father about her arrival. However, this happened…

     "Father, as I told you before, I am not getting married!" Xiaoqi exclaimed after hearing her father talk about another marriage he had arranged without her permission.

     "I'm telling you, I'd rather live alone than marry somebody I don't even love." She asserted.

     "Xiaoqi, can't you just hear me out? It—"

     "Not another word father, we've been through this. If you still want to insist on that engagement then I will say to it that you will never see me again."

     "Oh, really? Quite persistent aren't you?"

     "Yes, if you still insist on that marriage I will leave this house at once and never come back."

     ("Huh, I know my dad, he won't let such thing happen. He loves me, his daughter way too much he'll definitely give in to me and cancel the marriage in no time")

     She thought proudly.

     "Well then, I guess you have made up your mind. You're a grown up now you don't listen to your father anymore. It's breaking my lonely heart."

     ("Is he kidding me? What's he gonna do now?")

     "Your mother isn't always around, and your brother is now with her helping her with her business. And now my only daughter that just came back wants to leave too… How much sadder could it get? Sniffle~ sniffle~"

      "Nanny Hong, please get young lady's luggage,"

     ("Wait, what about cancelling the marriage? Is he serious? Does he really want me to leave that badly? Something's definitely fishy here…")

     "Yes," the maid curtsied and walked away.

      Mr. Xue sobbed secretly glancing at her daughter's stunned appearance. On the other hand, Xiaoqi still couldn't believe her father's decision. After a while, nanny Hong came back with Xiaoqi's luggage.

      "Young lady's luggage is ready Mr. Xue," the maid said.

      "Fine, I'll go! Do you think I was kidding?" She said anxiously, "Watch me!" she snatched the luggage away and turned her back irritated for being taken aback.

      "Wait," she heard her father said in a calm but serious voice. "You can leave this house and cancel the marriage under three conditions." He added.

      Xiaoqi stopped and turned around to listen, "Say it,"

      "First, you shall NOT take any money from this family; second, you shall NOT reveal your identity under any circumstances, I forbid you to rely on your reputation whatever reason it might be; and lastly, you are to earn 1 MILLION CNY within a year which starting today. Broke any of this conditions and I believe you know clearly what will happen."

      "Fine, I accept your challenge. Not only that, I will also find my true love, and I will say to it that you'll eat your words." Xiaoqi rebelled and turned away from her father.

      "Oh, and one more thing," Xiaoqi paused for a moment, expecting for her father to take back what he said and ask her to stay. "…you left your phone," he added pointing at the top of the table beside him.

Xiaoqi turned looking utterly dismayed for what he said. She took the phone and stomped her way out. The anger she felt made her head ache, as she walked farther and farther away from home.

(Humph, stupid father... you'd rather let your daughter live on streets than cancel the marriage. How could he kick me out with nothing but my luggage and phone? It's so annoying! He even wants me to earn a million yuan from dirt within one year without getting my identity exposed to the public. What a heartwarming present… and here I was hoping to surprise him ending up being the one surprised. Ugh! Maybe I went a little too far?)

Her mind was filled with thoughts as she wandered down the streets,

("Now that I think of it, it's too late to take back what I said. Ugh, me and my temper really! It's not like I can turn back time; 'what's done is done' I should just think of what I can do now…")

The sun was high and the weather was exceptionally hot making her sweat drip down from her forehead. She fanned her face with her hand as she looked at the pedestrian lane in front of her as she sat down palely waiting for the traffic light to go red.

("My feet hurts with these heels from walking for hours, not to mention being tired, and hungry, and thirsty from all that's happened, I haven't even rested for a bit. It's so damn hot in the afternoon, I feel like walking in a dessert")

She glanced at her sore feet, "Ah~ it stings…" she moaned in pain as she took off her heel seeing her swollen bruised foot.

People passed by her, she looked back at the traffic light. It was already red and people are in a hurry crossing already, so she also stood up and walked limply enduring the pain she's feeling. As she was about to reach the other side of the lane, she couldn't help but faint in front of a blue Maserati that stopped just in time before almost hitting her. Feeling pain, hunger, and being dehydrated, she felt tired and weak; she couldn't find the strength to stand up.

      ("Water, I need… water")

      Not even being able to utter another word she reached out to a man who she couldn't quite see weakly. But even still, all she heard were words uttered by a man's voice as she collapsed on the ground barely seeing anything.

      "Hey, miss, you don't need to act. Please get up. Even if you need money you shouldn't frame people. Hey come on, please get up. I haven't even hit you yet, the gap is still about two feet, it's still far from hitting you—" he sighed, "I don't know, anyway. I haven't hit you so I'm going."

      Xiaoqi saw the man's footsteps as he turned around and went back in his car. That was the last thing she remembered before waking up in another place.

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♦♦♦

      So it turned out to be like this. Coming back from abroad after being away for three years, and this is what happened. Now I'm kicked out just like that?

      I'm hungry\, thirsty\, and tired. Now\, it's getting late and I don't have anywhere to spend the night in. *sigh*

    A few moments ago, she slowly opened her eyes feeling sore all over. Looking from the blurry white ceiling of the room towards a sting from her wrist…

      ("Am I in a hospital?")

      She felt a bit dizzy but she was more eager to get out of there. She sat down taking the needle and tried to stand up but her head ached making her sat back to her bed; she rubbed her head gently.

      The door opened and a nurse went in. "Miss, you woke up!" the woman said, "please don't force yourself and have a rest," she added.

      "I… Why am I here? What happened?"

      "I guess you didn't know, you fainted and your boyfriend brought you here."

      "'My boyfriend'?"

      "He wasn't your boyfriend? Sorry, I just thought…"

      "It's alright, but, do you know where he is now?"

      "No, he already left after paying in the counter…"

\===

      ("Who might that young man be? Will I be able to see him again?") Xiaoqi wondered as she continued on her journey.

      "Oh, it's getting dark," she said looking at the red tainted sky. "I must've passed out for quite a long time… It's already late and I still haven't got a place to stay the night," she mumbled.

      ("Oh right, I should call Yuyan and ask for help. I hope she's available…")

      She took out her phone and dialed Yuyan's number. After a few moments, Yuyan picked it up.

      "Hello?"

      "Yuyan, it's me Xiaoqi. Are you home?"

      "Not yet, why? Did you arrive here already?"

      "Can I meet you right now?"

      "Sorry, I can't now; I'm still at work,"

      "Oh sorry, then can I meet you at your pla—"

      Beep—beep—

      "―Hello?"

      ("What a bad luck; the battery's dead. Maybe I should just go back to her place; I think it's still the same apartment as she stayed before. Besides I know she won't mind, I mean she's a good friend who's really into her work. I'll just make her dinner when I arrive; she must be tired by then, I'll let her have a taste with my cooking.")

      It was a nice plan in her mind. However, she's now currently stuck thinking about where she got it wrong in front of her friend's apartment doorstep.

      ("I remember it clearly though, I know it was her birthday in month-day-year order. However, it just won't work. It's not like she changes her passcode often either. As far as I remember, it's not Zhao Tingzhe's birthdate, nor the first day they officially became together. I just don't get it, it doesn't make sense. And here I was looking forward to hearing her reaction about my cooking")

      Xiaoqi sighed with disappointment in front of the door, deciding to give up on opening the door and just wait for her friend to return when she heard a familiar voice call her name.

      "Xiaoqi?"

      She turned around to see her friend in front of another apartment's door, "Yuyan?"

      "Xiaoqi, is that really you? What're you doing there?"

      "Me? I was waiting for you, I actually tried to open your apartment but it seems like you changed your code."

      "What're you talking about? And that's not my apartment," Yuyan said pointing in front of where she's standing.

      "Oh," ("That was… embarrassing,")

      Yuyan invited Xiaoqi to her home and served her a cup of tea as she sat in the living room.

      "I can't believe it, you're really back. It's been so long, how have you been? What brought you here? With that luggage…"

      "Well, about that I actually need a favor,"

      "What do you need?"

      "I actually need a place to stay, and I've got no penny with me right now…"

      "What? Why? What happened?"

      "It's actually a long story, but I don't mind telling you if you're willing to listen,"

      "I'm all ears."

It took quite some time as Xiaoqi told her friend everything that happened. And after several minutes later…

      "Oh, so that's what happened. I can't believe you actually accepted Uncle Xue's challenge. I understand that you got your own pride, but I also know it's not right to force your daughter to get married without getting permission; it's not like they'll be the one to get married. Don't worry; I'll help you whatever happens. So, do you have a plan?"

      "Thanks Yuyan! I knew that I could count on you," she jumped to her with open arms. "For now, I've found a place to stay but I still need to find a job and earn money as much as possible. Then I'll be free from those arranged marriages. However, it's not easy to find a high-paying job. Do you know any company that pays highly?"

      "Well, I heard that our company needs new workers and they'll be hiring new employees. Though the spots wouldn't be that many, I know you'll make it. It'll be easy as pie for you."

      "Really? Where? When?"

      "At NGM Company, interview starts tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the morning."

      "Got it, I'll keep that in mind. I'll get that job no matter what."

      "Yeah, yeah. But I still can't believe you were trying to open the wrong apartment," Yuyan chuckled. "Thankfully the owner still wasn't home or they would mistake you as a robber."

      "Hey! Let it go already, I told you it was a mistake."

      "Yeah right,"

      "Forget about it; erase it from your mind…"

      Laughter filled the night at Yuyan's apartment for the girls talked for a long time catching up about the things that happened for the past three years when both of them could rarely talk. It was a long night and a long talk, yet morning came unannounced.

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♦♦♦

      Great! Now I've got no problem at finding a place to live. That's my best friend; kind and caring. I knew she wouldn't mind letting me stay with her.

      Now that this thing is settled, I guess I have to find an excellent job shouldn't I? Oh right, I have an interview tomorrow. Wish me luck won't you?

[If you like this novel, kindly like and comment down below... I hope to hear good words from you]

      Time passed and morning came without a notice. For the two girls barely slept the night before. With bags below their eyes, they woke up restless as they stretch their arms up high, yawning. The sun has risen, and another day has come. As for Xiaoqi, the real challenge had just begun.

      As both of them finished changing their clothes, they went towards the company together. With no chauffer to give her a ride, Xiaoqi just joined her friend travelling by taxi.

      "I'll go first. I'll be at the financial department at the second floor if you need me. You can just wait here until your name gets called for the interview."

      "Alright, thanks a lot Yuyan. You're a great help."

      "If you're really thankful, then pass that interview and get the job. I can't afford to support you forever," she smiled

      "Of course, I'll get that job easy as pie."

      "Okay, I'll really go now. Bye~ Good luck!"

      There's still a bit of time left before the interview and Xiaoqi was still a bit far from #1. She was already confident to pass the interview, and it didn't even budge her at all. Unlike the other applicants she saw trembling at the corner, drinking water, going to the toilet and stuff, she just calmly waited as the interview started.

      "Applicant #1; Chao Ma, applicant #2; Tao Feng, and applicant #3; Chia Hsu, please come inside."

      The in-charge started calling names and people started going in. They called three applicants every time and it wouldn't be long now before Xiaoqi to be called next. It took half an hour or less for every batch they called. After two hours, four batches of applicants finished their interview. After the 4th batch, they announced to delay the interview for the moment. As the in-charge told the remaining applicants to have a 1-hour break for lunch and that the interview will continue at exactly 1:00 PM.

      The company's cafeteria was located down the first floor where Xiaoqi was at, so she hurried there and waited for Yuyan for the remaining minutes she was free. However, she never saw Yuyan even after the break went over. Luckily, Yuyan handed her some money just in case and she used it to buy her lunch. The lunch at their cafeteria wasn't cheap at all, but thankfully, she had enough money to buy a meal for herself.

      ("I can't believe I'm feeling so small in this big place,")

      A frivolous thought entered her mind as she looked on her situation where she's helplessly depending on her friend at this very moment. However, this just became another reason to make her become more determined to see to it that she gets this job given the opportunity.

      After about an hour or more, another batch of applicants we called and at last it was her turn to face the panel of judges.

      "Applicant #19; Xue Xiaoqi, Applicant #20… and applicant #21… please come inside in order,"

      Xiaoqi took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly to get ready as she stood up and walked confidently with an assuring smile. She walked inside followed by the other applicants and sat down to the chair in front of the panel of judges ready to answer any question that might be asked by them. She looked at them with confidence, straight to their eyes.

      A judge in front looked back at her and at her resume as she cleared her throat.

      "Ms. Xue Xiaoqi, am I right?"

      "Yes,"

      "It says here in your resume that you have studied abroad with the highest mark in your business management course. Now, I'd like to ask, why did you apply for this job?"

      "In view of my desire and ability to render good service in this company, I chose to apply for this job where I can exercise my knowledge and apply it for the greater benefit of this company. For I am a hard-working person and I desire perfection, and I am confident that if you accept me as your employee, I will guarantee that I will always perform my best at any position you will give me…"

      After a few more moments, the interview ended and the applicants made their way out as another batch of interviewees were called in. Confident as Xiaoqi was, she answered all the panels' questions with confidence having no problem at all, after all, she's the next heir of their family business led by her father; this was a piece of cake for her.

      As for the others, they looked sweaty and you can see others trying not to make knees tremble. Same view when she was still outside waiting for her turn. But everything's alright now, as she was done and confident that she will get a position whatever job the will assign to her. Looking at her background, although she cannot use any connections she have with her family's reputation as not to break any rule given by her father, she still has her knowledge.

      Moreover, as someone who studied from abroad with highest marks, it will greatly benefit the company to hire such applicant, especially someone who came in and attended the interview with overflowing confidence.

      As for the real reason Xiaoqi applied for the job, she didn't utter a word about it. For her, only a fool would say he applied for the job in order to earn money and leave after gaining the amount he needed, although that was what she was precisely planning to do.

      As the interview was already finished, she headed straight to the second floor where two elevators from opposite sides reside. However, where the other one has silver doors and was freely used by applicants and other people, the other elevator had gold-tinted doors intended for VVIP guests and the CEO of the company only. She knew it was for people like that for even from a distance she could see a VVIP print over the door written in black bold characters.

      As Xiaoqi waited for the door to open, she glanced to the other side only to see two persons, handsome and tall, walked through the other elevator which says VVIP. Just in time, the elevator in front of her opened. She went inside and the operator asked which floor she was going and she answered, "To the second floor please,"

      Both the doors of the elevator closed at the same time and Xiaoqi and one guy from the other elevator who had a blonde hair fixed their eyes for a split-second before the doors were completely closed.

      "Here we are," the operator said as the door opened to the second floor.

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♦♦♦

      At last the interview has finally ended. However, the final applicants that they will hire will be announced only the day after tomorrow. Now I've got nothing else to do. What do you think of joining me?

      As I waited for Yuyan to finish, I strolled around the building as to not disturb Yuyan while working, in this way I'll also get a little familiar with it if the company will decide to hire me. Hopefully, they'll put me in a good position that will be more fitting for me.