Tenant’s Secret Love

Chapter 83: Get the job done

Renee is still waiting for my answer. After a short silence, I said to Renee, “The job thing has almost been settled.”

“Oh, is it still at the department store?”

“No, it's a planning position at an advertising company. A friend introduced me.”

“Oh.” Renee just responded with a single sound, her mood seemingly a little low, as if she still cared that I had lost my job because of her.

I reassured her, “Actually, I'm really quite happy staying in Xuzhou. Let me tell you something quite new.”

“Tell me,”

I smiled and said, “I recently went on a blind date for the first time in my life, but I liked her right away. Am I still attractive?”

Renee was unexpectedly silent for a long time before asking, ‘Really? So do you love her?”

“I have a good feeling about her. It's been a short time, so it's a bit premature to say I love her, but that's how blind dates work. If both parties have a good feeling, they get to know each other better. Most importantly, our parents really like the idea of us getting together.’ I explained with a smile.

“Oh, then I wish you all the best.”

“Thanks. So you don't need to feel guilty about that incident anymore. I really feel more and more that returning to Xuzhou was the right choice.”

“Whether you made the right choice is your business, and whether I feel guilty is mine. I don't think the two must be linked... It's getting late, I'm going to get some rest.”

I couldn't understand what Renee meant for a moment, but she had hung up the phone very quickly.

...

I lay down again, feeling inexplicably melancholy. I lit a cigarette for myself in the middle of the night, and suddenly my mind was filled with the image of Renee, busy until late at night, returning home lonely. I knew that she didn't have many friends in Suzhou, and her own family was always trying to get her into trouble at work.

My mood grew more and more depressed, and Renee's beautiful, delicate face was deeply etched in my mind.

On a night when I should have been relaxing and enjoying my sleep, I was unable to sleep. As I tossed and turned, my mind went into overdrive, thinking about the Harlan and Natalie couple, my life in Suzhou, the scene from the other day when Robert and Brittany confessed their love for each other, and even the night I laid with Violetta in Hengdian. My thoughts became increasingly disturbed, and I finally fell asleep from exhaustion just before dawn.

...

I slept until almost noon. When I got up, my brain was still groggy from lack of sleep. After a quick shower, I hadn't even had time to eat a bite before I got a call from Daphne.

I answered the phone and yawned unconsciously.

“Lucas, did you just wake up?”

“Well, I just woke up a while ago. I couldn't sleep last night,“ I told Daphne.

“Then you need to get yourself together quickly. I've already shown your resume to Director Zhou in our company's planning department, and he wants to interview you this afternoon,” Daphne said to me in a serious tone.

“Did he say what time exactly?”

“He'll be at the office all afternoon. You can set the time yourself. Just call me when you get there, and I'll take you to him.”

“Okay,”

Daphne added, “You have to get yourself in shape. You should know that people in the planning industry are very serious and don't like loose people!”

“Don't worry, I won't let you down!”

Daphne hung up the phone after I gave her my solemn promise.

...

I didn't wait for my mother to come home to cook dinner, so I just made myself a bowl of noodles to eat. Then I turned on the computer and started looking up information about Daphne's advertising company online. Memorizing this information would definitely be of benefit to me when I went for the interview.

After memorizing all the information I could find online about Orson Advertising (Daphne's advertising company), I took a taxi to Orson.

After I arrived at Orson, Daphne was already waiting for me downstairs. I walked up to her.

As I got closer, Daphne looked me over and smiled, exclaiming, “Lucas, when you dress up, you really do have the air of an elite member of society!”

“There's nothing I can do about it, I'm just a man destined for success!” I laughed and agreed.

I thought Daphne would tease me, but instead she nodded in approval, then straightened the hem of my shirt, which had gotten a little wrinkled, and said to me, “Let's go, Director Zhou is waiting over there.”

“He really gives you face!”

“That's right, after all, I also have a position in the industry.”

Along the way, Daphne and I chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere relaxed, without a trace of the nervousness before the interview.

Accompanied by Daphne, I entered the company, walked past the general work area, and saw more than 50 people buried in their work. The sheer number of people there showed that Aosen Advertising was considered a top advertising company in Xuzhou, and the information available online did not deliberately exaggerate the company's size.

When we arrived at the director's office, Daphne knocked gently on the door. A deep voice from inside said, “Come in.”

Daphne gave me a look, indicating that I should follow her in. I nodded, pushed open the door first, and then walked into the director's office with Daphne.

A middle-aged man in his 30s, dressed in a suit, sat in an office chair, exuding the air of a director of a major advertising company.

Daphne introduced me to him, ”Director Zhou, this is Lucas, the person I was telling you about.”

I nodded at him with a modest smile and said, “Hello, Director Zhou, I'm Lucas, here to apply for the business planning position in your company.”

Director Zhou nodded and smiled, saying, ‘You were referred by Supervisor Li (Daphne), I've already read your resume, and I trust Daphne's judgment even more. Let's chat first.’ He then gestured for Daphne and I to sit down.

Daphne, however, said, “Director Zhou, you talk to Lucas. We in the account department have some things to deal with.”

Director Zhou smiled and nodded politely. This proved that Daphne really had status in this company. For someone her age to be the head of the account department of a major advertising company was really quite something. She had an easygoing air about her, which was very suitable for account management.

Before leaving, Daphne gave me a sign of encouragement. I responded with a confident look in her eyes, and she left assured.

Director Zhou took out my resume again, quickly skimmed it, and then asked me, “You worked in the planning department of Poly Department Store in Suzhou, and you were involved in the investment promotion and planning for three luxury brands.”

“Yes, Director Zhou,”

“What was your role in each of these tasks?”

“Planning and coordination of investment promotion, brand maintenance after setting up the store, and providing sales support for these luxury brands in the mall. Of course, these tasks were huge and were carried out by a team, but I was a key member of the team. In addition, I have organized or participated in many commercial planning for the mall.” I tried to save time and get to the point.

Director Zhou nodded and asked with interest, ”Tell me more about these commercial planning cases you have done.”

I nodded and then told him about some of the cases I had worked on at Poly Department Store over the past few years, as concisely as possible.

After chatting about the cases I had worked on at Poly Department Store and exchanging views with Director Zhou on business planning, we had a very pleasant chat.

During the exchange, Director Zhou spoke highly of the promotional plan I had created for Poly Department Store before I left Suzhou, entitled “Love is not a luxury”. He also said that he would pay close attention to the results of the event. This made me feel a little sad, because in fact, there was less than a week left before the promotional event “Love is not a luxury” was due to start at Poly Department Store. Although I had written the promotional plan, I would not be there to see it through. I felt a little disappointed! I hope that the “Love is not Luxury” themed promotional event will be a great success, and it will be a small way to repay Mark.

In a moment of absent-mindedness, Director Zhou said to me again, “Lucas, let me tell you about the current situation of our company. This year is a year of rapid development for our Aosen Advertising. The quality of our clients has greatly improved compared to previous years. At present, we are preparing to concentrate our resources on winning the advertising business of several large department stores in Xuzhou. You have extensive experience in planning department store projects and have a great advantage in department store business planning, which is very much in line with our current strategic needs. I personally have high expectations for you.”

“I also look forward to joining Aosen Advertising and doing my best to create value for the company and the planning department.” I nodded sincerely in response.

Director Zhou gave me a sincere smile and said, ‘I have no more questions. You can talk to the human resources department about your salary requirements later. We will do our best to meet your needs.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Director Zhou!”

“It's worth my trouble to have someone with your abilities. I hope you can become a valuable member of my team!’ Director Zhou stood up and extended his hand to me.

I quickly got up and shook his hand. It felt really good to be respected, and I thought to myself that I would definitely cherish this opportunity and do my best to make a difference in Xuzhou. From then on, I would never think of Suzhou, the city that made me so sad.

While we were talking, Daphne came into the director's office again. She was holding some documents in one hand and a handbag in the other, as if she were going out.

“Director Zhou, do you think Lucas is capable of doing the planning work for our company?” asked Li Xiaoyun with concern.

“Personally, I'm looking forward to it and I'd be more than happy to welcome him to Orson Advertising.”

Daphne smiled at me, gave me the thumbs-up sign, and then said to Director Zhou, ”I've just been asked to meet with Manager Lin from the planning department at Times Department Store, mainly to discuss cooperation in advertising. I hope that someone from your planning department can accompany me to this meeting, as it may involve some exchanges on our company's planning capabilities.”

Director Zhou nodded, his face showing a thoughtful expression, as if he was thinking about a candidate. Suddenly, his gaze settled on me, and then he gave me a questioning look.

I pointed at myself in confusion and asked, “Director Zhou, do you mean that Daphne and I will go to Times Department Store together?”