Pampered by Short-Lived Bigshot

”Xiaolin, we thought about it. The interviewees are young people, among our lab’s younger generation, you’re the most outstanding. Your way of thinking differs from ours, and interviews shouldn’t always follow old methods.”

The director smiled kindly, ”So we decided to put you on the interview panel. This is the lab’s trust in you.”

”Don’t let us down.”

...

”But I’m really not qualified.” Lin Luyou originally was just an onlooker. Given her qualifications, she couldn’t participate in interviews, so getting pushed into this position left her a bit dazed.

”We approved it unanimously. Postpone your work tomorrow, focus on interviewing newcomers.”

What?

Unanimously approved?

Lin Luyou glanced around the meeting room; it was clear they ”picked” on her absence. Working together for so long, she roughly knew what kind of people they were.

Usually, they said she was young and being a girl, they pampered and took care of her. Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, they kicked her out while she was away?

Truly aligns with the saying, men are all fools!

”But director...” She wanted to resist a bit.

”Participating in interviews might spark unexpected connections with those young interviewees.” The director smiled, ”If there are no objections, it’s settled that Xiaolin will be on the interview panel.”

Besides Lin Luyou, no one objected, and she was left without support, so she had to accept it.

Then the few who were involved in the interviews held another meeting to discuss the process.

One day of interviews followed by tests, and practical experiments the next day. Because their lab required interviewees to have at least a master’s degree with three published core papers, it cut down the applicant pool significantly, leaving few to apply.

But since Lin Luyou was forced into it, she felt uneasy.

Besides, the director also said...

Sparking unexpected connections? What kind of sparks could there be?

**

Tang Wan, in a good mood after setting up the meeting, was thinking about what to cook the next day.

”She agreed just like that?” Jiang Jinsang was skeptical.

”She didn’t want to agree at first. I mentioned the handkerchief, and she conceded.” Tang Wan rested her chin in her hand and looked at him. ”The handkerchief isn’t cheap, it’s limited edition, so if she cares for it, wanting it back is normal.”

Jiang Jinsang nodded.

”Fifth Brother, will it be awkward with just the three of us for dinner tomorrow?” Tang Wan propped her chin on her hand. ”She doesn’t seem good at socializing, might be a bit tense.”

”Do you want to invite anyone else?”

Tang Wan smiled at him and dialed another number.

Jiang Shiyi was preparing interview materials when he got her call, a bit surprised. Usually, any business between them would go through Jiang Jinsang. Even though she was a sister-in-law and family, some distance was needed.

”Third Brother, are you busy? Am I interrupting?”

”Not busy.”

”Are you free tomorrow? I’d like to invite you over for dinner.”

”Tomorrow?”

”You haven’t seen my new house yet, right?”

”What time tomorrow?”

”Six in the evening.”

”Alright.”

Jiang Shiyi assumed it was just a usual invitation. Having grown close, they often had such get-togethers. Since he deemed the interview more important than the meal, he didn’t give the dinner further thought, and he didn’t mention it to anyone.

So he wasn’t aware that Tang Wan had only invited him.

Tang Wan ended the call, while Jiang Jinsang, in a teasing manner, looked at her, ”Are you trying to stir things up?”

”Aren’t they already acquaintances?” Tang Wan relied entirely on her sixth sense. ”And they studied under the same mentor, in the same field. Even if not well-acquainted, they should have plenty to talk about.”

”If Leader Lin talks about something we don’t understand, it’ll be awkward. Better to have a professional around.”

Tang Wan laughed, gentle and harmless.

Maybe it was really a woman’s intuition. She always felt there was an unknown connection between these two, especially since Jiang Shiyi resigned. Honestly, she was curious to see what would happen when they met.

Besides, there was nothing wrong with her plan.

”Aren’t you afraid it’ll be even more awkward?” Jiang Jinsang chuckled.

”Then it’s your job to lighten the mood.”

”...”

Situations like these were typically handled by Qi Zeyan and Jiang Chengsi. Jiang Jinsang never played the role of the mood manager. To put it nicely, it’s avoiding awkwardness. If he had to lighten the mood, to put it bluntly...

It was his wife’s mess, and he had to clean it up for her.