Independent

Her voice... It sounds so familiar...

Haoran squints his eyes as he tries to remember where he's heard such a calm and beautiful voice.

He blinks several times as he continues to think hard.

Zhi Ruo leads the way into the office and usher the two men in. Cheng acted like a complete novice, but Haoran maintained composure but boiled inside.

He can't wait for them to get rid of this interview, so he can punch some senses into him.

With the way he's acting, they might not even get the jobs and that will not be a surprise to him. But Cheng should just not act like it's him that needs them.

All employers need their employees! That's why they always create public awareness for vacancy almost everywhere!

He tries to breathe down his anger as he steps into the cold and brightly lighted office that seems more like a badass cult venue than an office for products.

The pictures hung on the wall makes Haoran's chest tighten a little.

A young girl with a woman beside her on the sandy ground. The smile of the girl makes him remember Mei, and the woman makes him to remember his mum.

Haoran smiles widely remembering some set of people.

But the few moments of rememberance didn't last for long, as his eyes made way to the woman sitting behind the large desk in front of them.

Haoran glares at her, scrutinizing every single part of her body with his eyes.

"Gentlemen, meet the manager of Global Japan products, Miss Ai Mi Bao"

Ai Mi...

The name recycles in the head of Haoran and he couldn't help but pass unto her a small smile.

The corner of Ai Mi's mouth draws up. Looks like they are getting along right away, huh?

"Welcome to GJP" Ai Mi's soft voice sends Haoran to a dimension he never thought anyone would make him to even cross before.

"Thank you" Cheng whispers, but Haoran didn't say a word but continues to stare at the lady behind the huge desk in front of him.

Zhi Ruo noticed what just took place, and she felt her fingers form into a tight fist. She couldn't stop the anger forming within her.

From the corner of Ai Mi's eyes, she could see the reaction of Zhi Ruo but she said nothing. She remained as calm as ever.

After all, she didn't want to make herself look like some harsh, aggressive boss in front of these gentlemen.

But that didn't stop her from thinking about what she would do to Zhi Ruo.

"The panel of the company has gathered a few questions so... Have your seats, please. "

"Okay" Cheng replies but Haoran still didn't say a word. He glares at Ai Mi detestably as Zhi Ruo continues.

Cheng got seated but Haoran eyes were fixed on this woman. He tries severely to remember her, but he can't.

Seeing that Haoran don't have an intention of sitting down, Cheng nudges his arm aggressively, but it didn't seem to get Haoran's attention.

Hoaran hesitated, feeling the slight nudge on his arm, he immediately came back to his senses and sat down on the vacant seat in the office with a cold look on his face.

Zhi Ruo got seated beside Ai Mi after ushering the company's leaders into the office.

Ai Mi relaxes on her seat with her hat covering half of her face. Why does she always wear a hat that must cover almost her full face?

Haoran haven't seen her, yet he's asking questions like he knows her since his youth.

Gosh, you really need to work on how you ask questions, even to yourself...

"Okay. Not to keep you waiting, my name is Zhi Ruo once again and with me are the leaders of the company's units that are in need of more workers, Miss Lee and Mr Bacheng"

The two humble leaders smile at the applicants and Cheng smiles back in return. But Haoran kept his face as hard as ever.

Even if he does smile, only the manager can hire them if she pleases, so he found smiling unnecessary at the moment.

"May we know a little about you?" Zhi Ruo asks with a very authoritative voice.

Haoran diverts his gaze to her, and he could see that she shuddered a little. Who is she commanding?

Her request seems more like a command than a request.

"My name is Rang Cheng, I am 25 and I graduated from Day Hill University. I studied lab tech and, that's why I'm here"

Haoran closed his eyes and held his forehead with the tip of his fingers in embarrassment. He can't believe Cheng just said that!

If drinking and partying, is more of what he can do with his life, then why didn't he just stick to becoming a bar person, than come to a very important meeting and screw up like this?!

He didn't even give a concrete reason why he wants this job!

Graduating from Day Hill University? Who asked about that anyway? The files he brought can answer their questions about what school he attended! Why can't he just briefy tell them about the previous jobs he had, and what interested him to go for it?! They also need to know the reason why he quit!

Thinking of these things being pushed aside by Cheng made Haoran mad from the slight edge of the stairs in his brain. God, he feels so mad!

After awhile of calming down, he was just in time to open his eyes to see the leaders whispering amongst themselves and Zhi Ruo with a forfeiting look on her face.

Ai Mi seems emotionless. She hasn't even moved from the previous position she was in. Her hat still obstructing what is in the hat but, her beauty made Haoran get angry again!

Not at her though, but at the fact that Cheng just disappointed and embarrassed him in front of a manager!

God!

Haoran felt the loosed feeling in his chest turn into a knot. Although he felt ashamed, his face still remains as concrete as ever.

He waited for a while before Miss Lee took his file and started flipping through.

Great! They think it's better if they ask questions from the credentials than hearing directly from them.

"Um, Okay. Your name is Haoran Feng Ying, also 25 and graduated college of brightswill, am I right?"

"Yes, you are" Haoran answers smoothly.

"You have a twin sister and your mum's name is Xiao Kyung?"

"Yes"

"Your motherland is Jiangsu in China?"

"Yes"

"And you have not gotten a job ever since you graduated college?"

Haoran swallows hard as he forcefully chokes out "Yes"

Miss Lee adjusts her glasses and looked up at Haoran, asking the final question "Why do you want this job?"

Haoran sighs and offered a little prayer before answering "I want this job for so many reasons" Hoaran pauses before he lets out " Mainly because I want to be independent"

Knowing the backstory behind the answer of Haoran, Ai Mi smirks and her raised lips can be seen from the corner of her hat.

Silence prevailed as Ai Mi opens the drawer in front of her slowly, took a pack of cigarette and opens the sealed case.

The leaders and Zhi Ruo's eyes seemed to grow bigger as they watched what she did.

Ai Mi slowly picked one and lit it up. She raises the stick to her mouth. Not upto a second later, she blew out a beautiful smoke ring and removed her hat still in a slow manner.

Cheng felt scared instantly. But Haoran felt nothing.

He kept staring at the woman in front of him as she smoked. He has seen women smoke before and it disgusted him. But the way the woman in front of him does it just makes him chuckle.

As she kept the hat on the table and blew the third ring of smoke, she raises her head and her eyes settled on Haoran's and they stared at each other.

Her small lips that looks like it hasn't even tasted a cigarette, blew out another ring of a beautifully patterned smoke, before she spoke.

"What an interesting answer"