Volume One, Chapter Six: Securing Employment

“This isn’t certain, but it’s a good sign. Keep trying, spend more time talking to her—maybe she’ll wake up sooner than you think.”

“All right, thank you, nurse.”

...

After the young nurse left, Lin Chen was about to say a few more words to Xu Mi.

However, no sooner had the nurse stepped away than another nurse came running over.

One after another they came.

With all sorts of excuses...

Even the doctors’ rounds had increased in frequency, each time followed by a group of gossiping nurses with curious looks.

Lin Chen couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time...

He knew he had become a sensation in the hospital.

A ritual to bring someone back to consciousness was already rare, and on top of that, he was nearly twenty years younger than Xu Mi.

An older wife and younger husband, both strikingly handsome and beautiful—it was no wonder the nurses were busy speculating about them as a couple.

Lin Chen sighed deeply.

Helplessly, he turned to Xu Mi lying in the hospital bed.

“Darling, if I don’t leave, I’m afraid you won’t get any rest. I have an interview this morning, so I’ll step out for a while.”

After saying this, Lin Chen turned to leave.

But no sooner had he risen than Xu Mi’s finger twitched slightly—

As if to say: Don’t go, stay with me a little longer.

Lin Chen’s heart leapt with joy at the sight.

“Darling, you don’t want me to leave?”

“I don’t want to either, but this interview means a lot to me—it’s my best friend who worked so hard to get it for me...”

“And I have to work hard to earn money, so when you wake up, I can take good care of you and make sure you’re plump and healthy...”

“Well, I’m off then. Don’t be sad. Next time I come, I’ll make it up to you—I’ll give you a massage and sing you a song, okay? Your husband’s singing is pretty good. If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as your agreement!”

With that, Lin Chen slung his bag over his shoulder and tiptoed out.

...

“Damn, why did you get here so late?”

When Lin Chen arrived at the meeting spot, breathless, Jiang Yao was already growing impatient.

“There was traffic,” Lin Chen explained.

“You brought your resume, right?”

“Yeah. By the way, what’s the name of the company we’re interviewing with? I want to rehearse in my head.”

“It’s called HoneyBio.”

HoneyBio?

Lin Chen froze...

Not for any other reason but because the name was too distinctive, almost like it had been chosen by Xu Mi.

Her formal name was Xu Mi.

Her nickname was Tang Tang.

HoneyBio was just the two names combined.

“Why are you spacing out? Let’s go—the HR is already waiting.”

“Okay, okay.”

...

Two hours later, Lin Chen and Jiang Yao emerged from the building.

Lin Chen was a little dispirited.

“I’m getting the feeling our chances of getting hired aren’t great. We were the only two with master’s degrees; everyone else had doctorates.”

“Don’t worry. My aunt told me my cousin holds a decent position there. One word from him and we’ll both be in.”

“That’s a relief. It’s good to have connections.”

Lin Chen sighed in relief as they left the building.

What he didn’t notice was that, at that very moment, a woman brushed past him.

Lin Chen didn’t recognize her, but she recognized him.

After he walked away, the woman removed her sunglasses and made a call.

“Auntie, I think I just saw Lin Chen—yes, at the company. Looks like he’s here for an interview.”

...

That afternoon, inside the sales department office of HoneyBio.

Zhou You, Jiang Yao’s cousin, was pacing at his desk, clearly anxious.

His anxiety was entirely caused by his talkative mother...

He really did work at HoneyBio, but only as a regular sales clerk. Yet, in his mother’s mouth, he had somehow become a manager.

She was even promising to help her nephew sort out a job...

This put Zhou You in a difficult spot.

With the economy sluggish, HoneyBio was under severe pressure and facing layoffs across departments.

To be frank, he was barely holding on himself—how could he possibly help his cousin find a job?

But his mother had already made promises...

Since Jiang Yao was a cousin he was close to, he couldn’t ignore it.

Reluctantly, he mustered courage and approached a friendly HR representative.

The result was disappointing.

The company was hiring, but only doctorate-level candidates; master’s degree holders weren’t even considered.

After stewing in frustration at his desk for a long time, Zhou You finally picked up the phone and dialed Jiang Yao.

He had already rehearsed what to say—he even planned to invite his cousin to dinner that evening to apologize.

But as soon as the call connected, Jiang Yao’s joyful voice came through.

“Cousin, I was just about to call you. Thank you so much!”

Thank you?

One sentence left Zhou You utterly confused.

“Cousin, what do you mean? Are you mocking me?” Zhou You said with a wry smile.

“I’m not mocking you at all—I can’t thank you enough. My roommate and I both got offers.”

“Got offers?”

Zhou You was completely stunned...

Just an hour ago, when he inquired, neither of them had been accepted. What had happened?

“Cousin, no need for formalities between us. I’ll treat you to a proper meal soon.”

“No need, really. I didn’t do much. It’s great you got in; HoneyBio offers good benefits and room to grow.”

“Cousin, are you free tonight? My roommate and I want to properly thank you.”

“Tonight... I have to work late. No need for thanks. We’re family—no need for formalities. Besides, I really didn’t do much. I have other things to attend to, so I’ll let you go now.”

Lin Chen had been listening the whole time.

When the call ended, he looked at Jiang Yao in surprise.

“Your relatives are something else—efficient, and so humble.”

“Of course! My cousin’s got integrity...

I remember when I was a kid, I was mischievous and blew up my second aunt’s water barrel with firecrackers... My second aunt rushed out and started beating up my cousin instead of me.

My cousin screamed in pain but never said a word against me. Isn’t that loyalty?”

Lin Chen looked on with newfound respect.

“That’s a cousin you can get along with. He really takes the fall for you.”

“Yeah, my cousin’s super reliable!” Jiang Yao murmured.

Only one thing he had completely forgotten—

The year his cousin’s mouth was ulcerated so badly he couldn’t even open it...

...

That evening, Lin Chen and Jiang Yao went out for hotpot.

There were three of them—Lin Chen, Jiang Yao, and his girlfriend.

But Lin Chen was completely out of sorts during the meal.

His mind was filled with images of Xu Mi.

Though he knew she was lying just there, not far away...

He couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Before finishing the meal, Lin Chen excused himself and left.

He grabbed a shared bike and sped toward the hospital.

“Lin Chen, here to see your wife again?”

As soon as Lin Chen stepped into the corridor, the young nurses at the station spotted him.

“Yeah, I’m a bit worried about her.”

The nurses giggled behind their hands.

“You two are really clingy now. Your wife’s just lying there; she’s not going anywhere.”

Lin Chen smiled silently and hurried into the ward.