"Is this really the place?" Jenny Pound asked softly, looking at the gold-plated business card in her hand before nervously glancing up at the office building in front of her. Her grip on the card trembled slightly.
The previous day, she had gone out with Jiang Hai and Kelly. After watching a movie together, Jiang Hai treated them to dinner before dropping them off at their dorm. Kelly, perhaps worn out from the day's "activities," had fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. But Jenny had been wide awake.
The memory of what she had witnessed between Jiang Hai and Kelly replayed over and over in her mind. And to make matters worse, the scent lingering in the room made it impossible for her to sleep. Eventually, she dozed off around midnight, but even then her sleep was light and restless. By six in the morning, she was already awake.
After getting ready, she spent some time researching Tamron Company online. By the time she was satisfied with her preparation, it was past eight. Kelly had offered to accompany her, having woken up around seven, but Jenny declined. This was something she wanted to do on her own.
If she was going to find a job, she wanted it to be by her own efforts.
After eating breakfast alone, she took the subway to the address on Jiang Hai's business card. Now, standing downstairs, she drew in a deep breath and gathered her courage before stepping into the building.
As she entered the lobby, she noticed another woman waiting for the elevator. She looked to be about the same age as Jenny, but everything else about her was entirely different. This woman exuded a strong presence—her hair was neatly pulled back, and she wore a crisp office suit. She held a sleek briefcase in one hand and stood with perfect posture, radiating the confidence of a seasoned professional.
Next to her, Jenny felt out of place.
She had dressed carefully for the occasion in the best clothes she could afford—a secondhand gray suit with a loose skirt that didn't quite fit her well. The outfit had belonged to a senior who had graduated the year before. Though it had originally cost a thousand dollars, Jenny had bought it for three hundred, and even that was a stretch. She had hesitated for a long time before purchasing it.
Standing beside this polished woman, Jenny instinctively stepped back, feeling small and inadequate. Still, she didn't run. When the elevator arrived, she stepped in quietly and pressed herself into the corner.
The woman glanced at her briefly, momentarily surprised, but then offered a warm, understanding smile.
"Which floor?" she asked gently.
"Seventeenth... Thank you," Jenny replied hesitantly.
"Seventeenth? Tamron Company? What brings you there?" the woman asked curiously as she pressed the buttons for the 15th and 17th floors.
"I—I'm here for a job interview..." Jenny forced herself to say.
The woman raised an eyebrow but nodded and smiled.
"Well, job hunting can be tough. Don't be nervous. The boss upstairs—he's not a bad person. But their manager's standards are high. If anything doesn't go well, you can come down and find me. I'm Penelope Dahler," she said kindly.
Yes, this was Penelope Dahler, daughter of Burke Dahler from Jiang Hai's manor. Though she'd once had mixed feelings about Jiang Hai, she couldn't deny that her current success was closely tied to him. And judging by the business card Jenny was holding—the distinctive gold-plated one—she was clearly someone Jiang Hai had personally referred. That was enough reason to help.
"Thank you, Miss Dahler," Jenny said gratefully.
"No need to thank me," Penelope replied with a smile as the elevator stopped on the 15th floor. She stepped out, gave Jenny an encouraging thumbs-up, and disappeared down the hallway.
Jenny exhaled deeply, steeling herself. Moments later, the elevator reached the 17th floor.
"Hello, can I help you?" asked the front desk receptionist, who was tidying up as Jenny stepped out of the elevator. She gave Jenny a curious glance—it was clear this visitor wasn't here for a business meeting.
"I—I'm here for an interview. This is my résumé... and this was given to me by the person who recommended me," Jenny said timidly, offering her file and the creased business card.
The receptionist had never met Jiang Hai in person, but she immediately recognized the card. If Jiang Hai himself showed up, she might not have known it was him—but the card? That, she recognized.
"Please come with me," she said politely. As someone referred by the chairman, Jenny was treated with appropriate courtesy. The receptionist led her into a nearby conference room and brought her a cup of coffee.
"Mr. Zheng is currently in a meeting. Please wait here for a moment. I'll go inform her," she said with a smile before quietly stepping away.
She headed straight to the office of Zheng Jin—Qi Li's assistant, and the woman whose name Jiang Hai always forgot.
After a light knock and being granted entry, she explained the situation and handed over Jenny's résumé along with Jiang Hai's business card.
Zheng Jin flipped through the documents and raised her eyebrows. Not because the résumé was sparse—on the contrary, it was too good.
If all this information was accurate—and verifying it wouldn't be difficult—then why would someone like this apply to Tamron Company? Could it be because Jiang Hai had referred her personally?
"I'll go take a look," Zheng Jin said after a moment of thought. She dealt with the documents on her desk and then walked to the reception room.
Inside, she saw Jenny nervously whispering her self-introduction to herself, clearly rehearsing. For a second, Zheng Jin was stunned—it was like looking at her younger self.
"Hello," she said gently, walking in.
Startled, Jenny leapt up. "My name is Jenny Pound. I'm a recent graduate from Boston University's School of Business. I—I'm here for an interview," she stammered, clearly flustered.
"Relax, have a seat," Zheng Jin smiled, sitting down across from her and picking up the résumé. The contents were genuinely impressive.
"Graduated from Boston University, received an A on your thesis... first-year GPA: A, ranked third. Second year: A, ranked first. Third year: A, ranked second. Fourth year: A, ranked first again. Four consecutive years of full scholarships. Outstanding theoretical performance…" She paused and looked up. "Miss Pound, this is an exceptional résumé. I'm just curious—what made you apply to our company? We've only just been established. With your background, I'd imagine nearly any company would offer you a position—and a promotion path."
Jenny lowered her head. "Because I... I'm not very outgoing. I've missed many interview opportunities. Yesterday, I met Mr. Jiang by chance, and he said I could come here and try. I'll work really hard—please believe me."
Zheng Jin nodded thoughtfully. "To be honest, we do need talent, and your résumé alone qualifies you. Add to that the chairman's recommendation, and I'm happy to give you a chance. But you're right—your personality might be an obstacle. Even in China, introversion can be a challenge, and here in the U.S., even more so."
She paused, then continued, "Still, I'm willing to give you options. There are three positions available—take your pick."
"The first is data archivist. Minimal interaction with people, mostly organizing and maintaining internal data. Weekly salary: $700 for the first three months. Two days off per week. We cover your unemployment insurance; you cover medical and social. Daily allowance: $30 for meals and transport. Promotions are rare."
"The second is order classification and logistics coordination. You won't meet many people face-to-face, but you'll handle lots of phone calls and coordinate shipments. Weekly salary: $750, same allowance. Some potential for promotion."
"The third job... is the receptionist. It's the most challenging. Honestly, I used to be just like you. I froze up around people. But this role helped me change. Try it for three months. If it doesn't work, you can transfer to the second job. With your abilities and the chairman's support, you'll always have options here."
Jenny hesitated, lips slightly parted.
"I suggest you try the third," Zheng Jin added. "It's tough, but it'll help you grow. And if you really can't handle it, I promise to move you elsewhere."
"…Thank you, Ms. Zheng. I'll do my best," Jenny finally said, her voice soft but firm.
Zheng Jin smiled. She had a feeling this girl would succeed.
She called the receptionist back and asked her to help Jenny get familiar with her new duties. After work that evening, she personally took Jenny to get a proper haircut and some suitable clothes. No need for glamour—but as a professional woman, she had to look presentable.
Jenny wasn't thrilled about this. She thought her current clothes were fine—loose, functional, and most importantly, cheap.
But she also understood the importance of image in the business world. Reluctant as she was, she didn't refuse. This, too, was part of the company culture. If she couldn't resist it, she might as well embrace it.
Meanwhile, Jiang Hai had no idea that such an inspiring moment was unfolding at Tamron Company.
Frankly, he didn't believe in inspiration. In his mind, it was all nonsense—emotional sugarcoating for luck and timing.
He had never had a single inspirational moment. His transformation from a down-and-out loser to his current self was thanks to one thing: his golden finger.
And right now? He was busy—because something unexpected had happened:
His fish were selling like crazy.