Wen Ran arrived home after 10 p.m. Disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings and lingering jet lag, she found sleep elusive.
Her mind drifted to the taxi driver who had deliberately taken a circuitous route earlier that day. She opened her laptop and searched: "What to do if a taxi driver overcharges by taking unnecessary detours?" Countless stories of scammed travelers flooded the search results, but one detailed guide stood out with actionable steps.
Following the instructions meticulously, Wen Ran spent forty minutes filing a formal complaint against the unethical driver. Two days later, the taxi company responded: a written apology, confirmation that the driver had been penalized, and a full refund issued directly to her account.
In the days before her official start date, Wen Ran received several international packages—tools and materials to convert her spare room into a compact studio. During her jet lag adjustment, she often retreated there, channeling her restlessness into organizing supplies and sketching ideas.
On her first Monday as a formal employee, the city awoke at dawn to its usual rhythm: blaring horns, crowded sidewalks, and the relentless pulse of commuters. Her taxi stalled in gridlock along the riverbank, where the area's nighttime glamour faded into a stark, utilitarian landscape under daylight.
Though the delay ate into her buffer time, Wen Ran's habit of planning conservatively spared her from being late. She made a mental note to leave earlier tomorrow—enough to grab breakfast.
The Carle headquarters stood as a five-story monolith. Its jagged geometry of intersecting angles and sweeping curves resembled a contemporary art museum. Rumor claimed it had been designed by a celebrated French architect and shortlisted for prestigious international awards.
Guided by HR, Wen Ran completed her onboarding paperwork. Another new hire—a woman named Ivy—joined her at the orientation table. Leaning closer, Ivy whispered, "Are you also assigned to Manager Xu's team?"
Wen Ran nodded.
"Then you must've heard…" Ivy glanced around before lowering her voice. "Manager Xu was fired. Just like that!"
"..."
Ivy frowned, equal parts dismayed and curious. "She was practically a founding member here. How could they dismiss her overnight? What do you think happened?"
Wen Ran shook her head, offering no reply—though she knew the truth. She'd witnessed Yan Wangshu, the company's ruthlessly efficient CEO, terminate the design department head in under a minute after discovering her niece had joined a competitor without disclosure.
Resting her chin on her palm, Ivy sighed. "With Manager Xu gone, who's in charge of us now?"
Wen Ran replied pragmatically, "Someone will be assigned."
Ivy brightened. "Right. No use worrying."
After onboarding, they were escorted to the Luxury Counter Design Department. A gilded plaque at the entrance declared: A designer's product is their legacy.
Before they could settle in, a sharp-voiced woman emerged from a side office. "Meeting in five," she announced, then disappeared.
The newcomers followed the group into the conference room, taking seats at the back. Ivy, ever sociable, turned to a nearby colleague. "Who was that woman who called the meeting?"
"Wu Yunshan," the colleague replied. "One of the department's lead designers."
Wu Yunshan?Wen Ran felt the name sounded familiar, but couldn't recall where she'd heard it before.
Suddenly, the conference room door swung open and immediate silence fell.Wu Yunshan walked in, placing a folder on the meeting table.The atmosphere grew inexplicably tense.
The meeting content involved summarizing last month's work, allocating this month's tasks, and planning key focus areas.Wen Ran listened in confusion, mainly unable to match the names and project details mentioned.
As the meeting neared conclusion, Wu Yunshan braced both hands on the table, sweeping her gaze across Wen Ran and Avi: "New colleagues, introduce yourselves."
Caught off guard by the sudden call, Wen Ran and Avi locked eyes."D*mn—" Avi leaned slightly towards Wen Ran, whispering through clenched teeth, "You first or me?"
Wen Ran replied calmly, "You go first."
Having no experience with self-introductions, Wen Ran decided to carefully observe Avi's approach.
Avi stood up confidently: "Hello everyone, I'm Avi, graduated from ZG Geological University. During my sophomore year, I studied abroad as an exchange student at AJMY Jewelry Design Institute, where our team was fortunate to win the Silver Award at the XXX Competition..."
Avi's introduction lasted nearly two minutes. When she sat down, faint applause rippled through the room.
As the clapping subsided, Wen Ran rose under everyone's scrutiny.She realized she couldn't emulate Avi's impressive credentials - her own twenty-two years lacked any socially recognized achievements worth mentioning.
She kept it simple: "Hello everyone, I'm Wen Ran. I haven't participated in any jewelry-related competitions yet, but I hope to learn from all my seniors here. Thank you."
After a slight bow, Wen Ran took her seat.Avi leaned over incredulously: "That's it?"Wen Ran nodded.
Several seconds of silence passed before someone initiated scattered, lackluster applause.Wu Yunshan pressed her hands downward to silence the clapping.
Eyeing Wen Ran with her long curls cascading over her chest and piercing gaze, she tilted her head: "You should at least mention your alma mater, major, or areas of expertise."
Wen Ran answered bluntly: "I didn't attend university."As for specialties..."I know a little about everything."
Unaware that her brutally honest introduction violated every workplace norm, Wen Ran could feel the room's stillness deepen until even breathing became audible.
Wu Yunshan finally broke the silence.Picking up her folder, she headed for the door: "You two will join Group One first. Meeting adjourned."
Post-meeting, after being assigned adjacent workstations in the office's southwest corner near a spacious tool table, neither received further instructions.
Avi clearly disliked their "exiled" location, muttering complaints while setting up her tablet.Wen Ran didn't understand office hierarchy politics, and actually appreciated the spot.
From her desk's angle, a horizontal rectangular window framed lush tree branches where birds occasionally alighted, creating a living landscape painting.
This reminded Wen Ran of two elderly landscape painters Bai Weiliang knew. They'd once argued vehemently over whether human figures belonged in nature paintings.
One insisted landscapes should focus purely on nature.The other countered that without human perspective, there would be no concept of "landscape" beauty.
Bai Weiliang eventually mediated, joking that they'd become stubborn old children in their twilight years.
So which was better - figures in landscapes or not?When Yan Wangshu's tall figure suddenly entered her window-framed "painting," startling the birds into flight, Wen Ran decided: Scenery paintings were definitely better without people.
Unlike Wen Ran, Avi understood workplace politics and aspired to climb the corporate ladder. During lunch break, she bought coffee for a senior colleague and soon got invited to visit specialty stores.
For several days, Avi kept busy with field assignments while Wen Ran remained desk-bound. After receiving some introductory materials on her first day, no one approached her again.
Her remote workstation made Wen Ran feel utterly invisible in the design department. She suspected even skipping work would go unnoticed - except for mandatory clock-in/out.
Discussing this with Zhai Xinyi over weekend video chat, Wen Ran confessed her disappointment: "Maybe I should buy coffee for seniors too?"
"After a week? Probably too late," Zhai Xinyi laughed. "Actually, being invisible suits your competition goals. And didn't you say Yan Wangshu holds grudges? Safer this way."
Wen Ran glared at her friend's pixelated face, wishing she could pinch those cheeks. She'd described Yan Wangshu as cautious, not petty!
But Zhai Xinyi had a point about safety. Sighing, Wen Ran admitted: "Still, sitting idle eight hours daily gets so boring. I even know Yan Wangshu's exact comings and goings now."
Initially nervous about being spotted, she'd hide behind her sketchpad whenever he passed the window. Later, she discovered the corridor's one-way glass - she could theoretically spit at him without consequences.
Zhai Xinyi teased: "Counting his work hours?""He's late five times and leaves early three times weekly."
Their laughter subsided as Zhai Xinyi complained about her own twelve-hour workdays. Wen Ran mischievously admitted comparison made her feel better, earning mock threats.
When Zhai Xinyi asked about weekend plans, Wen Ran shrugged: "Alone. Don't want to go out."
"Wait till I escape my brother's clutches!"
Suddenly, Wen Ran gasped."What's wrong?"
"I remember now! Wu Yunshan - our acting design director. She's that green tea b*tch who stole your boyfriend two years ago!"
Zhai Xinyi: "..."