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Realizing that she had alternatives beyond writing and jewelry design, Xia Yuwei felt a sense of relief. Having been exhausted for the past two days, she fell asleep quickly, and the first thing she did upon waking was to draft a resume and submit it to the G.P. Company.

Over the next two days, Xia Yuwei nervously prepared for her thesis defense. She worried that Xu Huaide might try to sabotage her, but then she reasoned that the worst-case scenario would be failing to graduate or being unable to work in this industry; it wasn't the end of the world. With that thought, she felt at ease.

Although Xu Huaide was a despicable man, the rumors that Lu Yichen had truly visited the school, donated fifty million, and personally placed an expensive and rare diamond ring on Xia Yuwei’s finger served as a warning. He dared not interfere with her anymore. "She’s just another piece of property kept by a wealthy benefactor," he thought resentfully, consoling himself. "She’s so beautiful and still single at twenty-eight; it would be strange if she didn't have a rich patron."

On Wednesday morning, she passed her thesis defense successfully. Xia Yuwei let out a sigh of relief. A major milestone of the past two years was finally behind her. As for the diploma, she could leave it on the shelf; it might come in handy someday.

Recalling that she had received an interview call from G.P. Company yesterday for two o'clock this afternoon, she realized time was tight. Xia Yuwei immediately went home to prepare. She scoured the internet for knowledge on spirits and basic information about G.P. Company, cramming at the last minute, before putting on a professional suit and rushing to the interview site.

The 28th floor of the Jinlin Building, where the interview was held, was crowded with men and women. It seemed there were many people interested in the job. Xia Yuwei registered at the front desk and sat in the lobby, waiting for her name to be called. Since she was only there to give it a try, she didn't feel much pressure.

Inside the interview room—likely a company conference room—four interviewers sat at a round table.

"Xia Yuwei, Miss Xia, is that correct?" one of them asked.

"Yes. Good afternoon, everyone." Xia Yuwei stood across from the four interviewers and greeted them with a smile. Her smile caused the interviewers to exchange glances and share a knowing look.

"I see. Miss Xia, looking at your resume, you have no experience in sales. What made you decide to apply for this job?"

"Work experience can be accumulated. I believe I am a good communicator, so I should be capable of sales work. Furthermore, I am hardworking and patient; I am sure I will be an employee that any boss would appreciate," Xia Yuwei said, adding a touch of humor at the end. The atmosphere in the room lightened as expected.

"Miss Xia, we are very satisfied with your temperament and way of speaking. However, as you may know, sales can be very grueling. Sometimes it involves enduring grievances and working under high pressure. Are you certain you can handle this and persist until you achieve excellent results?"

"I have the confidence to do well. I am not a delicate girl. Enduring pressure is my specialty," Xia Yuwei said confidently. Recalling the storms she had weathered in the past, a sense of boldness welled up within her.

"Additionally, our work locations change constantly. You may be dispatched to high-end bars or salons for on-site promotion, which requires working the night shift. Does Miss Xia find that acceptable? Of course, the compensation is quite substantial."

Xia Yuwei thought for a moment and nodded.

"Very well. Please go home and wait for our decision. Within two days, whether you are accepted or not, we will contact you."

"Thank you, everyone," Xia Yuwei said politely before leaving the conference room.

By noon the next day, Xia Yuwei received a call from G.P. Company offering her the job. They informed her that she would officially start next Monday for training, with on-the-job placement scheduled three days later. They also explained the base salary and the sales commission structure, which were indeed very generous.

After hanging up, Xia Yuwei was overjoyed! She had never expected her first job hunt to go so smoothly.

Having reached this age, this was her first time working outside the home. Feeling both curious and nervous, she immediately called Lin Jinxi to share the news. That evening, they prepared a sumptuous dinner together and enjoyed a happy meal.

Although she felt a bit melancholy and unaccustomed to the idea of no longer writing books, Xia Yuwei was excited about the future, and Lin Jinxi was genuinely happy for her. The two lay in bed chatting late into the night. It turned out that Lin Jinxi was also a single woman who had been hurt in love and had divorced her husband; the two women felt as if their hearts had grown even closer.

Over the next few days, the restless Xia Yuwei diligently studied sales fundamentals and the knowledge of spirits, trying her best not to appear like a complete amateur.

After successfully joining the company and completing her training, Xia Yuwei and a young girl named Lulu were assigned to the "Oldland" bar for their internship. They were to report back to headquarters in a week.

Lulu had chosen the English name "Lulu," so Xia Yuwei smiled and said, "Then I shall be Vivian."

In the glamorous, neon-lit night, dressed in a short skirt uniform, Xia Yuwei walked through the bar filled with soft music, feeling curious about everything. It was only the second time in her life she had been to a bar. The first time had been with Ye Lifeng at a place called "Key" in that other city. By comparison, the Oldland bar was no less high-end than Key. Both were leisure spots for the wealthy.

Before long, Xia Yuwei successfully sold a bottle of expensive spirit. The guests here were relatively well-mannered.

"Vivian, you're amazing!" Lulu praised Xia Yuwei as she emerged from the restroom, sounding both envious and jealous. As she spoke, she handed Xia Yuwei a bottle of liquor she had been holding for her.

"You're just as amazing, otherwise how would we be in the same group?" Xia Yuwei took the bottle, smiling as she comforted her.

Lulu pointed toward the bar counter and said to Xia Yuwei, "Hey, two guests just arrived over there. They look very handsome and cool, and rich too. They started drinking as soon as they walked in; they must be prime targets. I'm going to go try my luck! I'm going to close the sale!"

Xia Yuwei looked in the direction Lulu was pointing.