Chapter 302: A Crowded Interview at the Music Giant

Wow, so many people! What a majestic company—it looks way bigger in real life than in the pictures.

Lin Xiao Li first admired the spacious company gates, then looked up at the two-story building that stretched out wide and vast like the music company it was.

Her eyes widened, filled with awe.

The music company’s building wasn’t a simple rectangle; in recent years, Wang Lan had hired people to give it an artistic flair, and it even featured a huge art piece shaped like a musical note hanging on the facade.

“This is just a branch office—what must the head office be like? It’s worlds apart from those little nail salons I used to work at.”

Her phone suddenly rang, startling Lin Xiao Li; she quickly pulled it from her pocket and saw it was her husband calling.

She cleared her throat, forced a calm tone, and answered the call.

“Hey, honey?”

From his spot in the company, Lin Ying Jun asked, “Wife, have you arrived? How does the company look?”

Lin Xiao Li glanced up and said, “The company’s really impressive—huge and spectacular. And”—she scanned around and whispered—”there are so many people here for interviews, packed like sardines. You can tell this place is top-notch.”

“It’s a big company, after all. Are you nervous?”

Though sweat beaded on Lin Xiao Li’s forehead, she chuckled, “Just a bit nervous, but it’s no big deal. I’ve learned so much about makeup lately; I feel pretty skilled now.”

“As long as you’re confident. Hey, I could take the morning off to come with you to the interview—I’m not busy today.”

“Oh, no need, no need.” Lin Xiao Li straightened up, waving her hand as if he could see, feeling strong and self-assured:

“It’s just a little interview. Your wife has seen her share of the world. No need to come just for this—you couldn’t even get in anyway, just wait outside at most.”

“Waiting could still help ease your nerves, though.”

“How would that help? I’m not a kid—our son’s already eighteen. Anyway, enough chit-chat; I need to head in.”

“Alright, wife, good luck! Hope you get the job. Mua~”

Lin Xiao Li: “Mua~”

After their quick peck as an old married couple, Lin Xiao Li deflated the moment she hung up.

This was her first time interviewing at such a big company—denying nerves would be a lie; her heart was racing like it might hit three hundred beats.

She took deep breaths and silently pepped herself up inside.

“I’ll get it, I’ll get it, I’ll get it! I’m definitely getting hired.”

With that, she joined the massive queue of interviewees.

The young security guard at the gate checked each interview form one by one: “Line up properly, everyone! No talking, no messing around—just go in one at a time.”

After speaking, the guard eyed the long line and thought to himself that even with the company’s expansion, they were only hiring for about thirty positions.

But in the past few days, so many had shown up—it felt like thousands. Good jobs were always a fierce competition.

“I’ll say it again: line up straight! The messier it gets, the slower it’ll go, and you’ll just waste your own interview time!”

Amid the sprawling interview line, the barrier on the other side suddenly lifted.

The security captain stepped out from the booth, holding a walkie-talkie: “We’ve got word from the office that Boss Jiang and Mr. Lin are coming soon. Everyone, stay sharp today!”

The crowd replied with a collective “Got it.”

Sure enough, moments later, a Rolls Royce glided slowly from the end of the road.

In the back seat, Lin Zheng Ran spotted the dense crowd of interviewees from afar and exclaimed, “How is there so many people?”

He had thought that even on interview day, it’d just be a few dozen, but here they were, forming a huge line.

And there were several rows—impossible to spot his mom in that mess.

From the passenger seat, Pan Lin explained:

“Lately, because of Boss Jiang’s news, our company’s been buzzing with popularity. Plus, with the recent employee benefits upgrades, this kind of interview scene has been the norm for the past week. And that’s after weeding out a bunch online already.”

Lin Zheng Ran marveled, “Yeah, you can see the hype. But can they interview this many in one day?”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Lin. It goes fast—they bring them in batches. Anyone whose skills don’t match gets cut in half a minute. We can screen over a thousand in a day.”

Jiang Jingshi glanced at the line then back at Lin Zheng Ran: “Zheng Ran, you said your aunt is coming to the company today? What’s the important matter?”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled, mainly because he was eager to see his mom’s nervous face during the interview—he wanted to be the interviewer himself.

Chances to tease his mom like this didn’t come often:

“I’ll keep it a surprise. You’ll find out soon.”

Jiang Jingshi found it odd that Zheng Ran had time for this today, and noticed a bit of lint on his clothes.

She gently picked it off for him.

This affectionate gesture made the driver and Pan Lin smile without thinking.

As the car passed through the gate, the security captain and all the guards stood tall.

In the job applicant line, Lin Xiao Li held her interview form like everyone else, watching the Rolls Royce drive in.

Whispers spread through the crowd.

“Wow, a Rolls Royce! First time seeing one. Must be the company boss inside, right?”

“Really? I heard Zheng Shi Music’s general manager, Wang Lan, drives an Audi. Only the head office boss, Jiang, rolls in something like this.”

“Wait, so you’re saying the head boss is in there? The famous one from the news?”

“I think so.”

“So impressive. I’ll probably never meet someone like that in my life.”

Lin Xiao Li watched the car disappear through the gates and swallowed hard, never imagining the people inside had any connection to her.

She figured bigwigs like that were from a completely different world.

Anyway, she was just interviewing for a makeup artist spot—getting it would be a stroke of luck.

But still,

Lin Xiao Li looked at the ages of those around her and thought they all seemed so young.

They were probably in their twenties, all polished and vibrant, while she was already over forty…

Though she’d passed her makeup certification, Lin Xiao Li pulled out her phone to check her face, pursing her lips.

Time really doesn’t spare anyone.

Wrinkles were creeping at the corners of her eyes—the only ones who’d call her pretty now were probably her husband and her dear Ranran.

“Huh? Lin Jie? You’re here for an interview too?!” a soft voice piped up.

Lin Xiao Li saw a young woman with loose hair and jeans—it was her former apprentice from the nail salon.

The girl had been diligent but quiet, and after just a month, she’d been pushed out by coworkers. Lin Xiao Li had stood up for her back then, and she’d even treated Lin Xiao Li to a meal.

Spotting a familiar face, Lin Xiao Li brightened up: “Xiao Shu! Long time no see—you’re interviewing too!”

“Yeah, it’s been ages, Lin Jie. What position are you going for?”

Lin Xiao Li waved her resume with a smile: “Makeup artist. The nail salon shut down, so I switched fields.”

“What a coincidence—I’m applying for makeup artist too. I quit and retrained in makeup since the salon vibe wasn’t for me. Great, we can go together!”