Chapter 43: Sold It Like This.

“Baby, you nervous?”

Lu Zhao turned to Yan Qingxin. Her heaving chest and rapidly opening and closing mouth suggested she was the nervous one.

No need to look—just their clasped hands, hers sweaty, told him enough.

“I’m not nervous, but you seem more jittery than me.”

“I… who said I’m nervous!”

“Oh? Then why’re you shouting?”

“I’m not nerv—” She stopped, realizing she’d been caught.

“Hahaha!” Lu Zhao couldn’t hold back his laughter, earning a pout from her.

After morning classes and lunch, they headed to Luyue Group for his interview.

He’d said he could go alone, but Yan Qingxin insisted on tagging along.

He had no experience with bringing a partner to an interview, but it was just an interview—simple enough.

Meet, introduce yourself, they poke at your resume, and… that’s it.

This one felt less formal, more like a private meeting.

Truth be told, she was more nervous than him, likely to ensure he didn’t figure out this was her family’s company.

At the front desk, two sharp-looking guys stood.

Yan Qingxin thought nothing of it, but Lu Zhao found it odd.

Then again, who else would it be—women?

“Hi, I’m here for Shen Yuqiu.”

One of the guys glanced at Yan Qingxin, envy flickering in his eyes.

Women envied Yan Qingxin for having Lu Zhao; men envied him for being with her.

Envy aside, work was work.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Yes.”

“One moment.”

He checked Shen Yuqiu’s schedule and nodded. “Please take the elevator to the sixth-floor meeting room.”

At the elevator, Yan Qingxin said, “Baby, you seem so… practiced at this.”

“Practiced? Nah, it’s just like in the movies.”

No way he’d admit he’d been through this eight or ten times.

On the sixth floor, Han Qingqing, in professional attire, waited. Surprised to see Yan Qingxin, she smiled. “Hello, I didn’t introduce myself last time. I’m Han Qingqing. I’ll take you to the meeting room.”

“I’m Lu Zhao, and this is my girlfriend, Yan Qingxin.”

Han Qingqing shook her hand, thinking, Yan Qingxin… also a Yan?

Few at the company knew about Yan Ruyue’s family.

In the meeting room, Shen Yuqiu was equally surprised by Yan Qingxin’s presence but figured it might be better for the job discussion.

Han Qingqing announced their names.

“My girlfriend being here won’t be an issue, right?” Lu Zhao asked.

Shen Yuqiu waved it off. “Not at all. In fact, it’s better.”

That piqued their curiosity. “Oh? How so?”

“Well…” Shen Yuqiu wasn’t one to hesitate, but this was tricky. “We’re recruiting you for our PR department.”

“Oh. Wait, what?”

Lu Zhao knew enough about PR to raise an eyebrow. Nicely put, it handled intercompany relations. Less nicely… well, it wasn’t pretty.

He glanced at Yan Qingxin, who was looking around, oblivious.

Your boyfriend’s about to be sent out to “entertain,” and you’ve got no reaction?

She genuinely didn’t. She didn’t know what PR did, and even if she did, she wasn’t worried—Lu Zhao wouldn’t actually do anything.

Her goal was to get him in through legit channels, not to have him work.

Seeing his reaction, Shen Yuqiu clarified, “Don’t worry, we’re a legit company. No illegal stuff.”

“Yeah, legit,” Yan Qingxin chimed in.

Both Lu Zhao and Shen Yuqiu were floored.

This girl’s that open-minded?

Lu Zhao stared at her, incredulous. You’re that eager to sell me off?

“Hold on, I need to talk to her outside.”

Shen Yuqiu gestured for them to go, baffled by Yan Qingxin’s nonchalance.

In a corner outside, Lu Zhao asked, “Qingxin, do you even know what PR does?”

“Not really, but it’s a legit company. Nothing to worry about, Baby.”

He scratched his head. “You trust this place that much? What, is it your family’s or something?”

A joke, but it startled her, thinking she’d slipped up.

“No way! If it was, I’d tell you. Why go through all this if it was?”

“Tch, true.”

If he knew it was her family’s, he’d avoid it like the plague—Yan Ruyue was already too much.

“So, Baby, just agree. No harm done.”

He sensed something off about her but couldn’t pin it down.

“Fine, but if work cuts into our time or upsets you, don’t get mad.”

She patted his shoulder. “I know, I know. I’m fine.”

She’d tell her mom soon—no real work would be assigned.

With her encouragement, Lu Zhao signed an internship contract and added Shen Yuqiu’s contact.

“I’ll schedule some simple tasks when you’re free. No pressure—just get a feel for it,” Shen Yuqiu said.

Get a feel for the grind? he thought.

She escorted them to the elevator. Back inside, she met Han Qingqing.

“Jade Autumn, went well?”

“Too well. His girlfriend’s fine with him in PR. Weird.”

Han Qingqing gave her an odd look. “Jade Autumn, you make PR sound shady.”

“Guess you’re right.” Shen Yuqiu laughed.

Now, they’d wait for the right moment to deploy their new hire. Success? Up to fate.

Outside, Yan Qingxin beamed. “So smooth, Baby!”

Lu Zhao’s mouth twitched. “Yeah, too smooth.”

“Of course! My Baby’s so great, everyone wants you.”

“…” Her logic baffled him.

Unlike his confusion, Yan Qingxin couldn’t wait to share the news with her mom.

Great news—especially for Yan Ruyue.