Xie Ningbing watched as Gao Liang picked up another piece of scallion egg from her meal and gently placed it at her lips—clearly touched. "As long as Miss Li enjoys it, I'd be happy to go without food!" Gao Liang truly had a generous spirit. "You're just being all diplomatic again! But I still love hearing that!" Xie Ningbing clearly appreciated Gao Liang's performance. "If Miss Li doesn't like it, I'll say it too!" Gao Liang was truly charming. "I can't go to the office these days—please come in and work there!" Xie Ningbing, having finished her meal, remembered her work and reminded Gao Liang. "I'll go only once Miss Li is fully recovered!" Gao Liang replied. "Why?" Xie Ningbing was puzzled. "I'd like to take good care of you these days. You've been hospitalized because of my matter—my mistake. I'd like to make up for it, give you a chance, wouldn't you?" Gao Liang finally explained his reason. He had actually been thinking of her all along! "Really?" "Moved, Shie Ningbing asked Gao Liang, 'Yes, I'd like to ask you to give me this chance—to make up for what I've let go wrong!' Gao Liang spoke seriously. 'Thank you! Xiao Long!' Shie Ningbing once again expressed her gratitude to this friend who had cared so much about her. 'We're the closest friends—thankfulness is really too much!' Gao Liang said honestly. 'Then how can I repay you?' Shie Ningbing didn't forget to return the friendship. 'Just don't be angry with me in the future!' Gao Liang said, looking at Shie Ningbing's handsome face. 'Hmph! Who would ever be angry with you?' Shie Ningbing scowled, her beauty enhanced by the expression. 'I know you won't be angry without cause—it's just that I've been so thoughtless, and I've made you upset. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!' Gao Liang raised his right hand and gently pressed it against his own face. 'Don't hit yourself!' Shie Ningbing watched as Gao Liang truly meant to do so—how could she bear it? 'You're so touched!' G "If you're not my friend, nobody would care at all!" Xie Ningbing gave her eyes a sparkling glance, lifted her hair, and said. "It looks like being friends with you is really wonderful—at least there's someone who cares about me!" Gao Liang smiled, chatting as he went. "Ugh!" Xie Ningbing's slightly annoyed expression was full of warmth. ... Under Gao Liang's careful care, Xie Ningbing recovered completely after three days of rest and gradually returned to work at the company, resuming their usual work routines. Gao Liang collected the remaining 8,000 yuan and invited clients from the Technical Department, though one guest was missing—Ye Jun. He had already made the arrangements, but he politely declined, citing other commitments. That wasn't a problem, however. Sales and Technical Department Manager Zhang Shijie, Li Jie, Xiao Yanzi, and Zhuang Yingjun were all delighted. In fact, Gao Liang had also suggested inviting Xie Ningbing, but the beautiful friend merely smiled, humorously remarked, "You've been treating me to meals every day in the hospital—I still owe you a favor! Why don't you treat me sometime soon?" Thus, Gao Liang chose a well-known restaurant and ordered dishes that everyone loved. Throughout the meal, they laughed and chatted freely, becoming close friends. Work was a source of great happiness, and Gao Liang fully immersed himself in the company—its people, its events, and its surroundings. One evening after work, Gao Liang returned to his apartment in Guiyuan Community. He had just settled down and hadn’t even taken three sips of tea when a steady knocking sound came at the door—urgent and insistent. "Who?" Gao Liang called out without opening the door. "Hey! It's me, Liu Qingsong!" A familiar voice came from outside. "Oh! It's been a while since we last met. Come in!" Hearing it was his buddy Liu Qingsong, Gao Liang quickly opened the door and welcomed him. "No, I'm just here to say hello!" Liu Qingsong looked both discouraged and tired. "What hello? What's going on?" Gao Liang asked. "Me... I don't want to say it!" Liu Qingsong stammered, clearly encountering some difficulty. "Hurry up! If you keep hiding it, we won't be true brothers anymore!" Gao Liang, seeing his friend struggling, couldn't help but offer support. "I... I'm unemployed!" Liu Qingsong spoke in a low voice. "You said you were working at Wansheng Real Estate Co., Ltd. How did you suddenly lose your job so abruptly?" Gao Liang knew the company well—it had always been running smoothly. What had changed so suddenly? "You don't know, buddy, the company has poor management and weak execution. It's accumulating massive external debts and hasn't even been able to pay salaries. My own funds have been completely exhausted!" Liu Qingsong finally revealed the truth, looking utterly helpless. "Ah! I see now!" Gao Liang finally understood. "Man, my family called me back home too—there's no way I can stay here. I've got a train tonight, and I'm leaving..." Liu Qingsong finished, sighed, and then prepared to leave. "Wait, Liu Qingsong, come back!" Gao Liang called out, not wanting his friend to leave like this. "What's up?" Liu Qingsong didn't turn around, just facing Gao Liang, asking. "You'll find out when you come back!" Gao Liang said. Liu Qingsong turned to look at his friend, and saw Gao Liang's concerned gaze. From his pocket, he pulled out a stack of red tickets, sincere in his words: "This is my little gift—1,000 yuan, take it!" "This, this isn't right at all! You're not easy yourself—how could I possibly add to your burden?" Liu Qingsong knew Gao Liang had a fairly high lifestyle, especially in Binhai, where living costs are high. Without being particularly frugal, Gao Liang's income wouldn't last long. "I'm not giving you this for nothing—didn't you say that if one day I start my own company, you'd manage it for me!" Highlight knew Liu Qingsong wouldn't accept kindness without reason, so by stating his own rationale, he made it easier for Liu to accept. "But... still," Liu remained a bit hesitant. "There's no 'but.' This way—don't lose hope. I'll help you with work arrangements. Just wait for my message at home for the next few days." Highlight reassured Liu Qingsong. "That's really great, man! I'm really touched and grateful for your help!" Liu felt happy, deeply moved by his friend's support. "Go ahead and cancel your train ticket right now!" Highlight had just seen Liu's train ticket and urged him to cancel it immediately. "Yes, definitely!" Liu nodded, mentally resolute not to leave this friend behind. ... Binhai City, Hao Shi Su Auto Sales Company, Sales Technology Department. "Li, come to my office, please!" "Sales and Technology Department Manager Zhang Shijie greeted Gao Liang with a rare smile. "Man, you're really something! Manager Zhang has never really looked at me directly—well, that's because I'm just that good-looking!" Zhuang Yingjun joked to Gao Liang. Gao Liang didn't respond much, just gave Zhuang a polite smile, thinking: What on earth is Manager Zhang asking me for? From the look of it, Zhang is really beaming—this must be good news. With that thought, Gao Liang walked into Zhang's office. "Li, take a look at this!" Zhang handed Gao a document-like file. Gao took it and saw it was an appointment letter, stating: Appointment Letter Due to the company's rapid growth and increasing demand for talent, we are pleased to appoint Gao Liang, a highly capable and outstanding performer in the Sales and Technology Department, as an Outstanding Technical Engineer. This role will involve providing technical support and product services for the company's key projects. From this date, Gao Liang will be reassigned from his current position to assume the newly appointed role. We hope Gao Liang will continue to excel and make even greater contributions to the company in this key position. Hao Shisu Auto Sales Company, × year × month × day "Did you see that? The company has high expectations for you—make sure you work hard in this key role! Keep showcasing your talents and serve the company well!" Zhang Shijie has high hopes for Gao Liang. Gao Liang nodded in agreement. Yet, Zhang Shijie appeared somewhat dissatisfied. Why was that? Gao Liang wanted to understand. "Manager Zhang, why aren't you happy?" Gao Liang asked. "It's this: your original position was actually quite important. With your departure, we're still having difficulty finding someone to fill it in!" "Oh! I see!" Gao Liang realized, saying, "The company can hire someone, right?" "We've already hired several candidates—yet… well, let's just say that's not working out!" Zhang Shijie sighed, clearly struggling. That's strange. Now there are so many talents available, and job seekers are everywhere—how could the company possibly struggle to hire? This was the first time High Light had heard of such a situation. So he said, "Mr. Zhang, could you clarify this a bit more? I can't see how it's possible for the company to grow continuously and attract top talent, yet still have difficulty filling positions." "Li, this is a matter concerning the senior management. I can't make decisions on hiring matters—I can only lead our Sales and Technology Department in doing well. As for hiring, I have no authority over it at all. If you'd like to find out more, please go directly to Ms. Xie—she's fully responsible for this!" Zhang Shijie went on to share the full details. "Oh!" High Light now understood. Ms. Xie Ningbing was clearly a powerful manager, overseeing numerous departments across the company and even having the authority to appoint and dismiss personnel—final approval would ultimately have to come from her. So he quickly made his way to Ms. Xie Ningbing's office. Good news—Ms. Xie was busy at her desk. Holding a stack of documents carefully, he glanced at them attentively, his right hand steadily signing with a fresh pen. Due to his concentration, the highlights appeared without his awareness. In the meantime, Guangliang took in Xie Ningbing—the lady he had always admired—as the perfect big sister. With no one else entering, there was no reason not to observe her. He hadn’t seen Xie Ningbing in a while, and he genuinely missed her. In his heart, he thought this. Before this elegant and accomplished manager, who was both his superior and close friend, he felt more at ease—not just a friend, but one of the closest, someone he could talk to openly and honestly. Though they hadn’t yet reached the stage of romantic partners, their sincerity and deep connection had already created a bond as strong and enduring as gold and stone. He believed that one day, he would surely win over this beautiful, accomplished woman who was both his superior and his trusted friend. The beautiful manager was truly stunning—no exaggeration. Today, she wore a well-fitted black dress, with a light dusting of powder on her face, giving her a refined, delicate appearance. Her lips were softly moist, only lightly coated with lipstick, making them especially appealing. Her eyebrows were fine and gently arched, adding to her comfortable, pleasant look. Her eyes shone like two sparkling gems, clear and bright. Her deep black hair flowed naturally down to her chest, with her two full, rounded breasts gently pressing against the soft, flowing strands, enhancing her allure. Gao Liang was completely mesmerized, completely unaware that the beautiful manager, Xie Ningbing, had already raised her head. "I'm the manager—what have I done wrong?" Xie Ningbing countered, her eyes wide open. "Can we really not find anyone to fill the position I previously held?" Gao Liang spoke directly and delivered a striking statement. "Oh! I thought you were going to say something else!" Xie Ningbing relaxed her grip, smiled, and said, "Actually, I've been worried about this too!" "With a manager as capable and sharp as Ms. Xie, is there really anything we can't resolve?" Gao Liang found it hard to believe. "Xiao Long," Xie Ningbing now spoke to Gao Liang entirely as a friend: "Even though I'm the manager, I'm actually unable to handle many things—truly, there are several things I simply can't manage!" This very sentence was exactly what Gao Liang had been hoping for. He hadn't expected it to come out at all. Because of its gentle, delicate tone—so soft and vulnerable—it perfectly embodied Xie Ningbing's image as a top-tier beauty: beautiful, graceful, and endearing. Gao Liang likes Xie Ningbing in this way—he doesn’t appreciate her strength. Who among women is truly strong? If a woman is strong, she’s a super powerhouse. And even if such a powerhouse is exceptionally capable, Gao Liang tends to admire her from afar or simply retreats. That’s why Xie Ningbing is so endearing—because she possesses a gentle, vulnerable side. As Gao Liang grows stronger and more accomplished, that vulnerability will eventually evolve into a tender, heartfelt woman, full of deep and enduring affection—and Gao Liang is confident he’ll witness that transformation. “Ningbing!” Gao Liuang speaks to her in a warm, magnetic tone, full of heartfelt emotion. This warmth touches Xie Ningbing deeply. Indeed, Gao Liang is a man of genuine charm, consistently outstanding in his performance, a key contributor to the company, and one who remains steadfast despite various incentives. Such talent is truly rare. If the company continues to attract and retain people like him, it will grow stronger and stronger. “Hmm.” Xie Ningbing presented a gentle, sweet image—a girl so kind and charming, quite unlike the fidgety, ear-twisting demeanor she had shown earlier. It was as if she had transformed entirely. This left Gao Liang both amazed and delighted. "My lovely lady, here she comes—now, a soft, flowing grace, like water itself. It's time for me to showcase my own manly strengths." "Ningbing, why have so many applicants been rejected despite all the efforts? I want to understand the real reason!" Gao Liang became just as serious and focused when discussing work matters as Xie Ningbing did. This made Xie Ningbing feel that Gao Liang was a dedicated and responsible man. "It's this: recently, the company has been extremely busy, with little room for training. We're looking for candidates who can immediately step into their roles. Although we've hired quite a few people recently, many were rejected after interviews because they couldn't meet the immediate demands of the job." Xie Ningbing revealed the truth. "Ah! I see. I can handle this!" Gao Liang responded with confidence. "What's your plan?" Xie Ningbing truly wanted to see her friend’s insights on how to alleviate her burdens. "Ningbing, let me take charge! I’m going to recommend someone to the company!" High Guang had stepped up to take on the responsibility of recommending talent—something Xie Ningbing hadn’t expected. "But will it work? I don’t doubt you at all. What I’m asking is that the person we bring in must be truly capable!" Xie Ningbing stated her final requirement. "Ningbing, we’re the best of friends. I won’t let you down. I’ll bring him over in a couple of days—then you can interview him!" High Guang knew that the company had a well-established, rigorous process for hiring talent, and ultimately, it would still have to be approved by the current beautiful manager. "Alright!" Xie Ningbing looked steadily into High Guang’s eyes, sensing that he thought more thoroughly than she did, and thus felt reassured. Later that day, after work, High Guang arrived at Liu Qingsong’s residence in another building of Guiyuan Residential Area—just as Liu Qingsong had come home from outside. "Man, where have you been?" "Guangliang asked with concern. "I'm going to look for a job!" Liu Qingsong didn't hide his news. "How about it?" Guangliang pressed on. "Huh! Let me tell you—over the past few days, I've visited every major talent market in Binhai, attended numerous on-site job fairs, submitted countless resumes, and gone through several rounds of interviews—yet, all ended in failure..." Liu Qingsong spoke with a wistful tone, as if pouring out all the frustrations he'd endured these days. Guangliang remained silent. This was exactly what he himself had experienced—once, even more painfully than he. Out of twenty-three job applications, twenty-two had ended in failure, and only on the twenty-third did he secure a modest position, which he held on to with determination, eventually reaching where he is today. "Man, the 1,000 yuan you gave me—I've almost spent it all by now. What should I do? I think I'll head back home. My family's been urging me to return!" Liu Qingsong continued to recount his struggles. "Here's what I'm thinking—" Man, give me your bank account number, and after I go home, I'll gather 1,000 yuan from my parents and send it over!" Liu Qingsong added. This was a look of utter desperation—Gao Liang knew that his friend was now facing unprecedented difficulties, and it was time to step in and help him. "Giving someone a fish is better than teaching them how to fish," a principle Gao Liang had understood long ago, and now it was being perfectly demonstrated in his support of his friend. Indeed, how could 1,000 yuan solve any real problems? Without a job, even if you gave him 3,000 yuan, in this modern, high-cost, high-standard urban metropolis, how long could it last? To keep his friend in Binhai, the immediate priority was to find him a job. "Friend, if you currently have a job offer, would you take it?" Gao Liang finally spoke. "Really, friend!" Liu Qingsong's eyes went from dim to bright, his face glowing with surprise. But after a moment of joy, he shook his head and said, "Really? Now there's such a shortage of labor demand, and employers have very high expectations for talent—securing a job is truly no easy task!" "If it's genuine, will you be able to grasp it?" Gao Huang gently tested Liu Qingsong's response. "Man! If I had a job right now, I'd definitely treasure it and keep striving with you in Binhai!" Liu Qingsong said firmly, demonstrating his strong desire for employment.