The taxi stopped at the nearest hotel entrance. Chu Ge booked a room, and after entering, seeing the woman didn't seem inclined to say anything, he gave her a smile and went to the bathroom to shower.

In the bathroom, warm water sprayed from the showerhead, constantly pouring over Chu Ge's body, making his back itch indescribably. He knew this was the burn healing itself and that the recovery was going exceedingly well.

Although Chu Ge couldn't fully understand this phenomenon, he had long since gotten used to it.

Throughout his life, especially during the years he served within the organization, he had sustained countless injuries, both major and minor. However, they all healed much faster than they would for others and often left no scars.

Even more astonishingly, each time the recovery speed increased, which had been his greatest assurance for survival to this day.

It was precisely for this reason that he remained calm after burning his back. Knowing it would soon return to normal gave him no cause for concern.

After showering, Chu Ge walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. The woman had already put on slippers and was sitting on the bed with a somewhat dismal look in her eyes.

"I'm done. Do you want to wash up?"

Chu Ge's voice seemed to startle her. She raised her face in a bit of a panic, hesitated for a moment, then silently nodded before walking into the bathroom still dressed.

As she reached the bathroom door, the woman stopped and looked back at Chu Ge. Then she turned her gaze to the door of the bathroom, turned back around, let out a long breath, took a lady's cigarette from her bag, lit it with a click of the lighter.

"Sss~"

"Hoo..."

A light mist exhaled from her mouth, drifting through the air and thinning out.

Then, she sat down on the sofa, appearing dazed or perhaps lonely, leaning back against it. Her slender right index and middle fingers held the cigarette, and she gazed unfocused at the ceiling.

Chu Ge knew she must be full of internal struggles at that moment. He said nothing and made no move, knowing that anything he might say or do could very well be wrong. Better to let her decide for herself.

The cigarette slowly burned in her hand, a long length of ash accumulating, but besides the initial puff when she lit it, she hadn't touched the cigarette, and her eyes remained fixed on the ceiling.

As the cigarette was nearly burned out, Chu Ge finally left the bed, went to the woman's side, and took the lady's cigarette from her hand.

The woman's body gave a subtle tremble, her eyes turned to Chu Ge's face.

"It's about to burn your hand," Chu Ge smiled, extinguishing the cigarette in the ashtray. "Want another one?"

The woman shook her head, revealing a complex smile. Perhaps it wasn't really a smile, just a movement of facial muscles, then she sighed again, curling her body tighter, hugging her knees closely, and bowing her head deeply.

At this moment, she looked like a wounded little cat, lonely, in pain, and lost.

Looking at the woman, to be honest, Chu Ge found it a bit amusing.

What troubles can't pass in this world? Is it worth getting so worked up?

As Chu Ge thought this, the woman lifted her head, lit another cigarette, took a few heavy drags, then crushed the butt in the ashtray, striding toward the bathroom with a look of determination.

Once the woman entered the bathroom, Chu Ge lay comfortably on the hotel bed and casually turned on the TV. He was in a good mood because from the woman's reaction, he might have truly saved someone contemplating suicide with that drink.

Because of Chu Ge's good mood, even though the comedy on the TV screen wasn't particularly funny, he still watched it with relish.

The film was about the struggles of three men: an ordinary youth, a literary youth, and a somewhat foolish youth. It didn't appear interesting at first, but soon it started to get amusing.

The woman took her time bathing, an hour passed before she emerged in a bathrobe.

At this moment, the woman's eyes no longer held hesitation but instead gave off an air of resolution. As she met Chu Ge's appreciative gaze, the corners of her mouth even curved into a proud smile.

"Am I beautiful?"

The woman approached Chu Ge and asked the question she had posed earlier at the bar.

"No."

Chu Ge shook his head outright. When the woman slightly knitted her delicate brows, he sincerely praised her, "The word 'beautiful' is no longer sufficient to describe you now."

The woman smiled lightly, "I hope my decision today isn't outrageously wrong, and that this night won't be so terrible."

Chu Ge also raised a corner of his mouth.

The night finally passed, and as the morning sunlight shone on the curtains, Chu Ge slowly opened his eyes.

By the bedside, the woman's figure was no longer there. On the pillow where she slept last night, there was a note with a few words written on it.

"Thank you, goodbye, never see you again."

Looking at the graceful handwriting, Chu Ge smiled. This woman's attitude was just what he wanted.

Chu Ge stretched comfortably, checked the time, and realized it was about time to "interview" at Tianjiao Film and Television, so he got up, dressed, washed up, and left the hotel.

Half an hour later, Chu Ge arrived at the ninth floor of the Tianjiao Group. This entire floor belonged to Tianjiao Film and Television.

In the spacious corridor, many people were waiting anxiously, some holding resumes, others muttering to themselves. They were all clearly here for interviews.

Compared to them, Chu Ge seemed much more at ease. He casually found a row of benches, sat down, and waited with a relaxed expression.

Of course, Chu Ge was relaxed. He and Qin Ruojing had already discussed this interview, and he was here just to go through the motions. Even if it were a serious interview, he wouldn't feel any pressure. After experiencing so much life and death, what's a mere interview?

After waiting for only a few minutes, he received a text message on his phone. It was from Qin Ruojing, asking, "Where are you?"

Chu Ge casually replied with "I'm here." After sending the message, a young girl in a white blouse and black pencil skirt, who seemed a bit shy, soon emerged from the interview room. She politely asked the people in the corridor, "Is Chu Ge here?"

Chu Ge smiled at the girl and said, "That's me." The girl nodded at him and made a gesture inviting him to go in for the interview.

Initially, Chu Ge entered the interview room with a very relaxed mindset. But as soon as he walked in and casually looked around, he was momentarily stunned and couldn't help but silently smile bitterly.

There were three people sitting as interviewers. Qin Ruojing was in the central position. Beside her was the young girl who had just invited him in, and the other person... was actually the woman he had met last night at the Encounter Bar.

"Could it be more coincidental? Is the world this small? Never see you again? Only to meet again so quickly?"

Chu Ge was only slightly stunned, and a mix of amusement and helplessness flashed through his mind before he quickly composed himself.

Unlike Chu Ge's calm demeanor, Tong Yaqi was taken aback. The pen in her hand fell onto the table with a "clatter," her pupils instinctively contracted, and a look of shock and panic appeared on her face.

Qin Ruojing looked at Tong Yaqi with some confusion and asked, "Director Tong? What's wrong with you?"

Tong Yaqi regained her composure, realizing her lapse, and quickly smiled apologetically, "Ah, oh, it's nothing. I didn't sleep well last night, maybe a bit of low blood sugar."

Regarding Tong Yaqi's response, Chu Ge couldn't help but find it amusing. Low blood sugar, what nonsense?

Yet, while thinking this, his face showed no extra expression, just like a genuine job seeker, with a composed and confident demeanor.

Tong Yaqi casually brushed off Qin Ruojing's concern, but her heart was pounding intensely. She secretly resolved that no matter what, she couldn't let Chu Ge pass the interview, as that would be a massive disaster for her.

Seeing that Tong Yaqi indeed looked a bit pale, Qin Ruojing didn't dwell on it too much and said concernedly, "Director Tong, would you like to take a break?"

Tong Yaqi shook her head, "Thank you, Chairman, but I'm fine. Let's continue."

However, Qin Ruojing continued with genuine concern, "Director Tong, low blood sugar isn't a minor issue. You should go rest for a while. Although I'm not from a film background, I do have some eye for talent."

Accompanying Tong Yaqi for a while during the interview, Qin Ruojing noticed that Tong Yaqi's standards were extremely stringent. As Chu Ge entered, Qin Ruojing was contemplating how to discreetly ensure he stayed. Tong Yaqi's "low blood sugar" offered her the perfect chance, one she naturally wouldn't miss.

"Well... in that case, I'll trouble the Chairman. I'll be back shortly."

Although Tong Yaqi felt anxious inside, wishing for nothing more than for Chu Ge to vanish before her eyes, with Qin Ruojing having said that, she had no reason to refuse. She could only put on a grateful facade, nodding and leaving her seat.

As she exited the interview room, Tong Yaqi's legs were visibly weak, and she gave Chu Ge a furtive glance, hoping Chu Ge's performance wouldn't satisfy Qin Ruojing, thus preventing him from becoming part of Tianjiao Film and Television.

Tong Yaqi sneaked a few glances at Chu Ge, and Chu Ge also caught glimpses of Tong Yaqi from the corner of his eye. Each had their own thoughts.

With Tong Yaqi's departure, the interview started.

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