Aina Saiten sat upright in her chair, feeling as if her thoughts had stalled for a brief moment.
The interviewer before her, so young that she still had a touch of girlish innocence in her features, was actually only eighteen years old, and was truly her direct junior from The University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Economics?
For a while, she almost couldn’t digest this information—she found it unbelievable.
The gentle light from the overhead lamp in the meeting room spilled over Chinatsu Ayase, outlining her slender silhouette.
Aina Saiten couldn’t help but examine her carefully once more. As her initial shock slowly faded, her mind began to function again, and reason gradually took the upper hand.
Soon, as she looked at Chinatsu Ayase, the pure surprise in her eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a subtle, almost imperceptible expression—partly scrutinizing, partly knowing.
After all, anyone with even a hint of sense would realize, after a little thought, that this girl named Chinatsu Ayase could not possibly be just an ordinary intern.
Let alone the fact that a first-year student, freshly enrolled and almost entirely lacking social experience, could somehow make it through layer after layer of selection to intern at a large company like Quansheng.
Even if she had entered by some means, she absolutely should not be sitting alongside these senior, mid-level interviewers, participating in interviews for important positions and looking completely at ease.
The power and status this represented needed no further explanation.
Aina Saiten’s mind raced through all sorts of guesses.
She was almost certain that this girl must have an extraordinary family background—perhaps the daughter of an important director at Quansheng, or someone with even closer ties to the upper echelons.
Yet, no matter how she speculated, she could never have imagined that Chinatsu Ayase’s true identity was that of the never-publicly acknowledged illegitimate daughter of the President of Izumi Mori.
Such a secret truth was far beyond her current imagination.
“Well then, that’s all for today’s interview, Ms. Saita.”
At this moment, the chief interviewer sitting in the center—a middle-aged woman with an air of competence, wearing gold-rimmed glasses—stood up, her face displaying a perfectly professional smile as she concluded the interview.
“The results will be communicated to you via Email or Phone within One Week. Please wait patiently.”
The other middle-aged interviewers, as if receiving a silent signal, also closed the folders in front of them, stood up one after another, and left the meeting room with steady steps.
The heavy, soundproof door was closed gently, emitting a soft “clack.”
In the spacious meeting room, only Aina Saiten and the still-seated young girl remained.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, laced with a faint, subtle awkwardness.
Aina Saiten shifted a little uncomfortably, pondering how best to take her leave without disturbing the other party.
But Chinatsu Ayase stood up at her own pace, gracefully walked around the meeting table, and came straight over to her.
The girl stopped, tilting her head slightly to look up at the slightly taller Aina Saiten, a sweet smile blossoming on her face as she extended a slender, fair hand with neatly trimmed nails.
“Senpai, I haven’t formally introduced myself yet,” her voice was crisp, carrying a hint of friendly affection, “I’m Chinatsu Ayase. I look forward to working with you.”
Aina Saiten keenly noticed that this warmth seemed unusually deliberate, carrying a sense of intentional intimacy that made her instinctively cautious.
However, her years of social experience told her that no matter what, she could not afford to offend this girl of mysterious identity, who clearly wielded some invisible power.
She quickly suppressed her doubts and immediately put on a gentle, polite smile, reaching out to lightly shake the offered hand.
The girl’s fingertips were cool and delicate to the touch.
Aina Saiten spoke clearly, “I’m Aina Saiten. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ayase Miss.”
“No need to be so formal, Saita Senpai,”
Chinatsu Ayase seemed very pleased with her response, withdrawing her hand as her tone became even more relaxed and natural, as if the two had already been friends for years,
“We’ll be working at the same company from now on, and since we’re both from The University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Economics, that’s quite a rare connection. Who knows, we might become very good friends in the future.”
As she spoke, those clear eyes blinked meaningfully, as if a flash of cunning calculation passed through their depths.
Aina Saiten had instinctively wanted to say that whether she would actually join Quansheng was still up in the air, the outcome not yet decided.
But as the words reached her lips and she met Chinatsu Ayase’s all-knowing, subtly suggestive gaze, a sudden realization struck her, as if she understood something at last.
[Is she… sending me some kind of signal? But why is she reaching out to me, trying to get closer?]
This thought flashed through her mind like lightning, making her heart skip a beat, and the words she was about to say were swallowed back.
She could only reply with an even more reserved smile.
What surprised Aina Saiten even more was that Chinatsu Ayase then took the initiative to invite her to dinner, saying she wanted to learn more about
The University of Tokyo from her direct Senpai—like which courses were worth taking, which Professor was particularly strict, and so on.
Faced with this sudden, rather overenthusiastic invitation, Aina Saiten actually felt a bit hesitant and at a loss.
But reason told her that this girl’s identity was anything but simple.
Her attitude and intentions might directly affect whether Aina Saiten could smoothly enter Quansheng, or even influence her future career development.
This was an “invitation” she could not, and dared not, refuse.
So, after a brief consideration, she managed just the right expression and nodded.
“All right. It would be my honor to dine with you, Ayase Miss.”
The two left the serious company building together. After just a few minutes’ walk, they arrived at a stylish and relaxed chain restaurant affiliated with Quansheng Group, located in the next street over.
The lighting inside was gentle, the air filled with the tempting aroma of food and a faint scent of coffee.
They chose a quiet booth by the window. After ordering, they ate their meal and chatted casually.
Just as Chinatsu Ayase had said, most of their conversation revolved around campus life and studies, with a touch of personal flair.
They talked about the most popular signature dishes at the various cafeterias of The University of Tokyo, discussed the notoriously strict Professors in the Faculty of Economics whom one had to deal with carefully, and Chinatsu Ayase, in a tone of genuine inquiry, asked Aina Saiten for advice on course selection and academic planning for new students entering the Faculty of Economics.
During this seemingly relaxed conversation, Chinatsu Ayase also casually revealed some things about herself—such as how she had lived in a Foreign Country until returning to Japan for university this year.
But she was very skillful with her words, deftly avoiding any detail that might touch on her true family background, moving through the conversation like walking in fog, leaving only a vague outline.
Though Chinatsu Ayase was extremely discreet about her background, Aina Saiten, combining her earlier observations and their current conversation, grew more and more certain in her own suspicions—
This girl before her was, in all likelihood, a direct relative of some Core Executive of Quansheng, or perhaps held an even more distinguished status.
No matter how she imagined it, she could not have guessed that beneath that dazzling exterior was a secret so awkward and full of hidden stories.
Their dinner lasted about an hour, the atmosphere on the surface at least harmonious and pleasant.
As they finished, Aina Saiten glanced at the time on her phone and apologized, saying she needed to pick up her boyfriend after work, while Chinatsu Ayase also gracefully said she had other plans for the evening.
They ended the conversation politely and left the restaurant together.
Evening had fallen over the street, with the city lights just flickering on, casting a warm orange glow.
They stood together on the sidewalk outside the restaurant. One was about to head to the nearby train station, the other towards the company’s parking lot to get her car.
Just as they were about to wave goodbye, Aina Saiten caught sight, out of the corner of her eye, of a small flower shop less than ten meters away, still open for business.
Warm yellow light spilled from its bright window, illuminating the lush, blooming flowers inside like a beautiful, tranquil oil painting.
Aina Saiten paused for a moment, and immediately the image of her boyfriend Kaoru Hoshitani’s displeased and sullen face that morning came to mind.
For an instant, she remembered the decision she had secretly made on the train earlier.
[That’s right, I need to buy a bouquet… Akane loves Sunflowers the most. If he sees them, his mood will surely improve…]
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