The next day, Nian and Xuanye woke up early—it was their first day at work. As they flinched their eyes open, the bright sunlight filled the room, casting warm rays that gave them positive vibes.
After freshening up, the girls sat at the table, both looking visibly nervous. Their father noticed and smiled.
"Girls, you look amazing. Don't be nervous. You're the type to make others nervous—not the other way around," he teased.
Nian raised a brow. "Dad, are you comforting us or mocking us?"
He chuckled. "Alright, alright… no teasing."
With a grin, he pulled out two small gift-wrapped boxes from behind his back.
The girls gasped. "Dad… what's this?"
He smiled proudly. "Just a little something to motivate you on your first day—new purses!"
Overwhelmed, they stood and hugged him tightly. Tears welled up in their eyes.
"Thank you, Dad," they whispered, holding the gifts close.
Their mother came from the kitchen just then, placing their favorite dishes on the table.
Xuanye gasped. "Ma! How did you prepare all this so early?"
Nian sniffled. "You're going to make us cry again…"
Their mother laughed. "Aww, don't cry! We're just cheering you on. Now eat fast—it's already 8 AM!"
The girls sat down and dug in.
"Ma," Nian said mid-bite, "next time, cook this much only on weekends! On weekdays, we'll have to gulp it all down in a rush."
Her mother chuckled. "Deal."
Later, they stepped out and got into their father's car.
"Girls, all the best!" their parents waved. "Text us when you reach."
Nian took the wheel confidently.
Xuanye grinned. "Impressive driving skills, huh?"
"I have a license, unlike you," Nian teased.
As they drove, Xuanye checked her phone and lit up.
"Nian! The boys messaged us—they wished us luck and sent so many heart emojis!"
Nian smiled. "They really care for us."
"I already replied," Xuanye said proudly.
Once they reached the office, they stepped out and took a deep breath.
"Nian, we're back. This place feels different now," Xuanye whispered.
"Last time we came here nervous for interviews… Now, we're employees of our dream company."
Inside, the girls approached the receptionist and introduced themselves. She smiled and gave them directions to their department. As they walked through the busy halls, people rushed past with files and phones, the energy buzzing.
Reaching the department, they took another breath and pushed open the door. Inside, the atmosphere was intense. Everyone was talking to clients or reviewing documents. The girls blinked at each other, unsure what to do.
Nian gently tapped a woman nearby.
She turned, slightly impatient. "What is it?"
Nian smiled politely. "We're new here—just joined as journalists."
"So?" the woman snapped.
Nian remained calm. "Could you tell us where we should sit or what to start with?"
The woman sighed. "Newbies… Do you think you'll be welcomed with a grand celebration?"
Xuanye walked up, raising her chin. "Ma'am, what do you mean?"
The woman stood. "This place isn't easy. I've been mocked and almost forced to quit. But I pushed through, and now I'm head of this department. No one here will make it easy for you—you'll need strength to survive."
The girls were frozen in place.
"Are you… our department head?" Nian asked.
She nodded. "Yes. And I'm proud you joined. But know this—no one here will hold your hand. You'll be expected to balance workload and gossip. If you can't, you won't last."
Xuanye gulped. "Then… what should we do now?"
"For the first week, observe. Watch how we handle clients, interviews, program management. Ask questions. Learn. Then, we'll give you assignments—interviews, event coverage, maybe even K-pop features or political panels."
She turned back to her desk without another word.
Nian stared at Xuanye, eyes wide.
"Xuanye… this is going to be harder than we thought."
Xuanye steadied herself. "We've got each other. Let's do what she said—watch, learn, and prove ourselves."
With a deep breath, they approached their new colleagues, ready to begin.