As the girls walked toward their new colleagues, Xuanye took a deep breath and tapped a man's shoulder. He turned with an annoyed expression and asked, "What?"
Xuanye replied politely, "Sir, can we watch and learn what you're doing?"
Without a word, he shook his head and returned to his work.
The girls exchanged a glance and quietly began taking notes on how everyone worked. Suddenly, the same man handed a file to Nian and said, "Go print this for me."
Nian nodded, setting down her notes, and went to get the printout. Xuanye watched her leave with a worried expression.
When Nian returned, she handed the printed document to him, only for him to frown and say, "You should've printed this in color. Why did you give me a black-and-white copy?" He tossed the paper onto his desk with clear irritation.
Xuanye clenched her fists, ready to speak up, but Nian quickly stepped in. "Sorry, sir. That was my fault. I'll print a color copy right away," she said and hurried off.
As Xuanye glared at him, he added coldly, "Go get me a coffee."
Without responding, she walked away to prepare it.
When the girls returned, Nian handed him the colored print while Xuanye gave him the coffee. They quietly endured the treatment and moved on to the next colleague. Unfortunately, it was more of the same—being ordered around, scolded for others' mistakes, and forced to apologize.
By 5 p.m., the girls sat down for a moment to catch their breath.
"I can't believe this is what work feels like," Nian said, sighing. "I thought we'd sit at a desk, type on a computer, and go home. But it's like we're being used as their assistants."
Xuanye nodded. "Yeah, and they blame us for their own mistakes. Honestly, I think Professor Xi was better than these people."
Nian laughed. "Now I understand why he always told us to be quiet."
Xuanye looked out the window. "His strictness taught us how to hold it in. Otherwise, I would've exploded already."
Unbeknownst to them, their department head, Lian, had overheard the conversation. She approached with a coffee cup in hand. "Girls, now you understand what it means to work in a big company."
Startled, they stood and greeted her nervously.
"Sit," she said, handing them the coffee. They obeyed.
Nian spoke softly, "Ma'am, your advice helped us realize how tough it really is."
Xuanye nodded.
Lian chuckled. "I was once like you. I had no one. People mocked me, ordered me around. I forced a smile and kept going. After two weeks, I nearly gave up. But then I changed how I saw things. I told myself—this isn't bullying, it's training. If they assign something, I'll take it as a lesson and learn it. I stopped caring what others thought. I just did the work. That's how I got to where I am now."
The girls listened, touched and wide-eyed.
"But Ma'am," Nian asked, "can't we just do our tasks without all this extra pressure?"
"No," Lian replied. "If you shine brighter than those with experience, they'll try to dim your light. That's why I tell every newcomer: learn, observe, endure. If you do, no one can shake you later."
The girls smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.
"Work hard," Lian added with a chuckle, walking away.
Nian turned to Xuanye. "After hearing her... I think we can handle this."
Xuanye smiled. "Yeah, but if they'd just ask us properly, I wouldn't be so annoyed."
Nian laughed. "Control your mouth, or we'll be kicked out."
They giggled and left for home.
When they reached their house, they knocked on the door. Their mother opened it with a warm smile. "Come in, girls."
They removed their shoes and slumped onto the sofa.
"How was work?" their father asked.
Nian replied, "It felt like we stepped onto a racing highway, not an office."
He chuckled. "Working in a company is like being a rock. If you're not strong, you'll be crushed."
The girls smiled and nodded.
Their mother served dinner, feeding them lovingly. "Is it tough?"
The girls shook their heads. "Ma~ there's a head named Lian. She's strict, but her advice really helped us," they said in unison.
Their mother smiled. "If it gets too much, stay home. Don't pressure yourselves."
They nodded.
After dinner, the girls went to their room and collapsed on the bed.
"Tomorrow, we become rocks," Xuanye declared.
Nian nodded. "But for now... no more work talk."
Just then, their phones buzzed. A message from the boys read:
> "Girls, how was your first day? Did you enjoy it?"
Tears welled up in their eyes. They replied with trembling fingers:
> "We enjoyed it. We're happy. Don't worry about us."
Xuanye wiped her eyes. "You're crying."
"You are too," Nian said, smiling through her tears. "I don't know why... but seeing their message felt like they put a bandage on our wounds."
Xuanye nodded. "Yeah... Nian, even without saying it, they comforted me."
Meanwhile, at the dorm, the boys read the reply. Wonwoo said, "Looks like the girls are happy."
Vernon nodded, but DK stared at the screen in silence.
Jun noticed. "DK, why are you staring like that?"
DK tilted his head. "Something feels off. They never message like this."
Scoups waved it off. "You're overthinking. They said they're happy, didn't they?"
DK nodded, but deep inside, a strange uneasiness lingered in his heart.