These days, Lay would go for long, aimless walks.
He thought he had healed… but he hadn't.
"What's happening to me?
I don't know what I should do.
Should I work now?
How can I meet my father?
Should I just stay back?"
He was no longer the Lay everyone knew.
He was a breathing corpse.
At Home
"Pumkin, a letter has arrived for you."
The table was stacked with envelopes from companies offering him jobs.
But one letter caught his eye — from NOVA.
(This is the company my father entrusted his business to… Mr. Wang, the man I've never even seen.)
"Look at you! My dear is so intelligent. So many companies want you to be a part of them! I'm so proud of you."
"I'm not that intelligent, Granny," he giggled.
"Have you chosen any yet?"
"I think I have… somewhat."
The Next Day
Lay headed to NOVA.
The streets felt unusually quiet, as though the city itself was holding its breath.
*"Why am I going there?
Is it because I can tell them I'm Xiao's son?
To get his property?
No… it's not that. I was selected, that's all. But… I was selected by many companies. Then why NOVA?
Maybe… I liked the way that man called me for the interview.
But… what if my subconscious has bad intentions?
It's not like saying I'm Xiao's son will get me a director's seat.
And I'm not someone who wants to live off inheritance — even if it's my father's.
I'm Lay. I'll build my own future.
I won't say anything about who I am.
And even if I do… who's going to believe me? That their company's success came from my father's hands?"
Inside NOVA
The glass doors slid open with a soft hiss.
The lobby smelled faintly of new carpet and cold air conditioning.
Behind the reception desk, a woman with sharp eyes scanned him for a moment before speaking.
"Hello, good morning. I'm Lay. I received an offer letter."
He slid the envelope toward her.
"Hello, Lay. I'm Mia. You'll have one more interview. I'll explain the guidelines. Until then, please take a seat."
"Sure, thank you."
He sat down among five or six other candidates. Their faces were tense, eyes fixed on the floor or the wall clock ticking away.
A Little Later
A woman entered, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. She held a clipboard and spoke in a voice that was both polite and clipped.
"Hello, dear candidates. My name is Niwan, Assistant HR at NOVA. First of all, thank you for coming.
Here's the process:
First, there will be a group discussion.
Those selected will be given a case study.
Results will be emailed to you later.
I hope everything is clear. Thank you, and all the best. Have a great day."
Lay glanced around and counted silently.
"Twenty-seven… twenty-eight… twenty-nine… thirty. Oh… that's a lot."
As the group discussion began, the man who had called Lay for the interview stepped inside.
He didn't speak — just stood near the corner, his gaze lingering on Lay longer than on anyone else.
It wasn't a friendly gaze.
It was as if he was studying him… matching his face to someone else's in his memory.
By afternoon, the results were announced.
Lay had been selected for the next round.
But as he walked toward the room for his case study, he couldn't shake the feeling…
Someone in this building already knew who he was.