Darkness.
That was all she saw.
It stretched out endlessly before her, swallowing everything in its path. Li Meilin ran barefoot on the crumbling bridge, the rotten wood creaking beneath her every step. Cold mist twisted around her ankles like ghostly chains, tugging her back into the abyss. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps as she looked over her shoulder—nothing but blackness behind her, yet she could feel it coming. Something terrible. Something ancient. Something that wanted her.
She tried to scream, but her voice broke into hoarse, muffled sobs. The wind howled like wolves in mourning, and somewhere above her, a raven shrieked as it circled.
"Help!" she finally found her voice.
No answer.
"Somebody—please!"
Nothing but the creaking wood and eerie howls in response.
She reached a point where the bridge began to break apart. Gaping holes opened beneath her feet. A step forward might send her plunging into the unseen depths. Her fingers gripped the fraying rope on the sides, trembling as splinters dug into her palms.
Then—
A figure appeared at the far end.
Blurry, tall, familiar.
"Big brother?" she whispered. "Is that you?"
But the figure didn't move. He watched her with glowing eyes—red, cold, unfeeling. And then he turned.
And walked away.
"No! Don't leave me here!" she cried, but her voice echoed into nothing.
The ropes snapped.
The bridge gave way.
She fell.
Into silence.
~
Meilin jerked awake, chest heaving, drenched in sweat. Her fingers clawed at the sheets, heart thundering like a war drum.
She'd just had a nightmare. But it felt so real. Too real.
Her throat felt dry, as if she'd been screaming for real. Her pajamas clung to her skin, damp with sweat. The dull throb in her temple reminded her she hadn't eaten the night before.
The same recurring theme—abandonment, helplessness. The bridge she always saw herself on most nights had changed into an alleyway. The atmosphere had grown darker. But the outcome? Always the same. Screaming for help, no one coming.
She sat still for a few minutes, trying to shake it off.
It was just a dream.
But somehow, it mirrored how she felt in real life—lost, abandoned, used.
She reached for her phone from under the pillow, mostly out of habit. Notifications buzzed faintly: spam emails, unread chats, and one…subject line she didn't recognize.
Interview Confirmation — SU CORP
Meilin blinked and rubbed her eyes, shock running through her veins as she checked the email address to see if it was a spam message.
"Huh?"
It couldn't possibly be the actual Su Corp, the conglomerate...could it?
She clicked the email, her breath held without even realizing it.
~ • ~
Dear Miss Li Meilin,
We are pleased to inform you that your application for your desired role within our company has been received and reviewed. After going through your portfolio and experience, we believe you are a strong fit for our upcoming vacancy at Su Corp.
You are hereby invited to attend an interview with our recruitment team.
Date: Wednesday, 9:00 AM Location: Su Corp Headquarters, Tower 7, Huating Business District, Shanghai.
We look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely, Su Corp HR Department
~ • ~
Meilin stared.
She hadn't applied… had she?
She scrolled through her mail folders, old application logs, and found nothing. No record of ever submitting her CV to Su Corp. So how did they—
Wait.
Had someone recommended her?
Or had she applied during one of her desperate midnight browsing sessions several months ago and simply forgotten?
She didn't know.
What she did know, though, was that this was the actual Su Corp, not a scam company.
Su Corp, the conglomerate.
This was the kind of opportunity that didn't just knock on one's door—it broke the door down.
She sat up straighter, brushing the hair off her face. Her heart was still pounding from the dream, but it had a different tone now—not fear. Anticipation.
She re-read the email, slowly.
"They said… I'm a good fit. Me?" Meilin questioned rhetorically, knowing only she could reply herself.
Those words stirred something in her—a fragile, trembling thread of hope.
Could this be the fresh start she needed?
Could this be fate trying to toss her a rope across the broken bridge she kept falling from?
She pulled out her laptop.
"Alright then, Su Corp," she whispered, "let's see who you really are besides what I generally know about you"
Li Meilin's research began immediately
Within minutes, age was diving headfirst into a research spiral. The more she read, the more amazed she became.
SU CORP: The Six-Headed Giant
1. SuTech Innovations – Global leader in smart devices, AI systems, cybersecurity tools, and innovative tech gadgets. Known for recently launching the SuGlass—a virtual augmented reality headset revolutionizing how tech integrates into daily life.
2. SuVision Entertainment – Silent backer and now majority shareholder in Zenhua Media, this branch oversees the careers of A-list actors, drama productions, and film festivals. They're known for signing exclusive contracts with internationally acclaimed artists.
3. Linya Luxe – Their fashion subsidiary, which hosts annual shows in Paris, Milan, and Tokyo. Known for luxury fashion, sustainable fabric tech, and celebrity collaborations.
4. SuBuild Corp – Experts in construction and urban design. Developers of elite gated communities and architects behind major skyscrapers in China and Dubai.
5. Everpure Living – Household items ranging from kitchen devices, cleaning tools, to eco-friendly self-care products. A recent hit product: a robotic cleaning ball that mops and sprays essential oils.
6. Su Elite Academy – An exclusive academy attended by children of billionaires and international elites. Some of its alumni are now ambassadors, CEOs, and athletes.
Meilin leaned back after an hour of reading, she was beyond fascinated.
This wasn't just a company.
It was an empire.
A machine with gears turning in every industry—fashion, media, education, tech, real estate, and domestic innovation.
"Wow," she whispered, stunned.
She felt so… small. But also, strangely invigorated.
For her to be invited to an interview in such a corporation, they must've definitely gone through her portfolio. And somehow, they still wanted her.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself.
This was her chance. She wasn't going to let past pain or doubts hold her back. She was capable, and that was why she'd spent three years looking after most of the staff at Zenhua Media Group. She'd even created slides that were later presented at some exclusive meetings. It was all her.
She opened YouTube and searched: Top 20 Interview Questions – High-Level Corporate Firms.
Then another search: How to answer STAR interview questions.
And another: How to present your personal brand during interviews.
By 9:17 AM, five hours after the initial time she'd awoken from her nightmare, her laptop was littered with notes and open tabs. She had practiced her introduction, listed her past achievements, and even rehearsed answers to trick questions.
Her stomach grumbled.
For the first time in days, she felt an appetite stir.
She got up and made herself a bowl of warm porridge with a side of tea. The act of preparing it brought a sense of normalcy she hadn't felt in a long time.
She ate slowly, thinking of all the rejection, all the humiliation, of Zhou Fan's slap and of being seen as nothing more than a disposable office girl.
But now?
Now she was rising.
And if Su Corp had taken notice of her, that meant someone else would too.
She finished eating, then cleaned her small desk and room. She didn't want to prepare for this in clutter.
Finally, she opened the email again and hit reply:
~ • ~
Dear Su Corp HR Team,
Thank you for this opportunity. I confirm my attendance for the scheduled interview on Wednesday at 9:00 AM.
Kind regards,
Li Meilin
~ • ~
She hit send.
And for the first time in a long while, Meilin smiled heartily and genuinely.
Not because someone else gave her a reason to.
But because she had decided… to give herself one.