Li Hao sat across the table, watching the man in front of him flip through his documents. The man nodded slowly, almost appreciatively, and for a brief second Li Hao felt hopeful.
"I'm afraid we can't take this," the man finally said raising his head.
Li Hao's expression collapsed in shock.
"You know the requirements we asked for," the man continued, turning to Mr. Hong with clear disapproval.
"I'm so sorry—" Mr. Hong started, but the young man cut him off.
"This achievement is too high for what we want, Mr. Hong, and you know it. My boss is simply looking for someone who will look after his mother's little clinic. Yes, we aren't looking for a quack, but we also don't want to rob people of their dreams."
"I—" Mr. Hong began, but before he could finish, Li Hao pushed the table forward, startling the young man into raising his hands defensively as he pulled a leg up flinching.
Then Li Hao sank to his knees.
"I appreciate how highly you think of my education," Li Hao said, rubbing his trembling hands against his thighs, "but any work will do right now. I'll take it."
"Young man, get up," the man said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Anyone watching would think we forced you into this position." He glanced at Mr. Hong, still smiling.
But when Li Hao refused to rise, still kneeling with desperate determination, the man finally exhaled and nodded.
"All right. I'll take you to the clinic," he said.
Only then did Li Hao stand.
"I have a feeling we're going to meet often," the man said as they walked out. "You can call me Kai. Just Kai."
"I'm Li Hao."
"I know," Kai said lightly and as li hao raised a brow, "I saw your documents." he said.
"And sit in the front. The seat is for you."
He said it deliberately but sounding intentional as Mr. Hong, who had been about to sit in front, stopped mid-motion and stepped back awkwardly.
Li Hao blinked in surprise and obeyed.
The drive was smooth, and as he settled in the front seat, something about the interior felt strangely familiar… as if he had been here before.
"Do you like the car?" Kai asked, catching his expression.
Li Hao only responded with a shy smile, still wondering why this stern man from earlier was suddenly being so gentle.
"It's the chairman's personal car," Kai added. "I've always wanted to ride in it. And I get to thanks to someone…"
He glanced at Li Hao meaningfully, a hint li hao completely missed because he was lost in his own thoughts.
They arrived in front of a large storey building with the inscription:
SHIN CLINIC
Li Hao froze.
This… was the "little clinic"?
It was huge—modern, polished, efficient-looking.
They stepped out, and a worker immediately rushed to push open the glass door for them.
Li hao raised a brow, surprised.
The workers greeted Kia warmly—some even affectionately—calling him by his name. Li Hao looked from face to face, confused.
Everyone soon gathered in the lobby as Kai cleared his throat.
"This is Li Hao," he announced. "Your new head pharmacist and doctor."
Li Hao's jaw dropped.
Head?
Already?
Where… was the chairman?
Wasn't he supposed to meet him first?
He looked around again. The clinic was clean, bright, well-staffed—far from the rundown place he had imagined. The workers introduced themselves one by one, smiling, giggling, and treating him with unexpected fondness like they knew each other before or they met him at work yesterday
"Work starts in two days—Monday," Kai said.
Some of the staff actually looked sad that Li Hao was leaving so soon.