The Atrium Gardens.
Roman Rhodes stood in the dappled light of the smoking area, a cigarette between his fingers as he took slow drags.
His assistant, Brandon Coleman, held an iPad and was going over the next day's schedule.
Before long, Stella Sterling hurried out from a grove of spotted bamboo, with Claire Shawcross following behind, saying something to her.
At the sight, Roman Rhodes raised his arm slightly, and Brandon Coleman immediately fell silent.
The young woman, bathed in the evening gloom, was walking with hurried, urgent steps.
She seemed to think her best friend was walking too slowly, as she turned back mid-stride to grab her arm and urge her to hurry up.
She looked so vibrant and full of life. It was a shame that in front of him, she deliberately reined in her true nature, appearing so constrained and awkward.
Roman Rhodes glanced over for a moment before coolly withdrawing his gaze. "Continue."
Brandon Coleman had naturally seen Stella Sterling as well. He sighed internally. 'Are these ridiculously frequent "chance" encounters between Miss Sterling and Mr. Rhodes arranged, or is it just fate?'
Though Brandon Coleman had his doubts, he didn't dare voice them in front of his boss.
After he systematically finished his report, Roman Rhodes gave a few instructions. Just then, Jude Langley walked over, so Brandon Coleman discreetly excused himself.
After some small talk, Jude Langley teased him pointedly, "My ex-girlfriend's little sister is usually so cheerful and unrestrained. How come she acts like a frightened quail in front of you? Do you two know each other?"
Roman Rhodes stubbed out his cigarette. He turned slightly, his voice low and playful. "You should ask her."
Jude Langley: "..."
...
「The next day, 7:00 AM.」
Stella Sterling was jolted from her slumber by the alarm clock.
She struggled out of bed and walked to the bathroom. One look in the mirror revealed the distinct dark circles under her eyes.
The price of insomnia and staying up all night.
After washing up, Stella Sterling put on a white shirt and jeans, slung a small backpack over her shoulder, and headed out.
After getting off the subway, Stella Sterling bought a Chinese breakfast crepe from a cart.
The subway exit was about five hundred meters from Veridia Tech Park, where her company was located.
It was a walk of about ten minutes.
Veridia Tech Park wasn't a CBD, but it had still attracted several industry unicorns.
And thanks to supportive government policies, more than half of them were sunrise industries, with many popular sectors like online gaming, tech, education, and internet companies setting up offices here.
Stella Sterling worked at an internet company in Building B of the tech park.
With no work experience, she could only start as a common entry-level administrative assistant.
When she got to her desk, her colleague Joy Miller leaned in. "The boss is here. He just announced a morning meeting."
Stella Sterling glanced at the director's office. "Didn't he go on a business trip?"
Joy Miller filed her nails. "I heard the Chairman called him back last night for some industry conference."
"The Internet A+ Conference."
"Right, right, that's the one."
Stella Sterling understood. She had just turned on her computer when someone asked her to help print a document.
The department assistant position: lots of miscellaneous tasks, very little actual responsibility.
Fortunately, the atmosphere at the youth-oriented internet company was relaxed. There were no conflicts of interest between colleagues, making work relatively stress-free.
After the morning meeting, Stella Sterling returned to her desk and began organizing the meeting minutes.
Time flew by, and the morning passed peacefully.
When lunch break arrived, Stella Sterling packed her things, preparing to go out and run an errand.
Joy Miller finished scrolling through a group chat and turned to ask Stella Sterling, "Sterling, your English is pretty good, right?"
Stella Sterling gave a casual reply, "It's alright. Why?"
"What about speaking?"
"Also passable."
Joy Miller pointed at her screen. "The boss wants to pick someone from our department with good English to go to the conference with him. You might have a shot."
Stella Sterling just smiled, not taking it seriously.
Even though she was in an administrative department, there was no shortage of proficient English speakers.
Before Stella Sterling left, Joy Miller reminded her, "The boss is testing people this afternoon. Everyone in our department has to participate, so come back early."
"Okay, I'll be quick."
...
At high noon, the sun blazed overhead.
Stella Sterling walked to Season Casual Dining & Café, located behind the tech park.
As soon as she entered, a senior barista in a purple apron saw her, his face lighting up. "Bo—"
Stella Sterling blinked, cutting him off. "Is someone here to see me?"
The barista nodded hastily. "Yes, a gentleman. He's waiting for you upstairs in a corner booth in the west section."
Once upstairs, Stella Sterling headed straight for the west-side booths.
The man caught sight of Stella Sterling and immediately stood up. "Ms. Sterling."
Stella Sterling sat down across from the man. Seeing the table covered with various data reports, she already knew why he was there.
"Mr. Thorne."
Mr. Thorne's full name was Daniel Thorne, and he was forty-five this year.
He used to be the finance director at the company belonging to Stella Sterling's older sister, Sylvia Sterling, and was considered her trusted confidant.
Later, her sister Sylvia Sterling moved far away for love, selling the company to cash out.
After the company changed hands, Daniel Thorne was marginalized and suppressed by the new owner.
He found himself facing unemployment in middle age.
When Sylvia Sterling found out, she introduced Daniel Thorne to Stella Sterling to work for her.
Stella Sterling had a few minor business ventures to her name, which Daniel Thorne currently managed for her.
At that moment, Daniel Thorne slid a report toward Stella Sterling. "Ms. Sterling, this is the income and expense report for the last quarter. Please take a look."
Stella Sterling took it and scanned it briefly. "Mr. Thorne, you can just send me the digital version in the future. You don't need to make a special trip."
Daniel Thorne was a cautious man. He smiled at her words. "The internet isn't secure. I feel more at ease coming in person."
Stella Sterling stuffed the report into her small backpack. Just as she was about to make some small talk with Daniel Thorne, she saw him wringing his hands, looking hesitant, as if he had something difficult to say.
A glint appeared in Stella Sterling's eyes, and she asked bluntly, "Mr. Thorne, have you run into some kind of trouble?"
Daniel Thorne's expression grew serious. He let out a long sigh. "Ms. Sterling, to be honest with you, there is something..."
...
「At 1:30 in the afternoon, Stella Sterling returned to the office on time.」
Unlike the usual lively office atmosphere, the department was silent and tense.
Stella Sterling glanced around and noticed everyone was muttering something under their breath—some with their eyes closed, chanting silently, others staring at their computers, whispering.
She looked over at Joy Miller at the next desk, who was reciting technical terms. "PV, Page View."
After saying it, Joy Miller closed her eyes and scratched her head. "PV... Page what was it again?"
Stella Sterling: "..."
'So everyone's cramming vocabulary.'
'Probably for the oral test this afternoon.'
Stella Sterling silently sat down to watch the show.
'Cramming at the last minute is still a form of effort, I guess.'
At three o'clock sharp, the oral test began.
The examiner was the head of the company's business department, who had returned from studying in the US. He spoke with a standard American accent that was as good as a native speaker's.
The ones with good English were rubbing their hands in anticipation, while those with poor English looked miserable.
Although no one knew what conference Mr. Warner wanted to take someone to, it was the first time he had mobilized the entire department for an on-the-spot test.
It just went to show how important this conference was.
The test began. The ten employees from the department went in one by one to have a conversation in English with the head of the business department.
The conversations lasted anywhere from three to ten minutes.
The last one to go in was Stella Sterling.
Eight minutes later, Stella Sterling walked out of the office, stiff as a board, holding a bilingual document.
Director Howard Warner stood at the office door to announce the result.
Stella Sterling's spoken English and interpretation skills were the best, so she would be the one to accompany him to the conference.
Back at her desk, Stella Sterling stared at the bilingual document in her hands, feeling rather dazed.
The document's header was written in bold print—
"Internet A+ Conference — Rhodes Harbor Group Corporation Profile"