Chapter 1- Job Applicant

Shan Cai clutched the handle her briefcase tightly. Her nails dug into her hand, leaving small crescent marks. But she didn't care. The small stinging pain in her hands was nothing compared the butterflies in her stomach. She looked up at the monitor and groaned, only the 15th floor? Weren't they on the 18th like two hours ago? The anxiety was killing her; she wanted this over and done with. She looked around her; nobody else in the lift seemed to notice how slow the lift was going. Was it just her?

Shan Cai took in a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and then paused for a few moments before repeating it. She did this a couple of times and felt herself relaxing slightly. It was a technique of calming anxiety that her mother had taught her. It worked quite well.

It was so quiet in the lift, Shan Cai noted. No one was talking to anyone, as if they didn't know each other. They probably didn't, Shan Cai muse. This after all, was a 50 storey building so the workers didn't necessarily all know each other. Everyone was so formal. The men wore black suites and ties and the women wore blouses and dark skirts sometimes with a blazer. Shan Cai felt out of place with her skimpy white dress on. She and Qing He had spent ages on deciding what she should wear, wanting to make a good impression. After several hours of tossing and turning her wardrobe (she didn't have anything suitable), they had finally come up with her outfit. But she still felt incongruous.

Finally, after taking what seemed like decades, the lift arrived at floor 43. Shan Cai hurried out, not wanting to stay in such a concealed area a second longer. She brushed past an elderly woman with short hair as she went out, earning a look of disapproval from the woman. But Shan Cai honestly couldn't care less.

Shan Cai couldn't believe her eyes. The scene in front of her was unbelievable. She felt her breath quicken in awe. She had always thought that people were exaggerating when they told her that the Dao Ming corporation building was one of the most technologically advanced buildings in the world, and provided superb working environment. How wrong she was. The sight in front of her was nothing short of spectacular. The exterior of the building had only held on quarter of the beauty it held on the inside, and she was still in shock from that.

The inside was immaculate. Not a spot of dust or dirt could be seen. The building had large windows that ran consecutively next to each other, so that from the outside, it would look like a clear strip. The size of the windows allowed the maximum amount of sunlight in, providing the room with adequate light, even though there were ceiling lights. The room was air- conditioned and it was set to a perfect temperature that made the room cool, but not cold. The air felt naturally soft, unlike some buildings, where the air felt so crisp with coldness. Employees worked in little cubicles with laptops and phones. Everyone was working efficiently and the only noises were that of the clicking of the keyboards or the rustling noise of papers being shuffled.

Shan Cai smiled, her previous fears forgotten as she surveyed each and every worker in detail. Some were deep in concentration and oblivious to the new arrival while others flicked their eyes every so often from what they are doing to observe her. Well, she thought with a boost of confidence, here goes nothing.

Shan Cai approached the reception desk located at the top right-hand corner of the room. The secretary lifted her head up as she heard the noise of footsteps. She scrutinised Shan Cai before scowling in disgust. "Yes?" she asked rather impatiently, as if she thought Shan Cai was wasting her time.

Shan Cai repeated her breathing exercise before answering her, "I'm here for the job as-"

"Name?" the lady rudely interrupted Shan Cai as she took out a sheet of printed paper and a blue biro, and then looking up at her and motioning her to answer her question.

"Mu Ye Shan Cai," replied Shan Cai in what she hoped was a courteous manner.

"Age?" the lady asked, tapping the end of her biro impatiently on her desk.

"I'm twenty-three."

The lady's head shot up. "I'm sorry miss," she said, not sounding sorry at all, "but we don't accept anyone below the age of twenty-four, it said so in the advertisement. Didn't you read it?"

"Please. I'll be twenty-four next Monday! Please, this job is important to me-"

"Sorry. A rule is a rule and I can't bend it for anyone, or else I lose my job," the secretary replied irritably and in an end of conversation tone, wishing that the pesky girl would just leave.

Shan Cai groaned inwardly. In truth, she hadn't known about the age limit. They, meaning she, Qing He and Matt, had spent little time planning it out, so there was bound to be loopholes in the scheme. But she didn't expect everything to go wrong this early. What was she going to do? She couldn't go back now and tell them that she had failed because she didn't read the job requirements properly? She'd have to argue her way in, Shan Cai decided.

"Please. This job means everything to me. Give me a chance. I promise I'll try really hard. I'll be twenty-four soon. I've had the experience. Here I'll show you my-"

"It's no use," the secretary replied with a shake of her head, cutting her off, "I don't have the authority to hire you. You do not fulfil our requirements and therefore, I can not let you work here. It's that simple. Miss, the door is that way," she added, pointing to the elevator Shan Cai had just gotten off a few moments ago.

"NO!" said Shan Cai a little too loudly. A few heads perked up from the cubicles, to see what was going on. Shan Cai felt herself blush. No, she said to herself, now is not the time to get shy. You have to get the job. It's the only way to get close to Dao Ming Si. You can't give up now. It's too late for that. She looked at the secretary, "No," she repeated.

The secretary looked slightly aghast. "Miss, if you do not leave this instance, I shall all security," she threatened, reaching for the phone.

But Shan Cai was having none of this. She walked up to the secretary and put her hands on the counter. "Just give me a chance. Let me go on a trial for a week, I won't ask for money during that time. If I'm no good, then fire me after a week. How's that for a deal?" she offered.

The secretary's eyes widened in shock. She had never seen anyone so stubborn, so determined. Why did the girl want the job so much anyway? It wasn't even a high-paying job. Why did she care so much? "No miss," she said firmly, not giving way to boldness. "I'm sorry, but I can not allow that."

Shan Cai's heart sank. Now what? This secretary was certainly not going to give in anytime soon. By now, every single person in the room was watching her, wondering what she was going to do next. Shan Cai clenched her hand into a fist. She looked at the secretary straight in the eye and had one last attempt. "I want the job," she said curtly and watched the effect this short sentence had on the secretary.

The secretary rose from her seat, her anger getting the better of her. No one treated her with such disrespect, not mentioning such a poor and pathetic girl like her. Anger boiled inside of her. "GET OUT!" she yelled straight in Shan Cai's fault. To her surprise, Shan Cai yelled right back at her, "NO!"

"GET OUT THIS MINUTE! YOU DISRESPECT ARROGANT B-"

"Is there a problem, ladies?" A male voice suddenly cut her off. Everyone was so focused on the two girls arguing that they did not even notice someone coming in, until he had interrupted the secretary's chain of insults.

"None of your business. If you don't want a black eye then get out of here and leave me alone, you nosy git, " the secretary suddenly stopped as she looked properly at the new comer for the first time. "Oh god..." she whispered, sinking back into her chair, all colour drained from her face.

It was Dao Ming Si.

"Is there a problem?" he asked again. The secretary stood quickly, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you. I thought it was some stupid idiot... I'm so sorry. Please forgive me, Mr Dao Ming..." she trailed off.

Dao Ming Si? Shan Cai wondered, not daring to look at the man who stood beside her. Was it really Dao Ming Si? How lucky she was. Maybe this will work out now.

Dao Ming Si didn't take a note of what she said but instead repeated his question, "I said, is there a problem?" He looked directly into the secretary's eyes, as if daring her to say there was. Then he turned to look at Shan Cai, and surprise gleamed in his eyes as he shouted, "It's you!"

Shan Cai pretended to look shocked as well, "I... you're Dao Ming Si?" she managed to stutter.

Dao Ming Si nodded and faced the secretary once more. "What's the problem Natasha?" he asked again, this time impatiently.

The secretary, seeing that her boss knew the girl, quickly shook her head, "No, nothing sir. Everything's fine. I was just having a conversation with this lady about the job, which I've decided to give to her."

"I don't believe you have the authority, Natasha." Dao Ming Si said simply.

Natasha's trembled. "What do you mean, sir?" she asked shakily.

"Consider yourself fired," answered Dao Ming Si.

Natasha didn't say another word, but instead, started packing her things. Tears fell off her face, but no one came over to comfort her. Shan Cai wondered if it's because of the fear of Dao Ming Si firing them as well, or if it's because Natasha was unpopular in the office.

"What are you people staring at? Get back to work!" he barked at the rest of his employees. The workers quickly sat back down and started working again, clearly because they were afraid to receive the same fate as Natasha.

Dao Ming Si looked at Shan Cai, making her blush slightly. "What job did you apply for?" he asked her, his tone suddenly softer.

Dumbstruck by her good fortune, Shan Cai was speechless, and could only point to the advertisement held in her hand. Dao Ming Si nodded.

"You can do better than that," he said, looking at Shan Cai, "You can replace her," he added, pointing to Natasha, who now had given up on packing and started sobbing on the floor.

Shan Cai nodded, not knowing what to say.

"Can you start tomorrow?" Shan Cai nodded again, wishing that she could do something else besides nodding. Then she turned around and started to make her way towards the lift when Dao Ming Si's voice stopped her. "What's your name?" he asked.

She turned around and smiled, "Shan Cai. Mu Ye Shan Cai." And then she left the building, leaving a grinning Dao Ming Si and some baffled employees.

A/N; phew Here's another chapter. Hope you're all enjoying it. It took me quite a while.

Please review and let me know what you think of the fic. Please support my other fic, Rainless Storm as well. /RainlessStorm/

Oh yes, if you have any ideas as what the story is going to turn out like, feel free to email me.

I just thought I'd better explain. Most of this story is Shan Cai's flashback, in case you have not realised it yet. She's packing (as told in the prologue) and then she sort of thinks this whole mess through, and that's the story.

Hope you've enjoyed it so far.

Cheers,
Amyranth.