Meanwhile, Mia Dou was also invited into the car.
She hadn’t had a chance to see clearly who was sitting in front of her when she heard a question that made her face suddenly change: “Mia Dou, I have something extremely urgent to tell you. Think carefully before you answer. Just now, something happened at Wendy Parker’s home. Her brother was arrested for fleeing the scene of an accident. The victim is now critically injured. What could’ve been settled for a hundred thousand yuan has escalated to something much more serious. Wendy’s family spoke with the other party—if they can pay a million yuan, the victim’s side will drop everything. But Wendy’s family doesn’t even have fifty thousand, let alone a million. Wendy’s been working so hard just to pay off her family’s debts. Did you know that?”
“I just reviewed your test answers—they were perfect, and the company is very satisfied with you. Here’s the contract: as soon as you sign, you’ll officially be an employee of Yin Enterprises.”
Mia Dou stared at the contract she’d dreamed of, but didn’t take it. She asked, “If I sign this contract, what happens to Wendy?”
“She doesn’t get selected, of course.” The man replied, “We only need one assistant. The rest will have to go back to where they came from.”
Mia Dou immediately lowered her head, her hands nervously twisting together.
She really wanted this job.
This job wouldn’t just guarantee her a comfortable life—it would let her family hold their heads high and live with pride.
But if she took the job, what would happen to Wendy?
A million yuan!
That number is out of reach for most people. (Crystal Zhao, experienced assistant trainee at Yin Enterprises, competitive and assertive, faces personal crisis regarding her abandoned child and single status.)
That number is out of reach for most people—especially for families who are that poor.
Should she sign the contract, or give the opportunity to Wendy instead?
In the car next door, Coco Shen was facing the same choice. (Her family values sons over daughters—a traditional preference for boys, known as '重男轻女' in Chinese culture.)
But the man’s question was different: “Coco Shen, we’ve reviewed your test answers and are very satisfied. You’re a great fit for what we’re looking for. But before we came, we got a call from your family. Your father said your determination to be independent is admirable. However, your family is in trouble. He invested all your family’s money in the stock market and got stuck. To recover, he sold your house and car, putting everything into stocks—and lost it all. Now he wants to sell the house your mother left you. He says if you agree to sell it and help the family, he’ll let you go and never interfere in your life again.”
“That house was my mother’s legacy!” Coco Shen reacted angrily. “After my parents divorced and he remarried, his new family has nothing to do with us!” (In Chinese culture, '知恩图报' means to repay kindness; Coco Shen feels deeply indebted to her mother.)
“Yes, but our hiring condition is a complete and harmonious family.” The man patiently looked at Coco Shen and said, “If you’re willing to sell the house and help your father, the contract will take effect immediately!”
Coco Shen’s eyes instantly turned red.
That house was the only thing her mother left her, and yet that man still wouldn’t let her go!
Was he trying to destroy her? (Fiona Li, assistant trainee at Yin Enterprises, involved in a family dispute over a Division Agreement and past identity swap with her sister-in-law.)
Back then, when Dad cheated with his mistress, he forced Mom to file for divorce and refused to give her any property. The only house we had was bought with the dowry Mom gave up.
Before Mom passed away, she transferred the house to me. It’s the only memory she left behind.
Now that awful man has squandered all the money—does he really want to take away the only place I have left?
Hateful. Absolutely hateful!
What should I do?
She really wanted this job.
But getting this job means selling the only thing Mom left me, just to bail out that old man.
Such a hard choice.
What should I do?
Farthest from them, in another car, sat Crystal Zhao.
A man addressed her, "Miss Zhao, I’ve reviewed your resume and it’s flawless. You have years of assistant experience—that’s exactly what we value."
Crystal Zhao immediately put on the expression she knew was expected, smiling modestly. "Thank you. I’m confident I’ll excel in this position."
"But before we sign the contract, there’s something you should know," the man continued. "After investigating your family background, we found you seem to have a child."
Crystal Zhao panicked. "No, no..."
"Please trust our investigative abilities, Miss Zhao," the man interrupted. "Our intelligence team doesn’t make mistakes."
Crystal Zhao grew even more flustered.
"Here’s the situation. The child was abandoned by the adoptive parents and is now in an orphanage. Miss Zhao, do you intend to take the child back?" The man asked, "But I must remind you: our hiring condition is single women. If you have a child, we may not be able to accept you, since you wouldn’t be able to travel or work overtime as needed."
Crystal Zhao became even more panicked. "I, I..."
"Take your time, Miss Zhao. Think it over before you answer," the man said. "We truly hope to work with you, and whatever you decide, we’ll respect your choice."
In the car next door, Fiona Li faced a similar choice.