Chapter 52
Just as the demons’ chatter reached a fever pitch, a powerful aura silenced them. Their magic was blocked, including Liliya’s.
“Are you alright? You look pale,” Lin Ran asked, concerned, seeing her sudden change in demeanor, and picked up the papers she had dropped, noticing they were blank.
“Th-Thank you… Low blood sugar,” she mumbled, realizing she had almost revealed her tail.
“Should I help you to the rest area?” Lin Ran asked, his genuine concern making her feel guilty.
“It’s fine. Just a little low blood sugar. I won’t see you up then. Let me get the elevator for you,” she said, not daring to follow him.
As he waited, Lin Ran offered her a fruit candy. “For your low blood sugar. Your family would be worried if you collapsed.”
Liliya, holding the candy, felt her heart flutter. She was centuries old, but this human’s kindness was strangely touching. He was so adorable! She wanted to adopt him.
The other demons, watching from the mezzanine, were seething with jealousy. Low blood sugar? She could tear apart three rhinos! This was outrageous! They had to expose her lie! Could they get candy if they pretended to have low blood sugar and fainted in front of A-Ran?
Tao Shu, meanwhile, was nervously counting the floors, wondering about human interview procedures. He had never hired a human intern before.
Lin Ran reached the 43rd floor and followed the directions to the waiting area, feeling slightly underdressed compared to the impeccably dressed employees. He also felt like he was being watched, but everyone seemed busy. The salaries here were legendary, enough to buy an apartment in a few years.
“Hello! You must be Jiang Lin Ran! I’m Tao Shu, the development team manager!” Tao Shu greeted him, equally nervous.
“Hello, Mr. Tao. Is the interview in the next room?” Lin Ran asked.
“Yes, five or six interviewers, in half an hour. You can prepare here,” Tao Shu said, trying to appear professional, but secretly squealing inside. He was even more handsome in person!
As Lin Ran reviewed his notes, he kept making eye contact with Tao Shu, who seemed to be observing him.
“Excuse me, where’s the restroom?” he asked, with five minutes to spare.
Tao Shu quickly pointed the way.
Meanwhile, Shao Mian was adjusting his tie and golden hair, his expression carefully neutral, his imposing figure radiating power.
Abyss, however, sensed his nervousness. [Relax! A-Ran isn’t even nervous! Let’s go!] In that suit, he looked more like the interviewee than A-Ran.
“Who’s nervous?” Shao Mian glared at him, making Abyss shut up. He always resorted to intimidation.
“I’ll… use the restroom,” he said, then, halfway there, changed his mind and went into a stall.
Abyss: [I give up!] A-Ran wasn’t going to bite him. Why was he so nervous?
“I’m a bit nervous,” Lin Ran muttered, washing his hands. His roommates were waiting for news, eager to hear about Morson Group’s luxurious headquarters.
He sent them a message: [The restroom here is ten times bigger than our dorm. Fancy design and a nice floral scent.]
[No fair! Is our dorm worse than a toilet?][What stage is the interview? Tell us about the big boss!][Probably a bald old man, like my dad. He’ll like you!]
Lin Ran chuckled, feeling less nervous. A bald old man? He doubted he would meet the CEO as an intern.
“Crash!” A loud noise came from a stall.
“Is anyone in there? Are you alright?” he asked.
Shao Mian and Abyss, having seen him enter the restroom, had quickly ducked into a stall. Even Abyss was nervous now. Thanks to Shao Mian, their first meeting was happening in a restroom! What an embarrassing first impression!
There was no response, and Lin Ran looked at Tao Shu, wondering if he should report it.
“I can get someone…”
“No need!” Shao Mian quickly emerged, and Lin Ran froze, staring at him. He was tall, imposing, and seemed to be mixed-race, his golden hair reminding him of Yuanbao’s mane. His expression was cold and aloof, making Lin Ran instinctively step back. He seemed intimidating, someone he shouldn’t offend.
[You’re scaring him! Smile!] Abyss whispered, seeing Lin Ran’s reaction. Shao Mian was simply nervous, his expression hardening, his gaze fixed on Lin Ran. Back in his human form, he realized the human was smaller than he had imagined, his eyes soft and his skin pale, making him want to touch him, but also afraid of breaking him. He remembered how easily the human’s skin had been scratched during their first encounter.
Lin Ran, noticing his formal attire, asked, “Are you also here for an interview?” just as Shao Mian was about to speak.
Shao Mian: ? He had imagined countless scenarios, but not this one.
[See? I told you that suit made you look like an interviewee,] Abyss said, amused.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’ll be going…” Lin Ran said, embarrassed, thinking this encounter might affect his interview.
“Wait,” Shao Mian said, grabbing his arm, having noticed a glint of something in his hair. Lin Ran was surprised by his strength, like a predator’s, as he reached towards his ear.
Was he going to attack him?!
“This earring… it’s dangerous. You should remove it,” Shao Mian said, his hand hovering near his ear, then, realizing how suspicious he looked, pulled back.
“Earring?” Lin Ran touched his ear, realizing he was talking about the egg-earring. How did he know? They had never met before.
“Even if it’s dangerous, you can’t just touch me,” he said, his tone firm, looking at Shao Mian.
“……!” Shao Mian realized his mistake, and Abyss groaned. [We’re doomed!] A-Ran was always so kind; this was unforgivable!
“It… brings good fortune, but also attracts dangerous things,” Shao Mian said, as Lin Ran turned to leave. If he was in his lion form, he could have simply gestured, but he couldn’t now. And the human hadn’t been wearing the earring during their encounter in “Demon World.” And he knew Lin Ran wouldn’t get an ear piercing; the earring’s aura was too strong.
Lin Ran hesitated, looking at him. Did he know something?
“Thank you, but I have to go. We can talk later,” he said, checking his watch. He only had five minutes left.
But Shao Mian followed him.
[We’re being creepy, Shao Mian!] Abyss groaned. This first meeting was a disaster.
Tao Shu, looking for Lin Ran, saw them and gasped. How had they met already?
“Mr. …Mr. Shao, what are you doing here?” he stammered, looking at Shao Mian’s cold expression.
Tao Shu’s nervousness and the formal address made Lin Ran realize something was wrong. He stopped, looking at Shao Mian, who was following him like a large, slightly guilty cat. Shao Mian realized gaining favor with Lin Ran in the real world was far more difficult than in the game. That earring was dangerous.
Tao Shu wanted to turn into a hamster and disappear. Why did he have to deal with this?
The interview proceeded as planned, though Shao Mian, sitting in the center, remained silent and distracted. Lin Ran, answering the technical questions, realized his studying had paid off. He even offered some creative solutions for problems beyond his current expertise. The demon programmers, forgetting their initial reserve, engaged in lively discussions with him.
“You really know a lot about ‘Demon World’!” Xia Lai, one of the interviewers, said, his usual stutter disappearing in his excitement. He had been skeptical, but now, he was sure this was A-Ran! Though they avoided mentioning the game’s supernatural aspects.
“I do. I’m a big fan. Thank you for creating such a great game,” Lin Ran said, enjoying the conversation. He wanted to ask about the game’s secrets, but hesitated, deciding to wait until he was officially hired.
“Which demon in the game is your favorite?” Shao Mian suddenly asked. The question seemed deliberately designed to test his claim of being a “big fan.”
Lin Ran paused, looking at Shao Mian, who, having asked the question on a whim, now felt self-conscious, adjusting his hair, then meeting Lin Ran’s gaze.
Lin Ran thought there was no right answer. He was closest to Sootball, but Snowball held a special place in his heart, his quiet cuddles melting his heart. And Ossi, Abyss, and even the egg were all endearing in their own ways. Choosing one would be unfair. It was best to choose a different type of demon.
“Perhaps… Yuanbao, the lion?” he said, looking at Shao Mian’s golden hair.
Shao Mian: …!!!
Lin Ran expected him to ask why, but Shao Mian just looked away, covering his mouth, leaning back in his chair, his tail almost swishing uncontrollably. So, he was the favorite!
[Don’t get too excited! He probably just couldn’t mention the others!] Abyss thought, annoyed by Shao Mian’s smugness. He had asked the question on purpose.
Lin Ran thought Shao Mian would make the interview difficult, but he remained silent after that, only occasionally glancing at him, his behavior reminding him of Yuanbao. If this was in the game, he would grab his mane and ask what he was looking at.
“The interview is over. Congratulations! You’ve passed! Can you start soon?” Tao Shu asked eagerly as soon as it ended, having received Shao Mian’s approval.
“No need to wait for a notification?” Lin Ran asked, surprised. If not for the building’s opulence and the specific questions, he would have suspected a scam.
“True talent is not to be missed!” Tao Shu said, practically shaking his hand. “Our benefits and vacation time are excellent!”
Lin Ran, looking at the enthusiastic manager, thought they would get along.
“It’s my honor to join your team,” he said, making Tao Shu almost jump for joy.
Outside the interview room, Lin Ran excitedly shared the good news with his roommates: he got the internship!
[Lin-zai is amazing!] The chat exploded with praise.
[Xiao: Dinner’s on me to celebrate!]
[Ran: What? It’s my treat! [Happy dog sticker]]
He looked up and saw Shao Mian waiting for him. His tie was loose, his usually formal attire now more relaxed.
“You still want to talk about the earring?” Lin Ran asked, his tone softer now.
“Yes. Remove it before you leave. Tao Shu is busy with the paperwork,” Shao Mian said, not approaching him, but still insistent about the earring. The approaching night and the earring’s demonic aura would attract unwanted attention.
Lin Ran, realizing his fixation, reached for the earring, but it wouldn’t budge.
[The cub doesn’t want to leave you. It thinks it can protect you…] I’ll eat any danger! the egg thought.
“Can’t remove it?” Shao Mian asked, stepping closer.
“It’s stuck,” Lin Ran said, embarrassed, unable to communicate with the egg with Shao Mian so close.
“I can help,” Shao Mian offered, his voice softer than usual, almost pleading, his eyes, like Yuanbao’s, making Lin Ran’s heart skip a beat. He nodded unconsciously.
He felt Shao Mian’s calloused fingers brush against his ear as he removed the earring, then offered it back to him.
“…Here,” he said softly.
Abyss almost thought Shao Mian was possessed. This gentle side was new.
“Thank you,” Lin Ran said, blushing. This whole interview had been strange. His roommates would never believe this. And Shao Mian looked barely older than him, not the stereotypical CEO.
As he sat on the subway, lost in thought, he noticed people staring at him.
“Young man, is that an ostrich egg?” an old lady asked.
An ostrich egg? He looked down and saw the earring, having lost its magic, had reverted to its original, enormous size. It was too big to even hide in his backpack. He blushed, mortified. What had that guy done to the egg?! Why had it transformed back?! Carrying a giant egg back to his dorm was too embarrassing! He glared at the egg, his affection plummeting.
