Emily walked into the HR office, feeling a wave of nervousness wash over her. She sat uneasily in the waiting area, her hands unconsciously fidgeting. Prone to anemia, she now felt dizzy, her lips pale and colorless. She closed her eyes, trying to calm her rapid breathing.
When Emily opened her eyes again, her gaze inadvertently met that of another candidate sitting nearby. He was a handsome, sunny-looking young man, tall and well-built, with slightly curly brown hair that shimmered gold in the sunlight. He wore a deep blue shirt with sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing strong forearms. His eyes were a warm hazel, sparkling with friendliness and wisdom.
As their eyes met, Emily felt as if time stood still. She was a bit flustered but quickly put on her signature gentle smile, politely waving her hand. The young man's lips curved into a charming smile, instantly lighting up the entire room.
"Hi, I'm Alex," he said, extending his hand, his voice warm and magnetic. "Are you here for the interview too?"
Emily nodded, gently placing her hand in his, "Yes, I'm Emily." She was surprised to find Alex's hand warm and strong, giving her an inexplicable sense of security.
"Emily," Alex repeated, as if savoring the name. "What a beautiful name, it suits you." His gaze held sincere admiration, causing Emily's cheeks to flush slightly.
"Thank you," Emily said softly, suddenly realizing her nervousness had subsided a bit.
"You know what? We seem to be from the same school!" Alex said excitedly, his eyes sparkling with delight. "I'm in the Engineering School, mainly researching new energy technologies. How about you?"
"I'm majoring in Environmental Resource Studies," Emily replied, feeling infected by Alex's enthusiasm. "I never expected to meet a fellow student here."
Alex flashed a brilliant smile, "This must be fate. Imagine, out of all the applicants, the two of us happen to be here at the same time." His tone was teasing, but his eyes were particularly serious.
Emily couldn't help but smile, "Maybe it's because our majors are so compatible."
"Exactly!" Alex said excitedly, "New energy and environmental protection, they're a perfect match." He paused, a glint of mischief in his eyes, "Just like us."
Emily felt her heart skip a beat, the temperature in her face rising again. She didn't know how to respond to such enthusiasm. Emily had always been an introvert, never adept at dealing with such outgoing and enthusiastic people. Alex's sunny personality made her feel both warm and a bit at a loss.
These outgoing types of guys were usually popular, always the center of attention in a crowd. Emily, on the other hand, was more accustomed to standing quietly in a corner, observing everything around her. Alex's enthusiasm both delighted and troubled her; she wasn't sure if she could respond appropriately.
Emily's fingers unconsciously intertwined as she struggled to think of how to respond to Alex. She wanted to appear friendly, but worried about coming across as too eager or unnatural. In the end, she chose the safest option - lowering her head and pretending to organize her documents.
Her fingers lightly brushed the edges of the folder, pretending to check if all the documents were in order. In reality, her mind was blank, just hoping this awkward moment would pass quickly. Emily could feel Alex's gaze still on her, making her even more nervous.
"Hey, want to add each other on Instagram?" Alex's voice broke the brief silence. "That way we can keep in touch at school. Who knows, we might even collaborate on some environmental projects."
Emily looked up, meeting Alex's sincere gaze. She wasn't usually keen on social media, but Alex's enthusiasm and sincerity were hard to refuse. Despite her inner hesitation, she nodded with a smile and said, "Sure."
After exchanging social media accounts, Emily felt a bit more relaxed. At least now she had something concrete to focus on, no longer troubled by how to respond to Alex's enthusiasm. She carefully entered her account information, hoping her actions didn't appear too clumsy.
As the conversation continued, Emily gradually found some comfort. Although she was still not adept at handling Alex's enthusiasm, when the topic turned to environmental issues they both cared about, Emily found herself able to talk freely. She was surprised to discover that despite their different personalities, they resonated on many viewpoints.
Just as they were engrossed in conversation, a woman in a business suit walked out of the office, holding a folder.
"Emily Chen?" she called.
Emily stood up, suddenly feeling nervous again. But this time, there was a hint of anticipation mixed with the nervousness.
"You'll do great, Emily," Alex said sincerely, "Remember, you're the best."
Emily took a deep breath, nodding gratefully to Alex. The corners of her mouth turned up involuntarily as she followed the woman into the interview office, filled with newfound confidence.
As she stepped into the office, Emily felt as if she had entered another world. The spacious, brightly lit room was dominated by a massive conference table in the center. Across the table sat three interviewers, their gazes fixed squarely on Emily.
Just as Emily was about to sit down, her eyes were drawn to a person at the end of the table. That man... wasn't he the one from the elevator? His face remained expressionless, but those piercing blue eyes seemed to be sizing her up.
Emily felt a wave of dizziness, unsure if it was from nervousness or the sudden surprise. She took a deep breath, telling herself she must stay calm. No matter what happened, this interview was crucial for her. She recalled Alex's warm words of encouragement, feeling her strength return. Emily straightened her back, ready to face the challenges ahead.