Sun Wen brought Qin Guanglin to a restaurant named **Chuan Lu Wei Du**. The storefront wasn't large, but its refined decor made it stand out. Inside, the space was clean and inviting, giving off a comfortable vibe. However, the restaurant was busy, and there were barely any empty seats left.
A slightly plump waiter led the two of them to a table, handed them the menu, and hurried off to attend to other customers. It was obvious that he was swamped.
Sun Wen ordered two dishes and then passed the menu to Qin Guanglin. Qin Guanglin scanned the menu and added three more dishes. His tall and sturdy frame hinted at his large appetite, and he wasn't one to hold back when it came to food, especially since it had been a while since they last met.
"Hello, we're ready to order," Qin Guanglin said, shaking the menu slightly to get the attention of a waitress who had just cleared a nearby table. She nodded, took their order, and left to handle other tasks.
Sun Wen glanced at the bottles of liquor displayed near the entrance and smacked his lips. "What a pity I have to work later. Otherwise, I'd have a drink or two with you."
"Forget it. You already know how terrible my drinking is. Besides, I've got things to do this afternoon," Qin Guanglin replied.
Sun Wen laughed heartily. "That's why I *want* to drink with you!" He seemed genuinely happy to see his friend again. "Anyway, since you're planning to work here, there'll be plenty of opportunities in the future."
"Don't jump to conclusions," Qin Guanglin said with a smile. "I'm just here to check things out. Nothing's set in stone."
Pouring tea for both of them, Sun Wen said confidently, "Once you take a look, you'll see it's a perfect fit for you."
"Should I just go straight to the inspection?" Qin Guanglin's primary concern was understanding the work content before making a decision.
For him, either the job had to be idle but well-paying, have enough technical depth for career growth, or be entirely cost-effective. Otherwise, staying home and freelancing made more sense.
"It's an interview, not a test. Feel free to ask questions. It's a two-way evaluation. But I'm telling you—if you're interested, you'll have no problem getting the job. It's all about whether *you* want it." Sun Wen's tone was brimming with confidence.
Qin Guanglin nodded. He couldn't deny that was true. A direct interview seemed like the best approach—he'd decide after seeing everything for himself.
Suddenly, Sun Wen leaned in conspiratorially. "There are a few beautiful women at the studio, and they're single."
Qin Guanglin chuckled. "Look at you, a guy over six feet acting sneaky. It's ridiculous. If you're interested, why don't you pursue them yourself?"
"Hey, I've got a girlfriend already. I'm just trying to help my bro out," Sun Wen replied, feigning indignation.
"Well, it's a coincidence because I have one too," Qin Guanglin said casually.
"Wait, really?" Sun Wen looked genuinely surprised.
"Really."
"Show me a picture, then."
"Nope," Qin Guanglin replied calmly, shaking his head.
"No picture? Then I don't believe you," Sun Wen said, rolling his eyes. "You? A girlfriend? All you do is sit at home and draw all day."
"Believe what you want," Qin Guanglin said with a shrug.
Sun Wen sighed dramatically. "You're so secretive. Back in school, I'd have introduced her to everyone by now."
Their conversation shifted to another topic when Sun Wen brought up some news. "Oh, by the way, Yu Fei's getting married soon. He's finalizing the date."
"When?" Qin Guanglin asked, interested. Yu Fei was the first in their group of friends to tie the knot.
"Not sure yet. He just mentioned it recently. You think 3,500 yuan would be an appropriate gift?"
"Sounds reasonable. After all, we'll get it back at our own weddings," Qin Guanglin replied.
"True," Sun Wen agreed. "But honestly, I think 2,000 would be enough. There are so many friends left to get married—it's going to add up."
"The last one to get married will be the unluckiest," Qin Guanglin joked. "And once the kids start arriving, we'll be back to giving money for gifts again."
"Don't remind me," Sun Wen groaned. He suddenly felt the weight of adulthood. "Life was so much simpler back in school."
Qin Guanglin laughed. "Get used to it. You're not escaping the cycle."
As they chatted, the waitress brought their dishes and left quickly to handle other customers.
While eating, Qin Guanglin's phone buzzed.
**Lost and Waiting to Return**: Finished eating?
**Dense Forest**: Eating now. You?
**Lost and Waiting to Return**: Just finished. Thought of you.
**Dense Forest**: I'm out running errands. Let's meet in the afternoon?
**Lost and Waiting to Return**: Another day. I have to work on my paper today.
**Dense Forest**: Got it.
**Dense Forest**: I thought of you too.
**Lost and Waiting to Return**: I know. Eat well.
Putting his phone down, Qin Guanglin noticed Sun Wen smirking. Without lifting his head, Sun Wen said, "That was your girlfriend, wasn't it?"
"Eat your food," Qin Guanglin replied nonchalantly.
"Look at you, smiling like that. It's obvious," Sun Wen teased.
"You're the one smiling like that. I'm just being normal."
After their meal, Qin Guanglin tried to pay, but Sun Wen insisted it was his treat. They left the restaurant together, standing for a moment by the entrance.
"Where to now?" Qin Guanglin asked. He wasn't sure if heading to the company at this hour was appropriate.
Sun Wen thought for a moment. "Lunch break isn't over yet. I'll take you to the company so you can rest a bit before the interview."
"Is that okay?" Qin Guanglin hesitated.
"Of course it is. You're just visiting," Sun Wen replied confidently, leading the way.
The studio wasn't what Qin Guanglin had expected. Instead of a cramped rented apartment, it was a large, open workspace in an office district. The desks were scattered, with drawing tables and scanners tucked into corners. The walls were decorated with various cartoon characters.
The atmosphere was casual and creative. Some people were chatting, while others rested or worked on their drawings. A few noticed Sun Wen and greeted him.
"Sun Wen, is this your friend?"
"Yeah," Sun Wen replied. "He's here for an interview later."
In a low voice, he explained to Qin Guanglin, "Everyone here is pretty young. The oldest is only 25. The vibe is great."
Qin Guanglin nodded, observing the quirky outfits of a few staff members. Some were dressed in cosplay-like clothing, which amused him.
Sun Wen led Qin Guanglin to a sofa and began explaining the studio's daily operations. "We mainly collaborate on short stories for partner companies, but we're also preparing a longer series for new media. Those two women over there are screenwriters and editors. The guy in the bear costume? Don't ask—he's just like that."
As Sun Wen introduced everything, Qin Guanglin began to think this might actually be a good fit for him.
~~~•~~~~•~~~•~~~•~~~•~~~•~~•
I do remember that telling you what NN should i use right in the earlier chapter? Just to comment if you don't like the current one