Chapter 10: The Shy Macaw

Watching Director Chu walk out of the office door with a beaming smile, Wang Xuan looked back at the resumes on his computer screen with great irritation.

He really couldn't understand it.

How did the old Director take a liking to this person?

But remembering the old Director's instructions, Wang Xuan sighed, silently opened the chat box, and contacted the other party to come in for an interview.

Lin Xiao hadn't expected to receive a reply immediately after sending her resume.

With just a few words, the two of them had arranged the interview for tomorrow.

It wasn't until she saw the interview location and time sent by the other party that Lin Xiao felt as if she were dreaming.

Just like that... they gave her the interview opportunity?

It couldn't be a scam, could it?

Lin Xiao picked up her phone and quickly searched for the interview location. It was indeed the Xihai Zoo, and only then did she pat her chest and feel relieved.

Early the next morning, Lin Xiao quickly packed her things and hurried to the zoo for the interview.

She currently had no academic credentials and no experience; she would be lucky if she could even find a job as a zoo keeper.

When Lin Xiao found the Xihai Zoo, her expression froze for a moment as she looked at the dilapidated main gate.

This place... actually has people in it?

Is this really not an abandoned park?

Lin Xiao poked her head inside to look, only to see overgrown vegetation and a sense of desolation.

Not a single soul could be seen.

Lin Xiao:...

Was the person yesterday really not trolling her?

Just as she was about to turn around and leave, a hurried voice suddenly came from behind her.

"Wait, wait, wait..."

Lin Xiao turned around and saw a young man running toward her with light steps.

His hair was a mess, and his casual clothes were torn and crooked.

He stood at the entrance, gripping the doorframe, and stood on his tiptoes to peer outside for a few glances before asking loudly, "Are you Lin Xiao?"

Seeing the newcomer, Lin Xiao finally felt a sense of reality and immediately nodded.

The mottled gate was pushed open with force, and flakes of rust fell down like snow.

Wang Xuan looked up and motioned for her to come in.

The arrogance on his face was obvious.

Lin Xiao adjusted her face mask, a flash of realization crossing her eyes.

It looked like... this staff member looked down on her?

But... if he looked down on her, why did he ask her to come for an interview?

Could it really be like what people said online—that he was just an HR person trying to hit his KPIs?

Lin Xiao lifted the brim of her baseball cap and followed him silently.

At the end of the small path by the entrance, a dilapidated two-story wooden building appeared before her eyes.

"This is the office building."

When Lin Xiao turned her head, she saw Wang Xuan staring at her intently, as if he were trying to see something specific.

Seeing that she had no reaction, Wang Xuan gave a light click of his tongue, thinking that this person had quite the acting skills.

Seeing such a dilapidated building and not showing even a single reaction?

Wang Xuan didn't believe for a second that this person was being sincere!

Wang Xuan pushed the door open and walked straight to the Director's office.

"Old Chu, I've brought the person."

As the door opened, Lin Xiao immediately saw the elderly man sitting behind the desk.

The old man had white hair and simple clothing; one look told you he had worked in the zoo for many years.

Lin Xiao felt a sense of kinship, and the smile on her face became a bit more sincere.

"Hello, I am Lin Xiao!"

Chu Lian set his pen aside, rested his hands casually on the edge of the desk, and sized up the person in front of him with a beaming smile.

"So... you are Lin Xiao?"

"Not bad, not bad! You look much more spirited than in your photo."

Lin Xiao looked surprised.

The Director actually knew her?

"Director, have you seen me on TV?"

"On TV?" Chu Lian shook his head repeatedly and laughed, "No, no, no, Old Lu was the one who told me about you."

Old Lu?

Lu Chengshen?

Looking at the white-haired Director in front of her, Lin Xiao felt a complex mix of emotions.

Even if Lu Chengshen dressed maturely, it didn't seem like he could carry the weight of an "old" title, did he?

Unaware of Lin Xiao's thoughts, Chu Lian continued to speak incessantly.

"But you understand, in this industry, the thing we hate most is those who are all show and no substance."

"I can't just appoint you because of a few compliments from someone; otherwise, if you can't win people over later, it will become your own trouble."

Hearing this, Lin Xiao froze for a moment.

Did Old Chu mean... he was planning to give her a management position to try out?

Lin Xiao's face was written with eagerness.

There was no helping it; every bit of extra money helped. She was truly desperate for cash right now.

Chu Lian thought for a moment and immediately made a decision.

"How about this? You'll do a half-day trial this afternoon. If there are no problems, we'll consider you to have passed the interview, how about that?"

Looking at Director Chu's beaming face, her lip twitched, her expression hard to read.

Anything goes like this?

However, feeding animals wouldn't be a problem, but she wouldn't accept a single cent less of the pay she was owed.

"Then what about my wages for this half-day?"

Chu Lian walked around from behind the desk, intending to take her to see the grounds, but when he heard this, he suddenly choked. He was speechless for quite a while.

But Lin Xiao acted as if she hadn't noticed anything, asking again very seriously.

Chu Lian was both speechless and amused.

He could only wave his hand irritably, "Give, give, give! It's just half a day's pay, am I going to embezzle it from you?"

Lin Xiao nodded with satisfaction.

"A penny for a penny's worth of work. It's better if we make things clear in advance!"

Her words and mannerisms all screamed "money-grubber."

Chu Lian shook his head helplessly, "You!"

However, even though it was just a trial period, Chu Lian was very serious and responsible as he led Lin Xiao through the zoo.

Although the zoo had limited area, it was well-equipped with predator enclosures, snake houses, and bird aviaries.

"Further ahead are the bird aviaries. Many animals have been sent here one after another this year, so we had no choice but to start hiring."

Chu Lian sighed with great heartache, and he spoke much less as they walked along.

Just then, the sound of flapping wings suddenly came from above.

Lin Xiao instinctively looked up and saw a brightly colored macaw flapping its wings, rushing past the treetops and landing on a branch not far away.

"Liar, liar!"

Amidst the clear and bright parrot cries, a man's helpless and exhausted voice drifted from a distance.

"Xiao Si, don't run!"

Lin Xiao peered over curiously, and in the next second, she suddenly locked eyes with a pair of bright, bead-like eyes.

The next moment, Lin Xiao saw that macaw, with its sparkling eyes, leap quickly from the treetop and charge down.

Judging by the direction it was charging...

Lin Xiao's eyes widened slightly.

Wait, why is he...

Before she could dodge, the parrot slammed into Lin Xiao's arms like a small cannonball.

Lin Xiao was knocked back several steps before she managed to steady herself.

In a daze, she looked down and saw a pair of bead-like eyes looking at her very shyly from amidst a large mass of red feathers.

Wait... shy?

Lin Xiao's lip twitched. Just as she was about to ask where this parrot belonged, she heard the tiny voice of the parrot ringing in her ear.

"Beauty, beauty, you are so pretty!"

"How about I give this feather to you?"

Lin Xiao's pupils shook with shock.

Wait, do you even hear what you're saying?

(End of Chapter)