Xinyue slept like the world had finally paused for her, cocooned in her soft blanket and fluffy sweater still lingering faintly with the scent of vanilla soap. Her dreams were a strange mix of everything and nothing ~ rain-drenched streets, flashes of lightning, a tall, shadowed figure, and then the ordinary calm of her room at home. Sometimes she laughed softly in her sleep, other times she shivered, lost somewhere between reality and imagination.
The sunlight was still soft when her phone jolted her awake.
"Ugh…" she mumbled, blinking at the glowing screen. The time read 9:00 a.m. ~ and she froze. Three missed calls flashed across the display, all from the Wei Group HR line. Her heart jumped.
"Wha… what?" she stammered, fumbling for the phone as she yawned, still half tangled in her blanket. "Hello? H-hello?"
"Xinyue? Good morning! This is HR from Wei Group," the cheerful voice said. "We wanted to let you know… you've been selected for the management trainee position you applied for yesterday!"
Xinyue's jaw dropped. For a moment, all she could do was stare at the phone. Then the words hit her brain like fireworks. She squealed, bouncing on her bed.
"I… really? Really? Thank you so much! Thank you!" she said, nearly tripping over her blanket, speaking so fast she barely paused to breathe. "Yes, yes, I'll… I'll be there! Thank you!"
She hung up, still trembling with excitement, her chest heaving. The city outside the window suddenly looked brighter, the sun higher, the world smaller and full of possibilities.
Strangely enough she had 10 Minutes of Miracle Energy.
Xinyue moved with astonishing speed, fueled by adrenaline and joy.
She grabbed her minty toothbrush, scrubbing in long, rhythmic strokes while humming a tune from graduation day. A glance in the mirror made her grin ~ today, everything felt possible.
Out came a small bowl of custard she had prepped the night before. She savored the creamy sweetness, spoon clinking against the porcelain, fueling her for the first day of her new adventure.
Her tiny succulent, Minmin, sat by the window, a green reminder of patience and growth. She gently tilted the watering can, letting a few drops trickle into the soil, whispering softly, "Grow strong, Minmin. Today's a good day."
Ten minutes flat, she somehow managed a warm, fragrant shower, the steam curling around her like a soft morning fog. She hummed absentmindedly, letting the water wash away yesterday's worries while thinking of the job waiting for her.
Wrapped in her cozy robe, Xinyue tapped out calls to Meilin and Yiqing.
"Meilin! Guess what? I got the job! At Wei Group! Can you believe it?" she gushed, clapping her hands mid-call.
Meilin shrieked with joy, Yiqing whistled. The room echoed with laughter as Xinyue bounced on her heels, cheeks flushed from excitement.
Finally, She dressed in a neat, professional outfit ~ a soft cream blouse paired with a navy skirt, her hair pulled into a tidy half-up style. She grabbed her folder, her phone, and a small bag, ready to conquer her first day.
In less than ten minutes, her entire morning had transformed from groggy sleepiness to electric anticipation.
"Alright, Xinyue," she whispered to herself, planting her feet firmly on the floor. "Let's go make today unforgettable."
With that, she dashed out the door, Minmin's little pot winking at her from the windowsill.