Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 324, Section 322: What is "first impressions"?

Li Zhi seems a bit strange.

Upon hearing Gu Caiwei's description, Zhou Mingyuan immediately made his first reaction.

For about a week, the short-haired girl maintained a dismissive attitude towards him.

That's right.

Unlike her usual aloofness, this seemed like a deliberate coldness, rejection, and retreat.

Indifferent and aloof.

I don't completely ignore private messages.

But this is limited to essential information.

For example, there are legal papers co-authored by the two, and news about the work of Mingli Company and Leying Law Firm.

All other content about life, feelings, and daily routines seems to sink without a trace, failing to receive a timely response from the other party.

That's strange, has something happened recently?

With a keen eye, Zhou Mingyuan picked up a slice of chilled watermelon and couldn't help but quietly begin to review the situation.

"Hey, that's right."

Gu Caiwei was cooking sliced ​​beef in the hot pot, her slender fingers gripping the chopsticks tightly, her wrists moving lightly up and down in a ritual of three rises and three falls.

The light shone on her sharply defined jawline, her brown hair was tied in a ponytail, and her profile was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Ok?"

"I heard it from Little Lychee."

A slice of fatty beef rolled around in a dish of sesame oil and minced garlic before being put into the mouth.

Gu Caiwei gently dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin, then raised her eyes, her beautiful eyes appearing exceptionally bright amidst the misty steam.

"Your media company has all kinds of beautiful women."

A soft, sweet voice rang in the man's ear.

The two sat side by side, and many topics that were previously difficult to discuss became natural and casual.

"Is it true?"

"Yes."

Zhou Mingyuan readily admitted it.

"Because there are already a lot of people submitting their resumes, we will definitely select the best candidates and choose those with special skills or outstanding talents to join the company."

"I see"

Gu Caiwei drawled out the last syllable.

She pronounced the word "oh" with great emphasis, her gaze returning to Zhou Mingyuan's face, her smile still bright.

"Then wouldn't you be living the dream of happiness?"

"Being surrounded by so many talented girls every day."

"Looking at beautiful women and their talents every day will definitely raise your aesthetic threshold to a very, very high level."

"."

Zhou Mingyuan turned his head, looked at Gu Caiwei's expression, and said with a smile.

"Work is work. What I value is potential, professionalism, sustainability, and most importantly, a strong sense of contract."

"Do you think this is a selection of imperial concubines?"

"Oh~"

Gu Caiwei lowered her eyes and gently stirred the lettuce slices in the bowl.

Is not it?
She muttered to herself.

Of course, that's not the right way to put it; she immediately tried a different approach.

"I understand, work is work."

"However, even from the boss's perspective, besides these hard criteria, when hiring, there's always a type that's a plus, right?"

She tilted her chin up and turned her head, just in time to meet Zhou Mingyuan's gaze.

For example, do you prefer someone with a lively and outgoing personality? Or do you prefer someone gentle and considerate?

"Or perhaps someone with particularly distinctive personal characteristics, such as outstanding looks that make them unforgettable? After all, in the entertainment industry, being visually appealing is itself an important form of productivity, right?"

Gu Caiwei truly lives up to her name.

Even when she asks questions that interest her, she'll leave you an out.

Instead of directly asking what type of person the other party likes, she cleverly anchored the question within the safe zone of recruitment preferences.

Advance to attack, retreat to defend.

If Zhou Mingyuan's answer is too specific or personal, she can then delve deeper into it.

If he continues to act strictly by business, she can easily deflect the situation by bringing up recruitment, maintaining her nonchalant demeanor.

"."

The two looked at each other.

Gu Caiwei's eyes were clear and bright, and she looked completely natural, as if she were genuinely just curious about corporate management issues.

Digging a hole, huh?

Zhou Mingyuan wasn't stupid; he could naturally tell what the other party really wanted to know and what their focus was.

He deliberately thought for several seconds without saying a word.

For Gu Caiwei, the silence felt like an endless century.

The hot pot was bubbling and boiling, the couple at the next table were laughing and joking, and the waiter was doing a birthday dance.
So lively.

Every second of delay seemed to intensify her anticipation.

"Um"

Zhou Mingyuan finally spoke.

"If we only consider it from a work perspective, setting aside all personal emotional factors..."

"Personally, I might prefer someone who's smarter."

He gave a key word.

"clever?"

Gu Caiwei looked up almost immediately, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes.

This answer was somewhat unexpected.

She had many ideas.

For example, lively, gentle, beautiful, or even sexy.

But clever
What good is being smart?

Her probing was like punching cotton.

"Yes, smart."

Zhou Mingyuan nodded, his expression serious.

"But the intelligence mentioned here does not refer to good academic performance or being clever in a petty way."

I'm referring to a comprehensive quality.

"They can quickly understand the company's strategic direction, grasp our core content creation goals, know where the audience's emotional triggers are, and have low communication costs."

"I quickly understood why this meme became popular and why that kind of interaction was effective."

The man looked at Gu Caiwei's thoughtful expression and continued.

"Smart people are more empathetic and have better judgment."

"They can manage interpersonal relationships within the team well, and they won't get arrogant because they've become popular, nor will they worry day and night about the data."

"Knowing what to say in what situation, knowing how to collaborate with colleagues, and how to build healthy and lasting connections with fans."

"Not creating trouble and not spreading negativity are, in my opinion, very valuable qualities."

"That's it"

Gu Caiwei bit her lip.

The answer is impeccable.

It even gave her a deeper understanding of Zhou Mingyuan's business acumen.

But this wasn't the answer she wanted most!

That's not what she wanted to hear at all.

After all that buildup, we still haven't gotten a more personal description, one that's closer to his inner emotional orientation.

This conclusion, based on efficiency and team management, left her feeling somewhat disappointed.

It was as if he had swung his sword with all his might, but hadn't even touched the hem of the other person's clothes.

"No?"

"that's it?"

Gu Caiwei couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, and the dimples that had appeared at the corners of her mouth disappeared.

"Don't you consider first impressions at all when you're hiring?"

"Don't you look at your first impression?"

"For example, their temperament, their speech, their overall impression, and so on?" "Can you tell if someone is smart or not at first glance?"

She tried to steer the conversation back to a more subjective level.

But the next second, what Gu Caiwei saw was the unthinking smile in the man's eyes.

"I came here because I felt a connection with them at first sight."

Zhou Mingyuan leaned forward slightly, resting his arm on the edge of the table, his cheek pressed against the side, half of his body turned around.

"You think this is dating?"

"Judging someone's fate at first glance is not a fair approach to recruitment."

The steam rising from the hot pot was like a thin veil, blurring the outline of his face.

But the man's eyes shone brightly through the mist, as if they could see right into people's hearts.

"Uh"

Gu Caiwei finally found an opportunity to break in.

"So if that's what you're saying, then you only date based on first impressions?"

"Of course I'll watch."

The man said in a very serious tone.

What do you consider to be "chemistry" or "having a connection"?

Gu Caiwei immediately pressed for more information.

"nice."

The other party was resolute, seemingly without needing to think at all.

"???"

Gu Caiwei was taken aback.

"What's wrong~"

"You only care about looks?"

Gu Caiwei seemed to have heard a joke, crossed her arms, and pursed her cherry lips.

"Can't I judge someone by their looks?"

"Zhou Mingyuan, how come I never realized you were so superficial?"

Gu Caiwei was stunned for a full two seconds.

"Have you ever heard the saying, 'Those who rely on their looks to please others will find their favor waning as their beauty fades'? There are so many good-looking people in the world. If you only like someone because of their appearance, won't you one day like someone else because of their looks?"

"Liking someone simply because of their looks is the most superficial emotion in the world!"

The eighteen-year-old girl put down her chopsticks, fuming as if her surging appetite had vanished.

"No, I haven't finished yet."

Zhou Mingyuan, still with his usual carefree attitude, said, "Don't be in such a hurry."

"Who's in a hurry?"

Gu Caiwei's eyes widened, and she immediately denied it.

"Who said it's all about looks! I didn't even finish my sentence, being good-looking is only one aspect."

Zhou Mingyuan shrugged, rolled his eyes, and raised his elbow to nuzzle the girl next to him.

"What do you say."

I like girls with contrasting personalities.

"Contrast?"

Strange and unusual words.

Gu Caiwei's beautiful eyes darted around, all her senses activated as she analyzed the deeper meaning of the word.

"Yes, the contrast."

Zhou Mingyuan continued to explain.

What kind of contrast is it?

"Okay, let me give you an example."

The man lowered his voice, which had a slightly magnetic quality.

"For example, she might seem like a pampered princess who has never lifted a finger, is completely naive, and has a house and a car by the time she enters her freshman year of college, living a carefree life."

"But in reality, she has her own ideas and opinions."

"Once they've made up their minds, they work hard to overcome difficulties and never give up easily. Sometimes they even work overtime until 11 p.m., showing unexpected resilience and determination."

"That's the contrast between a soft exterior and a resilient interior, isn't it interesting?"

"."

Gu Caiwei immediately turned her head away and looked away.

Who is he talking about?

He's clearly talking about himself!

The girl felt her cheek temperature starting to become uncontrollable.

Who has a house and a car in their freshman year of college and still works overtime until 11 p.m.?
For example...

Zhou Mingyuan didn't seem to have any intention of stopping.

"On the surface, she cares a lot about her image. She will go out and get a manicure during the New Year to enjoy a fine service. She is almost a perfectionist when it comes to herself."

Depend on!
Gu Caiwei blushed instantly.

He actually made a fuss about the manicure incident earlier!

You're practically calling out names, aren't you?
"But when it comes to things you truly love, like food."

The man glanced meaningfully at the mess of cups and plates in front of her.

"You can let go of all your burdens, enjoy the simplest happiness without any pretense, and eat with a smile on your face, which is genuine and lovely."

"That's a kind of contrast too."

What are you doing!
The other party is practically creating a profile through language!

Gu Caiwei was speechless for a moment, and could only stare at him with wide eyes, her heart pounding like a drum.

"besides."

Zhou Mingyuan seemed determined to carry this analysis through to the end.

"Sometimes I can't solve the problem and need help, which is kind of cute in my dazed state."

That's what he's saying.
The difficulties you faced when opening the store, right?
"But occasionally, in certain moments, they display astonishing sharpness, logic, rationality, and..."

Zhou Mingyuan paused deliberately, his eyes filled with a smile, and uttered four words.

"Extremely intelligent".

Right.

This is the same probing that happened just now.

Could it be that he's subtly hinting at his ideal type when hiring?
Gu Caiwei felt her cheeks were so hot they could practically cook a slice of beef.

Blood rushed to my head, and my ears and neck turned crimson.

At this time of day, Haidilao is surrounded by bustling young people.

Best friends, friends, and lovers.

The two were in a special position, surrounded by several couples, who were whispering to each other, picking at their food and talking quietly, their voices mingling with the fragrant and sticky air in the restaurant.

The New Year's atmosphere rose from the ground in an ambiguous way, making people feel slightly uneasy.

She suddenly remembered a sentence.

Before love truly arrives, the body has already sent out subtle signals.

My mind went into overheating, my body was burning, and I was soaking in the warm spring water. Every inch of my skin was sending out silent signals. My heart was teetering on the edge of a teetering position. My chest opened up, feeling empty yet full, holding the name I cared about most in the world.

She instinctively wanted to lower her head, to avoid the man's overly intense gaze, as if that would hide her unbearable shyness and her out-of-control heartbeat.

There's no escaping it.

"you"

She opened her mouth, her throat feeling dry.

She wanted to refute him, to say that he was sophistry, that he was changing the subject, that he was trying to get away with it in this roundabout way, and even to question whether he was using her as a template and reciting from a script!
But when the words were about to come out, he found his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of his chest, his mind blank, and he couldn't form any coherent sentences.

All defenses crumbled under his straightforward description of the contrast, based on her precise portrayal.

Looking at her cheeks flushed with a captivating blush and her eyes sparkling with shimmering light, Zhou Mingyuan knew that the time was almost right.

He knows when to stop while he's ahead.

So he leaned back in his chair, creating some distance between them, giving her a little breathing space.

The man picked up a strainer and, while searching for the cooked shrimp paste in the tomato broth, summarized.

"Don't be fooled by the fact that it sounds simple, pretty, smart, logical, or contrasting. The selection criteria are actually quite high and quite unique."

"It takes at least a long time to get to know the other person's true personality and whether they are suitable for you."

"Not just any pretty girl can easily catch my eye or meet my standards, okay?"

"So, it's very difficult."

(End of this chapter)