Chapter 15#

World 1: The Tragic Supporting Male Lead Changes the Script Online#

Cang Ming, Xu Yizhi, Qin Zishi, and two other interviewers were now sitting in a small conference room, watching the surveillance footage on the big screen.

Gong Cheng walked into the interview room with a notebook and a pen, while Thomson was already nestled on the sofa waiting. He crossed his legs and furrowed his brows, looking very impatient. He had to leave work early today to prepare for his vacation tomorrow.

Gong Cheng walked over with a smile and asked politely, “Senior, may I sit?”

He spoke fluent and authentic American English.

Hearing the familiar accent, Thomson’s expression softened a lot, and he asked, “You call me Senior, are you also a Yale graduate?”

“Yes, I studied finance, eleven years after you. Your achievements in the technical field are often used by our mentors to educate us juniors. You are an idol to many.” Gong Cheng’s eyes shone with admiration.

“Is that so? It seems that after so many years of graduation, the teachers haven’t forgotten me. Hello, I’m Eddie Thomson, nice to meet you in China.”

Thomson, who was nestled on the sofa, stood up and shook Gong Cheng’s hand, finally showing a few smiles on his face. A rebellious genius like him couldn’t resist sincere praise.

The same educational background and life experience made the conversation between the two smoother and deeper.

Qin Zishi watched Gong Cheng’s performance on the surveillance screen, nodded silently, and then ticked a few red checks on the review form. The other two interviewers also showed appreciative smiles.

Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi sat in the middle, one looking at the screen expressionlessly with a straight back, the other playing with a black gold lighter with a faint smile, leaning lazily on the sofa.

So far, Qin Zishi couldn’t tell what the two bosses thought of Gong Cheng. But with Gong Cheng’s strength, eliminating Qin Qing should be destined. A high school student and a top student from an international famous school were simply incomparable.

Qin Zishi lowered his head and smiled sarcastically.

At this time, he received a text message from Qin Huaichuan asking if Qin Qing’s interview went smoothly.

Qin Zishi turned the phone screen to Cang Ming, explained in a low voice, and then replied: [Not very smoothly. President Cang thinks Big Brother’s diploma is too low and wants to brush him off. I pleaded for Big Brother, and President Cang gave him a chance for my sake. But his opponent is Gong Cheng, a top student from Yale University. The disparity in strength between the two is too great.]

[A top student from Yale University? What did he study?]

[Finance, he worked on Wall Street for several years and is very famous in the industry. Search online, and you can see his information.]

Qin Zishi propped his forehead and waited silently. He knew that Qin Huaichuan would definitely search for Gong Cheng’s information.

Seeing those glorious resumes, would he still think his biological son was the best? Putting Qin Qing into Lanyu through the back door, he didn’t know what Qin Huaichuan was thinking. Was he getting old and confused?

Qin Zishi hooked his lips and smiled sarcastically again.

A few minutes later, Qin Huaichuan sent a message: [I’ve seen it, he is a very outstanding talent. Tell Qin Qing not to be too disappointed. If he is eliminated, he can come back to work at Qin Corporation. He still needs training.]

[Okay, I will comfort him.]

Qin Zishi put the phone face down on the table and stopped looking at the disgusting messages. Qin Qing still needs training? So Qin Huaichuan is planning to use him as a whetstone for Qin Qing to practice?

A son raised for twenty-five years, discarded just like that? How cold-blooded!

Qin Qing, I’m really sorry. It’s not that I want to target you, but this family can’t have me if it has you. Thinking like this, a trace of sinister darkness appeared in Qin Zishi’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Qin Qing was standing in the restroom, tidying his hair in front of a mirror. He used his wet fingers to scratch his jet-black smooth hair into a natural shape.

A few strands of hair fell on his forehead, half-covering his eyebrows that flew into his temples and his slightly upturned peach blossom eyes. The black suit was simple yet designed, outlining his slender and flexible body lines extremely fittingly.

Broad shoulders, a thin and powerful waist, and a pair of overly straight long legs. He didn’t look like a job seeker at all, but rather exuded an elegant, classical, and noble aura.

996 squatted on the sink and said angrily, “Qin Qing, you will die if you don’t follow the plot!”

Qin Qing took off his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, revealing his deep and sexy collarbone. Just such a small change gave his meticulous attire a touch of free and easy flavor.

Making sure his image was fine, he folded the black striped silk tie into a flower shape and put it in his suit pocket as a decoration, then lowered his head and slowly washed his hands.

He turned a deaf ear to 996’s nagging.

996 said unwillingly, “I have the script in my hand. I know what a bleak life you will face next. If you are willing to cooperate with me, I can go easy on you so you don’t have to live too hard. Do you think you can succeed in the interview today? Let me tell you, it’s impossible!”

Qin Qing opened the door and walked out of the restroom, with a faint and gentle smile on his face.

The previous frustration, hatred, and madness had all been suppressed deep in his heart.

996 chased after Qin Qing in a trot: “Qin Qing, Qin Qing, let’s make a deal. I’ll tell you the plot points, and you follow them. I won’t care how you do it anymore, okay? Push the plot forward so we can break the loop and get out alive!”

Qin Qing walked forward on his own, completely ignoring the plot, loop, or death. The obsession was gone, the inner demon was broken, he just wanted to live happily according to his own will.

“This interview segment is not in the script, but I can give you Thomson’s information. I can find what others can’t. You can only do the interview well if you get the information, right? I helped you, you help me too, okay?” 996 had never been so humble.

Qin Qing walked to the rest area on the 19th floor and sat down, checking Thomson’s information on his phone. It was just some superficial stuff, but it was enough.

No matter what 996 said, it seemed unable to move him.

996 circled around Qin Qing, the whole cat very anxious. Slowly, it neither threatened nor begged, but instead showed a fierce expression.

“Fine, meow! Do whatever you want! Going against the plot, you definitely won’t have a good end! Many things before have proven that the established fate cannot be changed at all! Let’s see how you embarrass yourself later!”

996 spat at Qin Qing and then ran away in a flash.

In the conference room, Cang Ming, Xu Yizhi, and others were still watching the surveillance footage on the big screen.

Gong Cheng’s interview was getting better and better. He knew Thomson’s papers like the back of his hand, and was well aware of Thomson’s achievements. He could easily use profound professional terms and fully understood complex scientific principles.

The communication between the two was completely barrier-free, moving from work to life, and then to family. Hearty laughter frequently erupted in the interview room.

Half an hour later, Thomson stood up and shook hands with Gong Cheng, saying sincerely, “It was a pleasure chatting with you. I hope you can become my colleague.”

“We will meet often in the future.” Gong Cheng shook Thomson’s hand firmly.

The interview ended just like that, everything went smoothly. Thomson explained his work plan for the next ten years to Gong Cheng in detail. This content should be the most valuable for the company.

Gong Cheng pushed open the door of the interview room and walked out. At a glance, he saw Qin Qing sitting at the end of the corridor, playing with his phone absent-mindedly.

The appearance, temperament, and figure of this competitor made him stare blankly. In a trance, he thought this was not a technology company, but an entertainment company specializing in cultivating international male models or top superstars.

However, in Lanyu, which is more important, appearance or talent?

In just a moment, Gong Cheng smiled indifferently and walked into the conference room to submit his interview notes.

“Gong Cheng, you performed excellently.” Qin Zishi clapped his hands with a smile.

The other two interviewers also gave a few comments, all of which were praises without exception.

Gong Cheng suppressed his self-satisfaction, said a few humble words, and then respectfully placed the notes in front of Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi. There were also two application materials on the table, one was his, and the other was his competitor’s.

Gong Cheng glanced quickly and then showed an incomprehensible expression. Qin Qing, high school graduate, less than one year of work experience, what the hell is this? How did a high school student get into the interview list?

Cang Ming didn’t pick up the notes. His tightly furrowed brows and cold eyes showed his dissatisfaction.

Xu Yizhi smiled gently and waved his hand, saying, “You sit here and wait first, and watch your competitor’s performance by the way.”

A high school student, what performance could he have? Gong Cheng criticized in his heart, but smiled gently on his face: “Okay, President Xu.”

A female secretary called Qin Qing into the interview room.

Thomson was playing with his phone. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and his eyes lit up. But the next second, he frowned because of Qin Qing’s shirt that wasn’t buttoned to the top.

No tie, exposed collarbone, slightly messy hair, peach blossom eyes with a thin red tint. This attire, this appearance, was really too undignified.

Compared with Gong Cheng, who was dressed like an elite, Qin Qing’s first impression on Thomson was not very good. But he was very handsome, a beauty that transcended race and gender, so Thomson quickly forgave him.

“Hello, what’s your name?” Thomson asked in English.

“Hello, my name is Qin Qing. I’m sorry, I don’t understand English very well. Can we communicate in Chinese?” Qin Qing extended his hand and asked in Chinese.

“Of course. Please sit.” Thomson forgave Qin Qing again, but wondered secretly in his heart.

People who can receive Lanyu’s interview notice are generally top students from international top universities, yet this person in front of him couldn’t even speak English.

“Pfft…” Gong Cheng covered his mouth, but still couldn’t stop a slight sneer.

Can’t even speak English, is this person here to be funny? Why did President Cang and President Xu keep him until the end? Let alone competing with himself, he is not even as good as those interviewers who were eliminated first!

Gong Cheng lowered his head, hiding the dissatisfaction and ridicule in his eyes.

Qin Zishi glanced at Gong Cheng, then looked at Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi. His heart, which was always shrouded in haze, actually felt a long-lost relaxation and happiness. He realized that he had already obtained something from the Qin family that Qin Qing could never get in his life, and that was education—aristocratic, elite education.

996 slipped into the interview room, squatted on the coffee table, and mocked, “Qin Qing, you can’t even speak English, how can you work in an international big company?”

Qin Qing ignored 996 and said, “Dr. Thomson, I have admired you for a long time. I have read a paper you published recently. The space-based information engineering you designed—”

Thomson, who originally had a gentle attitude, now had a gloomy face and corrected with emphasis: “It’s not space-based information engineering, it’s aerospace base information engineering.”

Even such a simple sentence was wrong, is this person technically illiterate?

996 held its belly and laughed: “Meow meow meow, Qin Qing, you are so embarrassing! What big knife are you playing in front of Guan Gong?”

Gong Cheng hooked his lips, and the contemptuous smile in his eyes deepened a few degrees.

Qin Zishi pretended to be embarrassed to look at Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi’s expressions, and then appropriately showed some embarrassed looks.

“Sorry, my brother hasn’t read many books.” He whispered to the two interviewers.

These words were naturally also said for Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi to hear. Although he didn’t understand why Xu Yizhi wanted to give Qin Qing a chance, now he felt very fortunate. Fortunate that Qin Qing didn’t run away, but chose to seize this opportunity.

Otherwise, how could he show his stupidity and ignorance so vividly like now?

Everyone was embarrassed for Qin Qing, but he himself was completely unaffected.

His smile was still as gentle and modest as when he first entered the door: “That’s not important.” He waved his hand.

Thomson: “…” You said you read my paper, but you even read the paper topic wrong, and you say it’s not important? You are too disrespectful, right?

However, Qin Qing soon let Thomson know that even more disrespectful remarks were yet to come.

“This project opened the door to interstellar travel for mankind. But it is said that its core technology is based on Dr. Zhao Xuming’s four-dimensional coordinate calculation formula. First came Dr. Zhao Xuming’s calculation formula, and then your paper. Academically, you should have been greatly influenced by Dr. Zhao, right? Are you his admirer?”

Dr. Zhao Xuming was the previous technical director of Lanyu Technology. He resigned due to severe depression, and then Thomson joined.

In the technical field, the two are in a relationship where kings do not see kings.

Qin Qing’s remarks would inevitably make Thomson extremely disgusted, and thus resist this interview.

Gong Cheng blinked, completely unexpected that there would be such a stupid person in the world.

Qin Zishi pressed the table with one hand and held his forehead with the other, his ears slightly red, seemingly too embarrassed to look up at people. But inside, he repeatedly tasted the surging pleasure and superiority.

So what about the Qin family bloodline? He was eventually ruined by his mother. The money spent for his mother seemed to have produced its due value.

An interviewer sitting next to Qin Zishi patted him on the shoulder and comforted, “After all, he was brought back from outside and hasn’t been educated…” The words were full of contempt.

Qin Zishi waved his hand, ashamed.

Completely different from the contemptuous attitude of the three interviewers, Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi crossed their long legs, leaned forward slightly, and looked at the big screen seriously.

Cang Ming still had no expression, but his eyes became extremely focused. The faint smile on Xu Yizhi’s lips had completely disappeared, and the whole person appeared unusually serious.

In the interview room, Thomson was already roaring angrily: “What nonsense are you talking about! My aerospace base uses completely my own technology, and has nothing to do with Zhao Xuming! Plagiarism and copying are serious accusations!”

Qin Qing still smiled gently and politely, but his words were even more infuriating: “Sorry, I have no intention of accusing you. However, it was precisely because Dr. Zhao Xuming resigned voluntarily that you got this job, wasn’t it?”

“It was Cang Ming who spent a lot of money to poach me!” Thomson clenched his fists, his eyes wide with anger.

“Do you think you can take over Dr. Zhao’s burden? After you take over, will Lanyu start to go downhill in the field of technological innovation?”

“How could that be! I will definitely create new glory for Lanyu!”

“But you can’t even solve the BUG of the new product.”

“I want a vacation! The BUG is due to Zhao Xuming’s design flaw!”

“So you can’t solve Dr. Zhao’s design flaw? Your technology should be a bit worse than his, right? But I can understand you, after all, you are younger than him.” Qin Qing pretended to comfort gently and considerately.

But Thomson wasn’t comforted at all. In just a few minutes of conversation, his face had turned green with anger.

The interview continued. If Gong Cheng’s style was friendly and harmonious, reaching deep into the soul, then Qin Qing’s style was constantly stepping on and pulling down, with words like knives.

Thomson was so angry that he jumped up and down several times, constantly recounting his various research results in an attempt to prove that he was the best scientist.

“Dr. Zhao’s flying arc algorithm is said to be more advanced than your BROVO algorithm, you—”

After being stepped on again, Thomson couldn’t bear it anymore, slapped the sofa armrest and stood up, pointing at the door and roaring angrily: “Interview over! Get out! My BROVO algorithm…”

A bunch of gibberish followed, all of which were Thomson’s detailed explanation of the BROVO algorithm.

After speaking, he sneered: “Why am I telling you so much, you can’t understand anyway! You go!”

996 covered its mouth with its chubby paws and gloated, “Meow, laughing to death, Qin Qing! You performed so stupidly! Cang Ming is watching you, you will never want to work in Lanyu in this life! Xu Yizhi is also watching you, finding that you are a big idiot, he will definitely feel disgusted. You will get nothing in the end!”

However, as soon as the voice fell, 996’s excited mood fell to the bottom.

Meow, Qin Qing is so insidious!

The script recorded that the original owner repeatedly begged Qin Zishi to enter Lanyu to work. Subsequently, he caused a series of disasters in his work, asking Qin Zishi to wipe his ass frequently. In this process, Cang Ming was fed up with the original owner’s stupidity and repeatedly witnessed Qin Zishi’s excellence, so the two slowly came together.

Now that Qin Qing has completely ruined the opportunity to work in Lanyu, he doesn’t have to follow the subsequent plot! He has completely broken away from the track of fate!

Without Qin Qing as a foil, will Cang Ming still see Qin Zishi’s shining points?

Damn it! This person is so bad! His trick succeeded again!

996 was so angry that its head smoked, jumped off the coffee table, and scratched Qin Qing’s heel fiercely with its claws.

Qin Qing stood up and nodded politely: “I apologize if I have offended you. But Dr. Zhao’s ability is obvious to all. As his successor, it is natural for the company to have doubts about your ability, don’t you think?”

“Think my ass! Get out of here!” Thomson lost his temper and cursed a few dirty words pointing at the door.

Qin Qing smiled indifferently, then slowly left the interview room.

996 chased out, scratching Qin Qing’s trouser legs all the way.

The second interview ended, very hastily and very unpleasantly.

In the conference room, Cang Ming took two review forms from Qin Zishi and looked through them casually. Gong Cheng’s review form was full of red checks, while Qin Qing’s review form was all crosses.

Cang Ming frowned tightly and glanced at Qin Zishi with cold eyes.

Qin Zishi’s heart froze instantly. Those feelings of superiority, pride, and happiness all turned into powder.

Only at this moment did Qin Zishi truly understand what Qin Qing was doing. From playing dumb at the beginning to pressing step by step later, how could Qin Qing be stupid? On the contrary, he was too smart! He knew better than anyone what the purpose of this interview was.

Everyone present was a top student from an international famous school, but none of them saw through the true intentions of President Cang and President Xu. Not only that, they also thought they were the smartest people.

They looked down on Qin Qing and mocked his stupidity in their hearts, but these two review forms had already exposed their stupidity completely.

Qin Zishi’s cheeks flushed red, his head lowered, completely daring not to look at Cang Ming’s expression. Before, he pretended to be ashamed, but now, he was truly embarrassed.

Xu Yizhi reached out to the other two interviewers: “Let me see the review forms.”

The other two interviewers had also realized it by now, holding the forms in their hands, hesitating to hand them over. However, this resistance was futile. With a light glance from Xu Yizhi, the two handed over the forms with shame on their faces.

Gong Cheng’s score was very high, close to 100, while Qin Qing’s score was deducted completely at the beginning.

Xu Yizhi shook his head and laughed while flipping through the forms, his low laughter making everyone’s scalp numb.

Compared to President Cang’s coldness, this one’s unpredictability was more frightening.

Sitting aside, Gong Cheng’s face turned red and white, unusually embarrassed. If he could, he really wanted to disappear immediately. Never had a moment like now made him feel the frustration that there is always someone better. And never had a moment like now made him realize that his ability was still so insufficient.

Xu Yizhi’s lazy gaze swept across everyone’s face, and then he hooked his lips and beckoned the secretary waiting by the door, “Amy, go tell Thomson to take a vacation tomorrow.”

The female secretary nodded in agreement, entered the interview room, and said according to Xu Yizhi’s prior instructions: “Dr. Thomson, President Cang and President Xu have approved your vacation. You don’t need to come to the company tomorrow. We will contact Dr. Zhao to handle the BUG of the new product—”

Before Amy could finish speaking, Thomson said with a gloomy face: “Tell President Cang and President Xu that I won’t take a vacation! If there’s nothing else, I’m going back to the technical department. I still have a lot of work to do. In three days, the new product launch conference will definitely be held normally.”

The door was slammed shut by Thomson with a bang. Amy looked up at the surveillance camera hanging in the corner.

Xu Yizhi watched this scene and applauded happily.

“This interview was wonderful.” He chuckled repeatedly.

Cang Ming threw the two review forms back to Qin Zishi, his tone cold: “If you were also the interviewers this time, I would give you zero points.”

Qin Zishi’s flushed cheeks turned pale. The other two interviewers wished they could bury their heads under the table.

Gong Cheng stood up tremblingly and took the initiative to stand in the corner, like a child punished by a teacher. The confidence and arrogance when he first entered Lanyu had now turned into deep doubt about himself.

Just then, Qin Qing walked into the conference room led by Amy.

996 circled around his feet and said happily, “Meow, I want to hear Cang Ming’s evaluation of you. It must be very harsh and cruel!”

Qin Qing smiled without saying a word and looked up. There were many people sitting in the conference room, but the first person he looked at was not Cang Ming, who had a strong presence and the highest status, but Xu Yizhi.

Their appreciative gazes touched lightly in the air, and Xu Yizhi, whose expression was unpredictable, suddenly showed a pleasant smile.

“Qin Qing, which one of you do you think will be the winner today?” He propped his forehead and asked with interest.

Qin Qing looked straight at him, his voice soft but certain: “May I ask when I can report to the company?”

Xu Yizhi didn’t expect him to give such an answer. After a slight stun, he clapped his hands and laughed loudly.

Even Cang Ming rarely showed a gentle face.

996 jumped three feet high, its tone extremely disgusted: “Qin Qing, besides being stupid, you are actually so shameless!”