Shen Dailin:
We are pleased to offer you the position of Associate Analyst at National Commercial Bank, Shenzhen Headquarters. To accept this offer, please scan the 2D code to provide your personal information for background verification within 48 hours.
I don’t read any further. I don’t need to, given the hours of research I’ve poured into this job and company over the past year. Grinning, I navigate through the portal and enter my ID number, tapping my fingers against the side of my phone as I wait for the loading screen to finish processing.
And the screen darkens with a pop-up and ominous red text.
My stomach sinks.
Identity verification not successful. Please try again.
I dig my ID card out to reference it in case I somehow forgot the number, and I go through the portal again.
The servers are busy. Please try again later.
The servers arebusy. Bullshit. That's just the catch-all for when a program wants to get rid of you.
Like, sure, my ID expired a few months ago, but thecardexpires, not theperson. The number is supposed to stay the same for my whole life.
Rolling my eyes, I click out of the menu and scroll down to where I can select a different ID type, grumbling as I wade through a formagain.
There’s no fucking reason for this to be as complicated as it is, seriously. I gave them my ID when I applied, and it was accepted back then.
After uploading a scan of my passport, letting out a frustrated sigh when I get confirmation that my background check is going through manual verification.
At least I filled the form out. They can’t possibly fault me if it takes longer to go through.
I should have gone home last summer and renewed my ID. It’s a small mishap for sure, but it’s another annoying inconvenience of not being in China. One of many that’ll go the hell away when I move back.
Tossing my phone to the side, I let out a sigh and run a hand across my face. My mood really did a full one-eighty in the space of a minute. I’ll have to get a grip before I go out tonight so I don’t drive Nick away with a pissy attitude.
My phone rings, and I have to reach over to grab it given how far I flung it.
It’s Claire.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hi. You’re going to the frat party.”
“Yeah, I wasn’tnotgoing?—”
“Can’t talk. I’m on my way to yours to get ready, and make sure to wear something Nick can't resist. See you!”
She hangs up, and I sit blinking for a couple of seconds before shaking my head and heading to my bedroom to get changed.
Wear something Nick can't resist.I roll my eyes while unzipping my pants—at this point, the chances of us having a no-feelings hookup are zero.
Brushing mindlessly over my dick gets me to banish the last of my reservations. A tempting image of Nick, hot as hell with those bulky arms and his cocky, smartass smile, flickers through my brain.
We’re friends, and I still have to tutor him for the next little bit, so there’s no walking away, but what if wedidn’thave to walk away? After all, thereisa middle ground between a one-night stand and full-on dating, at least beyond the binary I've set for myself.
If Nick bites, we could have a fling before we graduate. He’s a senior, too, so we’d be on the same page, and the feelings would be way easier to manage if there’s a fixed end date, right?
I might not have a flight home yet, but my visa runs out after I graduate. There’s no getting around it.
Maybe I can reward his progress in class with something he'llreallylike, that’d be…mutually beneficial.
Snapping out of my daydreaming, I stand almost naked in front of my closet for a few seconds before deciding on my defaultoutfit of a black T-shirt and light-wash jeans. I grab a combo I know is gonna show off my gains to a hopefully appreciative Nick. I might not beasjacked as he is, but I can definitely hold my own.
