Six weeks after Yuhan had submitted his application, the call finally came.
"Hello?" the voice on the other end chimed warmly.
"Hello," Yuhan replied, uncertain but curious.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten me already…"
Yuhan froze for half a second before a wide smile spread across his face. "Su Mei!" he exclaimed, his tone brimming with recognition.
Li Hao, who was hovering nearby, mouthed Who? and tugged at Yuhan's sleeve. Yuhan just waved him off, too giddy to explain.
"How could I forget the voice of an angel?" he teased, his grin stretching wider.
Su Mei laughed softly before getting to the point. "I just wanted to inform you, your portfolio was among the ones handpicked by HQ's HR. In two weeks, you're required at the company for evaluation." Her voice carried excitement, almost as if she herself had been chosen.
"Really?!" Yuhan shouted, nearly jumping out of his skin.
As soon as the call ended, he spun around, grabbed Li Hao, and lifted him into the air. "I was chosen!" he cried, twirling him like a child with a favorite toy.
Li Hao's legs dangled helplessly as he screeched, "Put me down, you idiot!"
But even he couldn't hide the small smile tugging at his lips.
When Yuhan finally set him back on the ground, Li Hao stumbled a little, brushing himself off with a huff.
"Don't get too happy yet," Li Hao warned, narrowing his eyes. "You'll jinx it."
Yuhan froze, face draining. "Don't say that! Spit, spit, spit!"
In perfect sync, the two leaned to the side and spat dramatically onto the floor.
They straightened up at the same time, looking at each other, then burst out laughing, the sound filling the room like a release of all their nerves.
At the gym, Yuhan had been bursting with excitement to tell Zixuan his news, but every time he opened his mouth, the words stuck in his throat. He'd glance at him, waiting for the perfect chance, but it never came. Zixuan, on the other hand, seemed to notice something different in Yuhan, his energy, his brighter eyes—but for some reason, he chose not to ask.
And maybe it was for the best. Zixuan had been softening toward him lately, little by little, and Yuhan didn't want to ruin it by blurting out his nerves.
In the days that followed, Yuhan buried himself in study, his nights filled with flashcards and whispered rehearsals. Still, no matter how hard he prepared, the nervousness chewed at him.
The day of the evaluation finally came.
Yuhan woke up sharper than ever, hair styled neatly, shirt crisp, every detail fussed over until Li Hao whistled at him just to tease. With his bag strap slung from shoulder to waist, he looked ready for battle.
At Chen Fashion headquarters, he stopped at the reception desk first, handing over chilled juice boxes with his usual grin. "For my favorite people," he said, calling each receptionist by name. They laughed, lightening the air for him.
Su Mei appeared shortly after, guiding him toward the waiting room. She fetched a neck tag for him and slipped it into his hand. "Good luck," she whispered with an encouraging smile.
As Yuhan clipped it on and stepped inside, his confidence wavered. The room was already half-full of other applicants. Some looked barely out of university, dressed in clothes that could have come straight from the runway.
One in particular,a young man in a sleek tailored suit, one of the suit that yuhan recognised to be on the last year Chen runway, every of his accessory pristine—made Yuhan's stomach twist. Compared to them, his careful outfit suddenly felt plain.
He sat down quietly, shrinking into his seat, a voice whispering in his head: What if I'm the least dressed? What if I don't belong here at all?