Lu Xiao filled out the form, her mind full of questions. Afterward, she was led into an examination room, where the so-called examination was just a small blood draw.
"Dear, let's talk about your salary now. Do you have a number in mind?"
Lu Xiao was surprised they were jumping straight to salary negotiations before either side had even discussed the position.
"I don't have one." The truth was, she had no idea what the market rate was. She had to hear what they were offering first.
"That's alright. Let me tell you about our salary structure. Our researchers are divided into three levels: Junior, Intermediate, and Advanced. As a new hire like yourself, you would be a Junior Researcher, with a salary of 80,000 Beast Coins per month. Intermediate is 180,000, and Advanced is 280,000. Of course, this is just the base salary, not including various allowances for meals, transportation, and so on. If you factor those in, a Junior Researcher can make about 120,000 a month, Intermediate 220,000, and Advanced 320,000. On top of that, we also have insurance…"
Listening to the explanation, Lu Xiao was stunned. She opened her mouth to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.
Her reaction, however, was noticed by Teacher Ai Li, who immediately stopped and asked, "If you have any requests, please don't hesitate to ask. We'll accommodate anything we possibly can."
'My salary has already gone from 80,000 to 120,000 a month, and she's still telling me I can ask for more?'
'Isn't this money a little too easy to make?'
"I don't have any requests. This is already very good. I just wanted to ask, how does one get promoted through these levels?"
"Promotions require passing a professional exam and a performance review. You don't have to worry about the performance review part; it's just us few scoring each other. But for the professional exam, you'll have to put in a little effort to study and memorize the material."
As she finished, Teacher Ai Li even gave her an apologetic smile, as if she was sorry for making her study.
The thought left Lu Xiao speechless.
"Sweetheart, your test results are back. C-level spiritual power, D-level Physical Strength. That's excellent!"
Hearing herself praised as "excellent," Lu Xiao inwardly cringed. It was common knowledge that the spiritual power and Physical Strength levels for females, from highest to lowest, were A, B, C, and D.
Her C-level spiritual power and D-level Physical Strength were both on the lower end of the scale. No matter how you looked at it, she was just average, a far cry from excellent.
'She's really going to great lengths to hire me.'
"With my scores, am I qualified for this job?"
"Of course, it's more than enough! Sweetheart, don't lose faith in yourself. If you don't have any other questions, you can start work tomorrow." As if afraid she would back out, the woman pushed a prepared contract in front of her. "Just sign your name here, and you'll be an official researcher at our Fifth Research Institute."
'There isn't even a probationary period? I'm a full-time employee right away?'
'This place seems less and less reliable.'
"I'd also like to ask, what will my duties be here?"
'I don't even know the job description yet.'
"Every week, we have to conduct Spirit Sea evaluations for the males in the S-Class Shelter. Besides that, we also have to periodically go to the military district to participate in assessing the Spirit Sea levels of the soldiers. That's the main gist of it. It's not very difficult."
The job description was more or less what Lu Xiao had learned about.
Although it seemed sketchy, the Fifth Research Institute was indeed an official state institution. Lu Xiao didn't hesitate any longer and signed her name on the contract.
Seeing her sign, Teacher Ai Li immediately beamed. "Sweetheart, do you have time later? We'd like to hold a welcome ceremony for you."
"Thank you very much, but unfortunately, I've already promised my mother I'd go see her today. I can feel everyone's goodwill, so please don't go to any trouble."
"Alright then. We'll have plenty of chances to get together in the future, lots of opportunities for meals," Teacher Ai Li said, sounding slightly disappointed. "Please say hello to your mother for us."
"I will. See you tomorrow." Lu Xiao waved to the group and left the office.
The security guard waiting outside the door saw her and immediately came up to her, asking respectfully, "Did it go well, Your Excellency?"
"Very well. I start work here tomorrow. Which way is the tea room?"
"This way, Your Excellency. My name is Ansen. You can just call me by my name from now on."
"Alright, Ansen. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"It is my honor to be of service to you, Your Excellency." Ansen no longer made any effort to hide his admiration for Lu Xiao.
However, Lu Xiao didn't notice Ansen's intentions. Upon seeing Ares in the tea room, Lu Xiao immediately walked over. "I'm sorry, Ares. Did I keep you waiting long?"
"You don't have to apologize. It was nothing. Did it go well?"
"It went almost too well. I've already signed the contract with them. I start officially tomorrow. Come on, let's hurry home. I want to go to the supermarket tonight."
'I'm about to be someone who makes 120,000 a month! Even though I won't get paid until the end of the month, I've already figured out how to spend it.'
Ares followed Lu Xiao out of the tea room. When he saw Ansen standing outside, Ares frowned slightly.
"Is Your Excellency Lu Xiao leaving now?" Ansen immediately stepped forward to lead the way for them.
Lu Xiao was surprised he was still there, but she didn't think much of it, simply figuring he was very passionate about his job. "It's getting late, and we have other things to do. Thank you for showing us the way."
"You're welcome. It is my honor to be of service to Your Excellency Lu Xiao."
Lu Xiao just smiled at his words, then turned to look at Ares, who was a few steps behind them. 'Why does Ares seem a little unhappy?'
But before she could get a closer look, Ares had already opened the car door. His expression looked no different than usual. 'Did I just imagine it?'
With that thought, Lu Xiao turned and got into the car, completely missing the turbulent undercurrents between the two males.
After all, Lu Xiao never would have guessed that while she was in her interview, Ansen had gone to the tea room to find Ares and ask if she needed a husband.
But as Lu Xiao's side husband, Ares didn't have the power to stop her from taking other husbands.
Not only could he not stop her, but he was even expected to proactively help if Lu Xiao expressed such a desire.
The only one who could exercise the right to refuse was the main husband.
But if a main husband were to exercise such a right, he would be branded with a reputation for being jealous.
Ansen had so boldly come to ask his opinion, and Ares understood why. When Lu Xiao introduced him, she had used the word "partner," so Ansen had mistaken him for the main husband. He was here to test Ares's attitude while simultaneously declaring his own intentions.
He was pained by other males coveting Lu Xiao, yet he was powerless to stop it. He even had to pretend that nothing was wrong in front of her.
He didn't want this incident to shatter the current peace between him and Lu Xiao.
'It's just one husband. If Lu Xiao wants to take one, then she can. What female doesn't take husbands?' he couldn't help but try to convince himself.