Part 2
A strange feeling flashed through his mind, and the annoyance he had felt earlier dissipated a bit.
"Alright, we've told you all the details. The internships will start next week, students please prepare according to the requirements." The speaking teacher picked up a water glass and took a sip, then checked the time: "As mentioned, the company has arranged personnel to provide work guidance at the club next to the school. Each college needs to send one or two students, and unless necessary, do not drink. Well then, Bai He, the private discussion will also be with the company department personnel, at the same club location."
"That's it for today, the meeting is adjourned."
After the nearly two-hour meeting ended, Bai He stood up to leave, only to be called by someone behind him.
Qin Yao and another alpha approached: "Going to the club? Wanna go together?"
The club next to the school was quite formal. There was a bar-like zone, providing alcohol and karaoke, as well as a coffee shop reading area, and private rooms for business discussions. Being able to thrive so close to the school was largely due to its safety. The owner did not allow any illegal transactions, the management was very strict, and it had gained the favor of many students and teachers.
Entering through the main entrance, they explained their purpose at the front desk, and the receptionist gestured for them to go to the business discussion area on the left.
Along the way, Bai He saw several familiar faces, students he had seen in the meeting room. He found the room labeled with the School of Ideological and Political Sciences, greeted the two alphas behind him, and pushed the door to enter alone.
No one had arrived yet, so Bai He sat down and took out a small notebook to review study points.
Soon, the door opened, and a female student in formal attire walked in, carrying a stack of documents. Bai He stood up and greeted politely: "Hello."
"Hello, hello, sorry for the delay." The girl smiled at Bai He, gesturing for him to sit: "Please, have a seat."
The two of them sat down facing each other, and the girl placed the thick stack of documents on the table, then picked up the menu: "What would you like to drink? I'll treat you, as an apology for being late."
Bai He was about to say no need, but paused and said: "Lemon water is fine."
The girl nodded, scanning the QR code to place the order, then put down her phone and began to introduce herself: "Hello, I'm Xia You from the Government Affairs Department of Jinyu Company. We handle matters related to corporate-government relations, etc."
Bai He caught the words "government" and "affairs".
He politely nodded, reaching out to give a light handshake: "Hello, I'm Bai He, a junior student from the School of Ideological and Political Sciences."
The girl released her hand, smiling: "I know you, you've been the top student in the Ideological and Political Sciences department these past few years, quite famous."
Bai He smiled wryly: "You're joking, those are just academic records, nothing special."
He inwardly sighed, as those achievements were not his own, and the courteous words he was saying were also the truth.
"You're so humble." Xia You calmly regarded Bai He: "May I ask your gender?"
Another question about gender. Bai He's discomfort increased a little, but he revealed no emotion: "Beta."
"Hmm... not an alpha?" Xia You's gaze locked onto Bai He's face, her tone gentle, without any trace of prejudice, but Bai He disliked this topic, and even though he had his facial expressions under control, the fleeting displeasure was still captured by Xia You.
"Does the company discriminate against employees based on gender?" Bai He looked directly into Xia You's eyes: "If so, then I'm afraid I'm not an alpha, and I don't think gender is a factor in determining a person's efforts and achievements. If the company prefers alphas, then I must say, your requirement is quite absurd."
Xia You was silent for two seconds, then propped her chin and smiled: "I don't know if other companies discriminate based on gender, but our company definitely doesn't, otherwise President Qin would have to criticize us."
The slightly irritated Bai He was taken aback.
"Sorry, the previous questioning was necessary." Xia You wrote a few notes in her notebook, then looked up: "Let me reintroduce myself, I'm Xia You, an omega."
The remorse in her eyes was genuine. The omega spoke slowly: "What we need are not just people with strong professional knowledge, as that is secondary. We need people with a strong inner core and correct social thinking."
Bai He was perplexed, and Xia You continued to explain: "If your response to my previous question had shown any bias towards the three ABO types, such as 'although I'm not an alpha, I'll work hard to catch up to outstanding alphas,' I would have immediately rejected your internship opportunity."
Bai He's eyelashes trembled. He now understood Xia You's meaning.
Xia You smiled: "Of course, this is not a bias against alphas, just an example. Some people who think they are superior exist among all six ABO genders." She spoke seriously: "I gave that example because the number of products our company produces and successfully launches is countless. But many products are criticized for violating ABO rights, which is where our department comes in to negotiate with the government."
"Our products are definitely fine, but those criticisms come from all kinds of ridiculous reasons. For example, we produced a portable suppressor collar to help omegas reduce the pain and damage caused by the traditional suppressor needles on their glands. But someone stepped forward to say that the pheromone collar restricts the relationship establishment between alphas and omegas, and will lead to a decline in AO pairing rates, you know, the government always has reasons to claim that children born this way have stronger genes."
"Think about it carefully, why do these rebuttals against our products arise? It's simply because they're harming the interests of certain self-righteous people." Xia You tapped the pen on the notebook: "In this society, while it appears that everyone is equal, it is not so. The hidden hierarchy has already corroded the hearts of some people. Our products are fighting against this, so we can't possibly hire people who already have those hierarchical mindsets."
Bai He understood. He thought of the original owner. No matter how hard he studied, even if he was called a genius, as soon as his beta gender was mentioned, all his efforts seemed in vain. The beta gender, in this society, was like being labeled as mediocre, impossible to shake off.
"So am I considered to have passed the assessment now?" Bai He asked.
"Completely passed!" Xia You stretched her limbs, beaming joyfully: "I was even worried, if you hadn't passed, we wouldn't have any new hires, and without new hires, our department would be worked to death!"
The atmosphere relaxed, and the water he had ordered was just delivered. Bai He sipped the lemon water.
He paused, narrowing his eyes at the glass.
The taste was not like lemon water at all?
"Then let's go over some things you need to pay attention to." Xia You's words brought Bai He back to his senses, and the taste of the lemon water was pushed to the back of his mind.
After about half an hour, the work guidance was completed. Bai He watched as Xia You hurriedly left. He lowered his head, realizing the lemon water in the glass had been unknowingly drained.
He felt a bit dizzy. Bai He gathered his belongings and left the private room, walking towards the club's exit.
...
"Huh?" Qin Yao looked at the glass in his hand: "Why is this lemon water? Where's the drink I ordered?"
He put down the glass and went to stand at the bar, reordering the low-alcohol drink, then returned to the high stool, noticing that Bai He had come out of the adjacent private room.
Bai He had his head lowered, his bangs covering his eyes. He seemed to be floating as he walked towards the club's exit, then suddenly collided with the glass door.
Qin Yao: ...?
Comments
Post a Comment