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The atmosphere in the office area became subtle after the news that interns were to be divided into groups to find partners was released.

In the tea room, in the corridor, and even at the entrance to the restroom, you could hear interns whispering among themselves.

Have you found a partner yet?

"I want to be in a group with Gao Sicong, but he's definitely in high demand."

"Lan Qianyi doesn't seem to have been chosen yet, but she might not be willing to be in our group."

When Sun Yiqiu went to get water, he ran into Gao Sicong.

"Sun Yiqiu, have you found a partner yet?" Gao Sicong asked directly.

“Not yet…” Sun Yiqiu lowered his head, “I…I’ll take another look.”

Seeing his troubled expression, Gao Sicong lowered his voice and said, "Hurry up. If you really can't find a partner in the end, according to convention, you'll either have to do double the work by yourself, or... it might affect your internship evaluation."

Sun Yiqiu's heart sank: "What's the worst that could happen?"

"The worst?" Gao Sicong thought for a moment, "At worst, you'll fail your internship and have to find another job. But don't be too pessimistic, maybe... someone will come looking for you."

These words sounded a bit strange, but Sun Yiqiu didn't think about it too much, only assuming that Gao Sicong was trying to comfort him.

As Sun Yiqiu emerged from the tea room, he encountered Lan Qianyi in the corridor.

She was carrying a stack of documents and walking briskly.

"Lan Qianyi..." Sun Yiqiu called out to her subconsciously.

Lan Qianyi stopped in her tracks: "Is there something you need?"

“I… um…” Sun Yiqiu opened his mouth, the question “Can you be in my group?” rolled around in his throat a few times, but he swallowed it back in the end. “It’s okay, you’re busy.”

Lan Qianyi glanced at him, nodded, and left.

Sun Yiqiu returned to the fourth comprehensive group dejectedly. As soon as he entered, he saw Su Ning leisurely drinking tea and flipping through an industry journal, completely unlike the other interns who were tense and anxious.

"Brother Su," Sun Yiqiu couldn't help but ask, "Have you found a partner yet?"

"Not yet." Su Ning put down the journal. "No rush."

"How can we not be anxious? The list needs to be submitted tomorrow."

"You can't rush finding a partner," Su Ning said. "Finding a partner isn't just about dividing tasks and cooperating; more importantly, it's about being able to help each other, and even... compete with each other."

"Competition?" Sun Yiqiu asked, puzzled. "Partners have to compete?"

“Of course.” Su Ning looked at him. “A good partner should be able to inspire your potential and push you to improve. If you find someone of similar skill level and the two of you just dawdle together, it’s better to work alone.”

Sun Yiqiu seemed to understand but not quite.

He looked at Su Ning and suddenly felt a sense of awe and reverence...

This person always seems so calm, seeing through everything and never panicking.

Just then, a voice came from the office corridor.

Is Sun Yiqiu here?

Li Xiaoxian walked in with a cup of coffee in his hand and a smile on his face.

"Yiqiu, how's your decision about a partner going?" He placed the coffee on Sun Yiqiu's desk. "I think we're a good match. I'm good at communication and creativity, and you're reliable and meticulous; we complement each other perfectly. Why don't you consider me?"

Sun Yiqiu was stunned.

To his utter surprise, the first person to approach him was Li Xiaoxian, the one who was humiliated by Yu Wenli during training, and who was usually somewhat narcissistic and not well-liked.

"I...I'll think about it some more." Sun Yiqiu stammered a little.

"Then think it over carefully. I'll wait for your news." Li Xiaoxian winked and swayed away.

No sooner had he left than Zeng Hao arrived, carrying a bag of potato chips.

"Yi Qiu, have you decided on a partner yet?" Zeng Hao put potato chips on his desk. "If not, consider me. We had a great working relationship before. You help me, I help you, isn't that great?"

Next, Qiu Shuang arrived, leaving behind a bottle of juice and a bag of beef jerky.

Even two interns from other groups, whom Sun Yiqiu wasn't very familiar with, came over to try and get close to him, one putting down chocolate and the other putting down cookies.

In less than half an hour, Sun Yiqiu's desk was piled high with all kinds of snacks and drinks, like a small convenience store.

He was completely dumbfounded. In the morning he was worried that no one would want him, but in the afternoon he suddenly became a hot commodity.
What surprised him even more was that Lan Qianyi, who was the most capable and the most sought-after, had never been approached by anyone.

I saw Lan Qianyi sitting alone in the technology group, quietly looking at the computer, with no one around her.

……

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Lan Qianyi walked to the door of the fourth comprehensive group with a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Sun Yiqiu, are you free? Let's chat for a bit."

Sun Yiqiu quickly got up and followed her to the rest area.

Lan Qianyi cut to the chase: "Have you decided on your partner yet?"

"Not yet..." Sun Yiqiu replied honestly.

"Then, consider me?" Lan Qianyi said calmly, but Sun Yiqiu could tell she was serious.

"You...you want to be in my group?" Sun Yiqiu couldn't believe it. "Lan Qianyi, I...I don't know anything, I'll be a burden to you."

“You’re overthinking it.” Lan Qianyi took a sip of coffee. “I think you’re at least serious, not lazy, and not cunning. You’re better than some people who think they’re clever.”

"But……"

"No buts." Lan Qianyi interrupted him. "The report is due on Friday, and time is tight. If you're willing, we can work as a team. If not, I'll work alone."

"I'll think about it some more," Sun Yiqiu said quickly, feeling both happy and apprehensive.

"Okay! Then you need to decide quickly." Lan Qianyi stood up.

"it is good!"

……

After Lan Qianyi left, Sun Yiqiu felt uneasy.

Being able to be in a group with Lan Qianyi was like a windfall, but he was also afraid that he would perform poorly and drag her down.

He couldn't resist going to see Su Ning again.

"Brother Su, Lan Qianyi took the initiative to ask me to be her partner, but I still feel uneasy about it."

Su Ning was organizing documents, not even looking up: "Hmm, don't be too happy yet."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you ever wondered why so many people are suddenly looking for you?" Su Ning finally looked up at Sun Yiqiu. "Nobody paid any attention to you this morning, but you've become a hot commodity this afternoon?"

"Why?" Sun Yiqiu was stumped by the question.

“Because in their eyes, you’re not the best partner, but the ideal ‘scapegoat.’” Su Ning said bluntly, “You’re the least capable. If you’re in a group with them, they can easily highlight their own strengths and be the perfect foil. If the report is good, the credit goes to them; if it’s bad, they can shift the blame to you, saying, ‘It’s all Sun Yiqiu’s fault for dragging us down.’ You’re not a partner; you’re cannon fodder.”

These words were like a bucket of cold water, chilling Sun Yiqiu to the bone.

Hearing this, Lin Yuming walked over and patted Sun Yiqiu on the shoulder: "Su Ning is right. Little Sun, you may have never participated in this kind of competition before, so you don't understand. In the workplace, especially in team tasks like this, choosing a partner is a big skill."

"Manager Lin, you think so too?"

“I agree with Su Ning’s reminder.” Lin Yuming nodded. “You might be completely clueless about the situation because you lack experience. Those people are all very shrewd.”

Sun Yiqiu's face gradually paled.

He has no experience?

No, he actually had experience with it.

In the world of Go, he has seen far too much calculation and strategy.

He just... just didn't see this place as a competition arena, and he didn't see these interns as opponents.

He always thought that since they were colleagues and classmates, they should help each other.

Now it seems that he was too naive.

Here, he was still all alone.

It wasn't because he didn't have a partner, but because nobody really took him seriously.

In the eyes of others, he remains a worthless laughingstock, a backdrop to be used to highlight himself.

“So…” Sun Yiqiu’s voice was hoarse, “Lan Qianyi came to me because…”

“Lan Qianyi is different,” Su Ning interrupted him. “She’s looking for you, maybe because she thinks you’re at least honest and won’t stab her in the back. Or maybe… she has other considerations. But in any case, you need to stay clear-headed.”

Sun Yiqiu lowered his head and looked at the pile of colorful snacks on the table.

It turns out that all these "good intentions" were actually calculated.

It turns out that his popularity wasn't because others recognized him, but because he was easy to exploit.

He suddenly felt that this spacious and bright office was colder and more cruel than the Go tournament arena.

At least on the field, the outcome is clear, and one must accept the consequences of their bet.

Here, a smile may hide a knife, and good intentions may conceal a trap.

"Then... what should I do?" Sun Yiqiu looked up, his eyes blank. Su Ning said, "Stay vigilant and hold the line. Do what you're supposed to do, and don't take responsibility for things that aren't yours. Learn to distinguish who is truly cooperating and who wants to take advantage of you."

"I see."

Sun Yiqiu walked back to his workstation, looked at the pile of snacks, and remained silent for a long time.

……

Sun Yiqiu was on the rooftop enjoying the breeze, his mind still racing with thoughts of his partner.

"Sun Yiqiu?" A somewhat unfamiliar voice came from inside.

Sun Yiqiu turned around and saw Hao Shuai from the technology team walking over.

"Hao Shuai? Weren't you in Hangzhou conducting research?"

"I just got back yesterday." Hao Shuai walked to the railing and stood next to him. "Has the partnership been decided?"

Sun Yiqiu became alert. Another one?
"It's not completely decided yet," he said vaguely.

"Then consider me?" Hao Shuai turned his head and said directly, "I want to be in your group."

Sun Yiqiu was stunned, then smiled wryly: "You want to drag me down with you too? I'm the worst, being in your group will just make you look bad?"

"A scapegoat?" Hao Shuai raised an eyebrow, then laughed. "You're overthinking it. I'm looking for you because you're different."

"no the same?"

“Yes.” Hao Shuai became serious. “Everyone here, including me, has gotten to where we are by following the established path of studying, taking exams, and doing internships. But you’re different. You have no degree, no certificates, yet you still got in, and it seems like you really want to stay. I like people like you who don’t follow the usual path.”

Sun Yiqiu looked at Hao Shuai.

This guy usually acts like a slacker, and his words and actions are unreliable.

The interns all called him "Teddy Bear." I heard that he had only been there a few days when he was reported for sexual harassment for making inappropriate jokes with a female colleague in the public relations department, which is why he was sent to Hangzhou for research.

Some people say that he was able to get into Jinchen Capital because his family is a wealthy family in Hangzhou.

How can someone who is so unreliable claim to appreciate himself?
"Aren't you afraid I'll hold you back?" Sun Yiqiu asked.

"What's there to be afraid of?" Hao Shuai shrugged. "It's just a report. It won't kill you if you don't do it well. But finding a compatible partner is more important than the report itself."

"I'll think about it." Sun Yiqiu remained silent.

……

Meanwhile, Gao Sicong found Lan Qianyi.

"Qianyi, have you decided on your partner?" Gao Sicong asked.

"not yet."

"Then... how about we team up?" Gao Sicong suggested. "If the two of us work together, the report will definitely be the best and we'll get the highest score."

Lan Qianyi shook her head: "I don't need the highest score, I need a good partner to cooperate with."

Am I not easy to work with?

“It’s not that we can’t work together,” Lan Qianyi said directly. “It’s that you’re too opinionated. Two opinionated people together are prone to arguments and wasting time.”

Gao Sicong was momentarily speechless and didn't say anything more.

In the General Affairs Group 4 office, Sun Yiqiu was still struggling with his decision.

Seeing his restless look, Wu Kezhi took the initiative to ask, "Haven't you decided on a partner yet?"

"No... I don't know how to choose," Sun Yiqiu said honestly.

"What's there to be conflicted about?" Wu Kezhi said calmly. "Isn't cooperation about getting what you need from each other? Just think it through: what can you give others, and what can they give you?"

These words were simple, yet they were like a ray of light, piercing through the fog in Sun Yiqiu's mind.

Yes! Cooperation is about getting what you need.

What does he need? He needs experience, guidance, and to learn how to conduct industry research.

What can Hao Shuai offer him? Hao Shuai is experienced; he has worked on projects and conducted research in the technology group. Although he may be unreliable, his professional skills are not lacking.

As for what Hao Shuai needs from him... Sun Yiqiu couldn't figure it out.

Perhaps, as Hao Shuai said, he simply wanted to find a "different" partner?

But that's not important. What's important is that through this collaboration, he can get what he needs.

Once Sun Yiqiu understood this, everything became clear to him.

The next morning, he found Hao Shuai.

"I've made up my mind, we'll be in the same group."

Hao Shuai smiled: "You've figured it out?"

“Hmm.” Sun Yiqiu nodded. “You have experience, which is what I need. As for me… I can guarantee that I will be serious, not lazy, and fully cooperate.”

"Deal." Hao Shuai extended his hand. "Pleasure doing business with you."

"Pleasant to work with."

Sun Yiqiu ultimately gave up on Lan Qianyi and chose Hao Shuai.

This decision surprised many people. Why choose a "Teddy Bear" instead of Lan Qianyi, who has the strongest abilities?
But Sun Yiqiu had his own considerations.

Lan Qianyi is too strong. If he's in a group with her, he might only be able to play a supporting role and won't be able to learn the core skills.

Although Hao Shuai is unreliable, he is willing to mentor him and share his experience.

As for Su Ning, he wasn't in a hurry at all.

Because he had already calculated it: there were a total of nine interns in this batch, and if they were divided into groups, one person would inevitably be separated from the group.

If he doesn't actively seek out a partner, he's very likely to end up with a bye.

A bye means he can work on a project all by himself.

There's no burden from a partner, and no risk of being stabbed in the back by them.

For him, this was actually the best option.

So while everyone else was busy finding partners, he leisurely continued doing his own thing.

……

When the deadline for reporting partners arrived, most people had made their decisions.

Gao Sicong was paired with another intern from the energy group.

Zeng Hao and Qiu Shuang are in the same group.

Sun Yiqiu and Hao Shuai are in the same group.

Only Su Ning, Lan Qianyi, and... Li Xiaoxian remained.

Seeing this, Li Xiaoxian immediately approached Lan Qianyi with a big smile: "Qianyi~ it's just the three of us left, how about we team up? I promise I'll cooperate with you well!"

Lan Qianyi glanced at him with disdain and took a step back: "No need, I'd rather not have a partner."

"No way!" Li Xiaoxian tried to pester him.

Lan Qianyi turned around and walked to Group 4 to find Su Ning.

"Su Ning, what do you think about the partner thing?"

Su Ning looked up: "I don't care, I can do it alone."

"Then... shall we be in the same group?" Lan Qianyi asked directly.

Suning was somewhat surprised.

Knowing that Lan Qianyi was capable and ambitious, he didn't expect her to take the initiative to come to him, especially when he was clearly not enthusiastic.

Looking at Li Xiaoxian, who was still peering in their direction with a smug grin, she felt a stirring in her heart.

If he doesn't agree to Lan Qianyi's request, Lan Qianyi might really do it alone, or... be entangled with Li Xiaoxian?
“Okay.” Su Ning nodded. “We’ll be in the same group.”

Lan Qianyi breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, it's settled then. I'll send you my initial ideas tonight."

"can."

And so, Su Ning and Lan Qianyi became the last pair of partners.

This combination is surprising once again. Two people who are usually not very talkative, one who seems indifferent to everything and the other who is as cold as ice, have actually come together.

But thinking about it carefully, it seems quite reasonable: they are all capable, neither of them likes to waste time, so they should be able to cooperate efficiently.

Li Xiaoxian was dumbfounded; he was the only one who came out alone.

“No…then what should I do?” he asked the administrator in charge of statistics.

"According to regulations, interns who are assigned to special positions are required to independently complete reports with double the workload," the administrator stated matter-of-factly.

Li Xiaoxian's effeminate face turned green.

...(End of chapter)