Chapter Six: The Playground of Life

"Eh? Are you also a student attending the information session?" The young woman finally realized what was happening, her eyes wide in surprise.

"Yes," Tao Zhiming replied, his face thick-skinned as ever. "I just asked the interviewer those two questions and got answers I thought might be helpful to you, so I took the liberty of sharing them. Was it useful?"

"Eh?" The young woman seemed dazed by this unexpected kindness. "Of course, I’m really… very grateful. Um, you actually asked the interviewer questions?"

"Of course." Tao Zhiming maintained his gentle smile. "Didn't you also get asked, 'Do you have any other questions?'"

She nodded blankly.

"So how did you answer?"

"...I said I had no further questions." Her heart skipped a few beats.

Tao Zhiming sighed.

Before the advent of the internet, interview experience could only be passed down in small circles, person to person. If you were lucky enough to have a capable senior guide you, many small pitfalls could be avoided.

Judging by her reaction, she probably never had the benefit of proper guidance, or perhaps she was introverted and had few friends.

Tao Zhiming was more than willing to offer some advice to someone like her. Besides, seeing Yamane Yokohisa trying to maintain his image in front of her made him even more eager to help. "Look, you really shouldn’t answer that way. Work is a lifelong matter. Even from the company's perspective, they want to see that you’re taking it seriously. If you are serious, how could you not have any questions? You should always ask at least one or two."

She stared at him blankly. "Is that so? Wouldn’t it be annoying to them?"

"Not at all!" Tao Zhiming shook his head firmly, then smiled kindly. "But you should ask specific questions that show you really care about the job and have a clear focus."

"...I see." She seemed to have learned something valuable, then bowed her head in gratitude. "Thank you so much."

"No need to thank me."

Yamane Yokohisa, who had been listening nearby the whole time, was surprised that even after Tao Zhiming was revealed to be another applicant, it didn’t tarnish his image in her eyes at all.

If anything, it seemed to have made a more positive impression.

His advice was spot-on, but… foolish girl, how could you not know this!

The problem was: since when did Tao become so smooth-tongued?

Yamane Yokohisa finally gave up and walked away with a scowl.

"Um… Tao, are you two friends?" the young woman asked cautiously.

"We just go to the same school, but we’re not close..." Tao Zhiming noticed Yoshino Yosuke had returned and waved him over. "This is my friend, Yoshino Yosuke."

Yoshino Yosuke approached, looking perplexed.

He was astonished to find Tao Zhiming chatting cheerfully with a girl.

The young woman bowed and introduced herself. "Nice to meet you, my name is Kyoko Okita."

"Nice to meet you..." Yoshino Yosuke managed, then fell silent. Tao Zhiming suspected he suffered from social anxiety around women.

Upon further conversation, they learned that Kyoko Okita was from Chiba University. Tao Zhiming remarked, "Kyoko, you’re really ambitious, coming to Tokyo during spring break to look for a job? Are you staying in Tokyo, or do you go back after the information session?"

"Um... I’m staying at a friend’s place, and I’m determined to secure a job offer!" Kyoko Okita replied with great enthusiasm.

"You absolutely can! Go for it!"

"Thank you!" Kyoko glanced at the two of them. "Um... which university are you from?"

Yoshino Yosuke’s eyes lit up, but he didn’t speak.

The opportunity fell to Tao Zhiming, who smiled slightly. "We’re from the University of Tokyo."

Kyoko’s mouth dropped open. She murmured, "Amazing..."

Her expression turned complicated. "Then… you must already have a lot of job offers, right? Are you just choosing the company you like best?"

"Of course. It’s like before marriage—you have to date a few people to know who suits you best." Tao Zhiming shifted the topic with a smile. "Kyoko, do you have a boyfriend?"

"Eh?" Kyoko was completely caught off guard by the sudden turn in conversation, and shook her head shyly. "No…"

Yoshino Yosuke was first shocked by Tao Zhiming’s boldness, and then his eyes lit up again at her answer.

"Is that so? That’s wonderful," Tao Zhiming said with a smile.

"Tao, you sound like… you plan to date a lot of people?" she asked, unable to help herself.

Tao Zhiming glanced at Yoshino Yosuke, then replied with a meaningful look, "As for me… it’s not easy for me to give my heart anymore."

"Eh?"

"I’ve been through some things, and now I see life as an amusement park," Tao Zhiming mused aloud. "But your earnest attitude toward life, Kyoko, really moves me."

Kyoko felt that what he was saying made absolutely no sense—wasn’t life something to be taken seriously?

But for some reason, as he spoke, his tone was oddly convincing.

Yoshino Yosuke couldn’t hold it in anymore. "Tao has just gone through a breakup, sorry. Kyoko, please don’t take it to heart."

"Ah!" Kyoko was startled. So his words were the sentiment of someone who had just been dumped?

Tao Zhiming chuckled softly.

Going out today, being among these lively faces, he really did feel like an outsider.

This wasn’t a country he was familiar with, nor a history he had personally experienced.

Wasn’t this just like an amusement park?

No ties, utterly alone.

He had spoken the truth: this bustling Tokyo and the life that followed truly felt like an amusement park.

Tao Zhiming found himself hoping the information session would end soon; he needed to go in search of… a sense of reality!

...

After Yoshino Yosuke started speaking, he became a bit more talkative with Kyoko Okita, while Tao Zhiming grew quiet, lost in his own thoughts.

His demeanor was completely different from before, and Kyoko Okita found herself glancing at him several more times.

Tao Zhiming noticed; it was probably the effect of being both a University of Tokyo student and good-looking.

Unfortunately, after they were treated to a rather high-end buffet lunch by Tomokazu, Kyoko Okita was told she hadn’t made it to the final afternoon round.

As she accepted an envelope containing her travel expenses, her eyes rimmed red, Tao Zhiming asked, "Did you get her phone number?"

"No... We just met, how could I..."

Yoshino Yosuke’s behavior left Tao Zhiming speechless; through his reaction, Tao Zhiming could more viscerally sense just how awkward and stiff his old self must have been.

Birds of a feather, after all.

Tao Zhiming walked straight over, first saying to the HR representative, "Excuse me. I’d like to say goodbye to a friend."

The HR staff, already briefed, simply smiled. "Of course, just be back before the president’s interview."

"Tao!" Kyoko Okita hadn’t expected him to come over. She looked down, feeling a bit inferior. "If only I’d heard your advice earlier, maybe I wouldn't have failed."

"Keep trying." Tao Zhiming comforted her. "I believe in you. If it’s all right, could you give me your phone number?"

"Eh? I’m staying at a friend’s place…"

"That’s fine. With Yoshino, your friend, and me, that makes four of us—we could get to know each other. I actually don’t have many friends in Tokyo."

Kyoko was incredulous. "How could that be? Someone like you…"

She stopped mid-sentence, as if unsure how to continue.

"Well then… let me give you my home number, Kyoko. If you need help with your job search, you can always contact me." He gave her an easy way out, and Kyoko jotted down his number with a bow.

Only then did Tao Zhiming bid her farewell and return to Yoshino Yosuke.

"Did you get it?" Yoshino Yosuke asked eagerly.

"What are you thinking? If I got it, do you still have a chance?"

"...So, how did you suddenly become so brave?"

"When you’ve stared death in the face, what is love in comparison?" Tao Zhiming replied serenely. "Do you know the meaning of my name, Zhiming? It means ‘to know one's fate.’ I’ve come back to life, with the most resolute determination. I am Tao Zhiming—pleased to make your acquaintance!"

Yoshino Yosuke was dumbfounded. "You’ve got to be kidding!"

Tao Zhiming slung an arm over his shoulder. "Come on! Let’s go impress Tomokazu’s president. I heard that the most sought-after candidates might even get invited to a gentlemen’s club tonight?"

Yoshino Yosuke staggered as he was pulled along.

This man, who had nearly died, suddenly seemed like a demon from the underworld.

Wasn’t he ready to die for that woman just yesterday? And now he’s already thinking about gentlemen’s clubs?

Calling life an amusement park—this guy has really changed!