After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

(Although it's a romance storyline, I still recommend watching it because it's important to the main character; you'll find out at the end.)

Early morning, Lin Jianwei's apartment.

In October, the morning mist had not yet completely dissipated.

Lin Jianwei sat in front of his computer early in the morning. The screen was filled with dense code and financial model charts, which occupied most of his vision. Several open professional books and printed Blackstone Group interview materials were scattered next to him.

The air was filled with the slightly bitter aroma of coffee, and a lingering sense of fatigue from staying up all night.

It has been almost a week since her last Goldman Sachs final interview, which left her feeling utterly defeated.

She assessed herself as having failed the interview.

So she was forcing herself to turn her attention to her next goal: preparing for the Blackstone Group interview, even though the sense of disappointment in her heart was like a stone sinking to the bottom of the water, and had not really disappeared.

"Ding-dong—"

A crisp email notification sound rang out clearly in the quiet room.

Lin Jianwei shifted his gaze from the complex derivative pricing model and casually tapped the flashing email icon in the lower right corner of the screen.

The sender field clearly shows: Goldman Sachs HR (London).

Her heart skipped a beat, her fingertips hovered over the touchpad, and for a moment she hesitated to tap it.

She took a deep breath and opened the email.

From: Goldman Sachs Human Resources (London)

Recipient: Lin Jianwei

Topic: Offer of Employment - Goldman Sachs London

Ms. Lin,

On behalf of Goldman Sachs London, we are pleased to inform you that you have been successfully recruited to join the FX and Commodities Strategy Department at Goldman Sachs London.

You will immediately join an emergency project team responsible for the research and implementation of a "Hedge Strategy for Extreme Exchange Rate Volatility During the Post-Brexit Referendum Transition Period." This project is launched against the backdrop of the current Brexit negotiations deadlock, a sharply increased risk of a "no-deal Brexit," and record-high volatility in the GBP/EUR exchange rate, posing a significant risk of substantial exchange rate losses for clients. The project has extremely high timeliness requirements.

After reviewing the performance of all candidates, the interview committee was impressed by your calm and logical thinking under high-pressure interview conditions, your profound understanding of the transmission path of global supply chain risks, and your solid quantitative modeling ability. These are precisely the core competencies that this project urgently needs.

Please contact this email address within this week to confirm your acceptance of this position and discuss subsequent onboarding matters.

We look forward to having you join us!

Sincerely,

Goldman Sachs Human Resources (London)

The email was concise and professional, carrying the calm and unquestionable air characteristic of top investment banks.

Every word was like a heavy hammer blow to Lin Jianwei's heart.

She looked at it three times to make sure she wasn't seeing things and that the words "hired," "join immediately," and "emergency project team" were real.

"Honors...hired?" she murmured, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Her mind went blank.

Then they were overwhelmed by a huge, overwhelming ecstasy!

A week ago, the heavy sense of defeat I felt on the riverside bench, the gloom of doubting whether I was really not good enough, was completely dispelled by the sunshine brought by this email.

Lin Jianwei suddenly stood up from her chair, covered her mouth with both hands, and her eyes instantly turned red.

Not a dream.

It really is Goldman Sachs.

That place she had always dreamed of, but thought she had completely missed after the final interview.

The very source that had left her distraught on the banks of the Thames had now opened its doors to her.

Moreover, it's not an ordinary position; it's a direct entry into a core department, joining an emergency project team to address the most pressing financial risks.

Who would have thought that the interviewer would place such importance on her performance when she was being challenged?

Those answers that Lin Jianwei thought she had messed up actually became the key to her selection.

Overwhelmed with surprise and a sense of relief, she almost lost her balance.

She gripped the edge of the table, took deep breaths, and tried to calm her racing heart and surging emotions.

A few minutes later, after her emotions had calmed down a bit, the first thing she did was pick up her phone and make a video call to someone in China.

Mom and Dad are probably going to sleep soon.

The screen lit up, and my parents' familiar faces appeared before my eyes.

Mr. Lin, wearing glasses, was reading in the study, while Mrs. Lin was also researching in the study; neither of them was asleep.

"Weiwei? So early? What happened?" The mother asked with concern when she saw her daughter's obviously red eyes.

"Dad! Mom!" Lin Jianwei's voice was still slightly choked, but her face was beaming with an uncontrollable smile.

"I...I've been hired by Goldman Sachs in London, FX and Commodities Strategy Department. They want me to join an emergency project immediately to hedge Brexit currency risks."

"Really?!" Even the usually composed Professor Lin put down his book, a delighted smile spreading across his face. "Goldman Sachs? And a core project of the strategy department? That's wonderful, Weiwei!"

"Oh! That's wonderful! That's wonderful!" Lin's mother exclaimed excitedly, putting down her knitting needles. "I knew my daughter was the best! A bad interview is just temporary! Gold always shines! Tell me quickly, what's the project? Where is the work location? What's the salary like?"

The mother bombarded him with questions, carrying the simplest joy and concern of motherhood.

Lin Jianwei stopped crying and started laughing. While wiping away her tears, she explained the contents of the email to her parents in detail.

She described the importance of the urgent project and the interviewer's evaluation of her.

The parents nodded repeatedly on the other end of the phone, their faces full of satisfaction and pride.

Although, as university professors, they express their joy in a relatively reserved manner.

There was no exaggerated cheering.

But that heartfelt joy and pride was clearly conveyed to Lin Jianwei through the screen.

"Weiwei, this is the greatest affirmation of your abilities," Professor Lin said earnestly.

"Now is the time of the UK's Brexit referendum, and the exchange rate risk of Brexit is the focus of the global financial market. Your participation in such a project is a rare opportunity, but also a huge challenge. Stay calm, learn more, and think more."

"Yes! I know, Dad!" Lin Jianwei nodded vigorously, full of confidence.

"Take care of yourself, don't overwork yourself, your health is the most important thing," the mother reminded her daughter.

"Don't worry, Mom! I will!" Lin Jian replied with a smile.

Even after ending the call with my parents, a tremendous sense of joy still swelled in my chest.

She looked around the small apartment, her gaze sweeping over the materials she had prepared for the Blackstone interview on the table, and felt that they had instantly lost their meaning.

She stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.

The cool morning air of London rushed in, bringing with it the vitality of the city's awakening.

The sunlight finally pierced through the thin mist, shining on the ancient buildings of Imperial College and on her radiant face.

Just then, her gaze inadvertently fell on the corner of the desk.

On that neatly folded red English scarf signed "Keep Shining! - Yan Yuan 17".

On the riverside bench, Yan Yuan's calm profile and gentle words resurfaced in my mind.

It was he who, on that night when she was most vulnerable and doubted herself, used his experience to tell her that hard work would not be in vain.

This joy should be shared with him.

Lin Jianwei picked up her phone, opened WeChat, and found that name.

She took a deep breath, her fingers flying across the screen, typing with a mix of excitement to share and a barely perceptible anticipation:

[Lin Jianwei: Yan Yuan, I have great news for you! I received a formal offer from Goldman Sachs, the one for the interview I told you about last time. [Happy][Happy]]

[Lin Jianwei: I just received an email asking me to immediately join an emergency project team in their Foreign Exchange and Commodities Strategy Department regarding hedging against extreme exchange rate volatility risks following Brexit.]

[Lin Jianwei: This is such a surprise! I thought I had no hope at all. I was even preparing for interviews with other companies these past two days... [facepalm]]

Today, Xiaolin unusually sent three messages in one go.

After sending the message, she held her phone, feeling her heart race again.

How will he reply?

The morning in Valencia, Spain, is bright and sunny.

In the restaurant of the hotel where the England national team is staying.

Yan Yuan was having breakfast with his teammates. After breakfast, they would set off back to England.

His phone vibrated several times. He picked it up casually and saw that it was a message from Lin Jianwei. He opened it.

When Yan Yuan saw the words "Goldman Sachs," "hire," and "emergency project team," the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.

He could almost picture Lin Jianwei on the other side of the screen, looking both surprised and trying hard to remain calm.

He put down his coffee cup and replied earnestly:

[Yan Yuan: Wow, senior! [Thumbs up] Congratulations! You've become a big shot! I knew you could do it. Goldman Sachs Foreign Exchange Strategy Department, what a dream start! [Strong][Strong][Strong]]

[Yan Yuan: I felt something was off during the last interview. How could someone as capable as you not pass? They must have just missed the point then, but now they've finally figured it out. [witty]]

[Yan Yuan: Senior [smirking] If I ever want to invest or do any financial trading in the future, you can't just ignore me, right? Who knows, I might need your help someday. [pity][pity]]

A series of messages arrived, filled with undisguised joy and sincere congratulations, along with his unique, slightly boyish humor and banter.

Yan Yuan's reply congratulated Lin Jianwei and also provided ample emotional support.

Lin Jianwei looked at the messages that kept popping up on the screen, especially the last few half-serious "pleas for help" and pitiful expressions, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The excitement I felt when sharing this with my parents has now been replaced by a warmer, more relaxed, and joyful feeling.

Yan Yuan's reply was devoid of polite official jargon.

Only the most sincere sharing of joy and slightly exaggerated "praise" among friends made her feel exceptionally comfortable.

[Lin Jianwei: Thank you, [smiley face] and I appreciate your kind words!]

[Lin Jianwei: ...Stop being so cheeky. [Eye roll] Just focus on playing your game, future Ballon d'Or winner. My job is nowhere near as good as yours.]

Lin Jianwei: However... if there's anything I can do to help, like financial management, I'll try my best, after all, you're my junior. [Smile]

[Yan Yuan: Haha, then thank you so much for looking after me, senior! [clasped hands] I'll remember your words.]

[Yan Yuan: By the way, senior, the sun is nice here in Spain, but it's a bit windy. How about where you are? What's the weather like in London today?]

He naturally changed the subject, asking about the weather, like a casual chat between friends.

Looking out the window at the rare clear autumn day in London, Lin Jianwei replied:

[Lin Jianwei: The weather in London is great today, sunny and bright. By the way, your match is over, right? I saw on the news yesterday that you guys seemed to have won.]

[Yan Yuan: Yeah, it was 3-1. We're resting in Valencia now, and we'll head back to London soon.]

[Yan Yuan: Senior, take a good rest and get ready to face the challenge from Goldman Sachs! Keep shining! [sun emoji]]

He used the message he had written on the scarf again.

Lin Jianwei felt a warmth in her heart when she saw the words "Keep Shining".

Lin Jianwei: Yes, you too. Good luck in the competition. I need to take care of my emails and offer now. We'll talk later.

Yan Yuan: Okay, senior, talk to you later [Goodbye]

Yan Yuan put down his phone, picked up his fork again, and found that the fried egg had gone cold.

But he didn't care; his mood was as bright as the Spanish sunshine.

He was genuinely happy for Lin Jianwei.

The senior student who calmly solved problems in the library and revealed her vulnerability in the night by the river has finally ushered in her shining moment.

(By now, you should understand the role of the female lead. Yan has more and more money, but he doesn't know how to manage it. His team is currently lacking someone who can act as a financial manager.)

This position had to be given to someone close and highly professional. Yan's father was intelligent, but ultimately a small businessman, unable to manage vast wealth. That's why Lin Jianwei came into being. In reality, Lin Jianwei's profession is a senior investment and financial analyst and quantitative trading trader at an investment bank.