[Interview!]

One day...

Two days...

Three days...

In the blink of an eye, many days had passed.

Because Dong Xuebin had played an irreplaceable and significant role in the Jingcheng civil service exam's written test phase, and having tasted the sweetness of it, he hadn't wasted his daily ability these days. Instead, he was trying and researching it from various angles. He planned to rely on going back in time to change his current impoverished life, so he naturally had to study this back ability again and again, familiarizing himself with it more and more.

After many experiments, the results were mixed.

The results of the experiments were: First, in normal conversations, there was no need to avoid words like "return," "go back," or "back." Even if they were said or thought of, as long as it wasn't too deliberate, time wouldn't change. Only when Dong Xuebin consciously guided himself to want to go back in time, and on this basis, silently recited words like "back," "return," or "go back," would time flow backward.

Second, back might truly be an "unlimited" ability. As long as each day passed midnight, the new day's back would arrive as scheduled, without exception. However, there was one thing Dong Xuebin hadn't been able to test successfully: for example, if he used back two seconds after midnight to go back to 11:59 PM the previous day, when time passed to midnight again a few dozen seconds later, a new back wouldn't be generated.

Third, Dong Xuebin simply couldn't adapt to the changes in time before and after back. It was okay if he didn't move, or even if he was sitting, but if he was in a state of continuous walking, talking, or making movements a minute before, he couldn't react the first time after going back. Either he would stumble and fall, or he wouldn't be able to continue speaking. Therefore, he kept this in mind and needed to be especially careful and pay attention. Otherwise, if he used back on the street and didn't stand firm, and then got into a car accident, he would be finished.

Of course, after so many days of trying, Dong Xuebin had adapted to back a lot and didn't fall every time.

On the other hand.

Dong Xuebin hadn't neglected reviewing for the interview either. He spent almost a dozen hours a day checking information and memorizing things. The large and small regulations in officialdom, the trivial rules in the financial circle, in short, it was very complicated. He absorbed as much as he could, knowing that it wouldn't hurt to know more.

This day.

In his own living room, his mother and Aunt Xuan were forcing smiles as they talked about some happy topics. Although they were very regretful and disappointed that Dong Xuebin hadn't passed the civil service exam, considering Dong Xuebin's feelings, they hadn't mentioned the exam at all these days, only hoping that Dong Xuebin could get out of his emotional predicament as soon as possible.

"Hey, Xiaobin, look at that hippopotamus on TV. Why does it look like that?"

"That's right, it looks really funny, hahahaha..."

"Oh my, I've never seen that parrot either. There are too many bird species in Africa."

Looking at his mother and Qu Yunxuan singing in harmony, Dong Xuebin scratched his head and smiled wryly, "Mom, Aunt Xuan, you guys watch TV, I'm going to continue studying."

His mother looked at her son worriedly, "The national exam is still early, take a proper rest, don't push yourself too hard."

Dong Xuebin casually hummed in agreement.

Qu Yunxuan put down her crossed legs and touched the back of his head with a slight complaint, "You've been cooped up in your room alone for so many days, that's not good. Come on, watch Animal World to rest your eyes. Dinner will be ready soon. Your aunt will cook something delicious for you. You, just tell your aunt what you want to eat, okay?"

"Okay, okay." Stealing a glance at Qu Yunxuan's faintly visible cleavage from his collar, Dong Xuebin's Adam's apple bobbed with desire.

Ring ring ring, ring ring ring, the phone rang.

"I'll take a call." Dong Xuebin saw that it was an unfamiliar number, walked a few steps to the begonia flower pot by the window, picked it up, and listened, "Hello, hello."

"Hello, is this Dong Xuebin?" The other end was a female voice, a very soft female voice.

"Oh, it's me, who is this?" Dong Xuebin held the phone with his shoulder and picked up a watering can to spray water on the begonia leaves. The mist condensed into water droplets on the green and red leaves, dripping into the dry soil in the flower pot.

He only heard the woman on the other end of the phone say, "This is the Municipal State Security Bureau Political Department. Because the department's situation is relatively special, there is no official website, and the test scores and other information of the applicants will not be published online. So, regarding the interview, we will notify you by phone. Please take a pen and record." The other party was probably also from Jingcheng, speaking with "you" this and "you" that, with dignity but without losing politeness.

Dong Xuebin was shocked and only then reacted, "Ah, please wait, please wait."

His mother on the sofa asked suspiciously, "Xuebin, who is it?"

Dong Xuebin hurriedly gesticulated wildly, "Mom, pen, give me a pen and paper!"

Qu Yunxuan blinked and bent down to hand him a ballpoint pen and a Meilianmei Supermarket advertisement flyer from under the coffee table, "I don't see any blank paper, will this do?"

"Yes, yes, thank you." Dong Xuebin put the supermarket promotion advertisement on the windowsill and said into his phone, "Sorry for the wait, please go ahead."

The voice paused, and the other party said, "It's like this, your written test score has passed the interview score line, and your total score ranks fourth among all interviewees in the department. At nine o'clock the morning after tomorrow, please go to the Municipal Personnel Bureau Waiting Room for the interview. The address is Room 2216, 22nd Floor, Baiyun Times Building, No. 5, Jia, Lianhua Pond East Road, Chengxi District..."

"Okay, okay, thank you, thank you."

The other party said a few more words about precautions and the documents to bring, and then hung up the phone.

Dong Xuebin was a little excited, turned around and put the phone in his pocket, "Mom, I have to go out the morning after tomorrow, I have something to do, please remember to wake me up early, I can't get up late."

Mom asked strangely, "What are you doing the day after tomorrow? Why are you so happy?"

Dong Xuebin smiled and said, "I'll tell you later, I'll tell you later, I'll go back to my room first, and review my lessons."

Qu Yunxuan pulled Dong Xuebin's mother and pointed her chin at the small room, "Did Xiao Bin find a job?"

"Maybe." Mom suddenly realized, "It's good to find a job, it's not good to just stay at home like this." Saying that, Mom sighed at the TV, "I don't know if I can pass the national exam next year."

Back to the bedroom.

Dong Xuebin tore off the interview address on the promotional advertisement, folded it twice and carefully put it in his wallet, looked up at the few interview review materials on the desk, he prayed a few times in his throat, clenched his fist tightly, finally this day has come, fourth place? The ranking is lower than expected, it seems that there are really many people applying for the State Security this year.

Dong Xuebin, ah, Dong Xuebin,

You must pass the exam!!!