Interview!

One day...

Two days...

Three days...

In the blink of an eye, many days passed.

Because Back had played an irreplaceably vital role during the written stage of the Capital City Civil Servants exam, Dong Xuebin had tasted its benefits and hadn't wasted his daily ability these past few days. Instead, he experimented with it and studied it from every angle. He planned to rely on turning back time to change his current life of poverty, so naturally, he needed to study Back again and again, familiarize himself with it again and again.

After repeated experiments, the results were both encouraging and worrying.

The results were as follows: First, during ordinary conversations, he didn't need to avoid words such as "return," "go back," or "back." Even if he said or thought of them, time wouldn't change as long as he wasn't being overly deliberate. Only when Dong Xuebin consciously guided himself into wanting to turn back time, then silently recited words like "back," "return," or "go back," would time flow in reverse.

Second, Back might truly be an "unlimited" ability. As long as midnight passed each day, the new day's Back would arrive right on schedule, without a single 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 return to 11:59 p.m. the previous day, then even when time passed midnight again dozens of seconds later, he wouldn't gain another Back.

Third, Dong Xuebin simply couldn't adapt to the shift in time before and after Back. It was fine if he stayed still, and sitting was manageable too, but if he had been continuously walking, talking, or moving a minute earlier, then the instant he went back, he couldn't react in time. Either his feet would tangle and he'd fall, or he wouldn't be able to pick up the conversation. He kept this firmly in mind and needed to be especially careful. Otherwise, if he used Back on a busy road, lost his footing, and got into a car accident, he'd be finished.

Of course, after so many days of practice, Dong Xuebin had become much more accustomed to Back and no longer fell down every time.

On the other hand.

Dong Xuebin hadn't neglected his interview preparation either. He spent nearly a dozen hours a day looking up information and memorizing material. Regulations large and small in official circles, trivial rules in the financial world—everything was immensely complicated. He absorbed as much as he could. Knowing a little more never hurt.

That day.

In the living room, Mom and Aunt Xuan forced smiles as they talked about cheerful subjects. Although they were deeply disappointed that Dong Xuebin hadn't passed the Civil Servants exam, they considered his feelings and hadn't mentioned the exam at all these past few days, only hoping he would get over his emotional slump as soon as possible.

"Hey, Xiao Bin, look at that hippo on TV. Why does it look like that?"

"Exactly. It looks so funny, hehehe..."

"Oh my, I've never seen that parrot either. There are so many species of birds in Africa."

Watching Mom and Qu Yunxuan play off each other, Dong Xuebin scratched his head and gave a bitter smile. "Mom, Aunt Xuan, you watch TV. I'll go back and keep studying."

Mom looked at her son worriedly. "The National Civil Service Exam is still a long way off. Get some proper rest. Don't push yourself too hard."

Dong Xuebin gave a casual "Mm."

Qu Yunxuan uncrossed her legs and touched the back of his head with mild reproach. "You've been cooped up in your room alone for so many days. That won't do. Come watch Animal World and rest your eyes. Dinner will be ready soon. Your aunt will cook something delicious for you herself. Just tell me whatever you want to eat, understand?"

"Mm-hm." Secretly glancing at the faintly visible cleavage beneath Qu Yunxuan's collar, Dong Xuebin swallowed greedily.

Ring, ring, ring. Ring, ring, ring. His phone rang.

"I'll take this call first." Seeing it was an unfamiliar number, Dong Xuebin took a few steps toward the crabapple pot by the window and answered. "Hello?"

"Hello, is this Dong Xuebin?" A woman's voice came from the other end, a very soft voice.

"Oh, yes, that's me. May I ask who's calling?" Dong Xuebin held the phone between his shoulder and ear, picked up a spray bottle, and misted the crabapple leaves. Droplets condensed on the green-and-red leaves, then dripped from their tips into the dry soil in the flowerpot.

The woman on the phone said, "This is the Municipal State Security Bureau Political Department. Due to the special nature of our department, we don't have an official website and will not post applicants' written examination results or other information online. Therefore, we're notifying you by phone about the interview. Please get a pen and write this down." The other party was probably from the Capital City too. She kept saying "you" politely, authoritative without being discourteous.

Dong Xuebin was startled before realizing what was happening. "Ah, please wait a moment, wait a moment."

Mom asked suspiciously from the sofa, "Xuebin, who is it?"

Dong Xuebin hurriedly gestured wildly. "Mom, a pen! Give me some paper and a pen!"

Qu Yunxuan blinked, bent over, and handed him a ballpoint pen and a Meilianmei Supermarket advertisement flyer from beneath the Coffee Table. "I don't see any blank paper. Will this do?"

"Yes, yes, thank you." Dong Xuebin placed the supermarket promotion flyer on the windowsill and said into the phone, "Sorry to keep you waiting. Please go ahead."

After a pause, the other party said, "Here's the situation: your written examination score has passed the interview cutoff. Your overall score ranks fourth among all interview candidates in the department. Please report to the Municipal Personnel Bureau Waiting Room for your interview at 9:00 a.m. the day after tomorrow. The address is Room 2216, Floor 22, Baiyun Times Building, No. 5A Lianhuachi East Road, West District..."

"Alright, alright. Thank you, thank you."

The other party gave him a few more reminders and told him what documents to bring before hanging up.

Dong Xuebin was a little excited. He turned around and slipped his phone into his pocket. "Mom, I need to go out the morning after tomorrow. I've got something to do. Make sure to wake me early. I can't oversleep."

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

Dong Xuebin smiled. "I'll tell you then, I'll tell you then. I'm heading back to my room first to study."

Qu Yunxuan tugged on Dong Xuebin's mother and nodded toward the small bedroom. "Did Xiao Bin find a job?"

"Maybe." Mom suddenly understood. "Finding a job would be good too. He can't just stay at home like this." As she spoke, Mom sighed at the television. "Who knows whether he'll pass next year's National Civil Service Exam."

Back in his bedroom.

Dong Xuebin tore the interview address off the promotional flyer, folded it twice, and carefully tucked it into his wallet. Looking up at the interview prep books on his desk, he murmured a few prayers under his breath and clenched his fist tightly. The day had finally come. Fourth place? That was a little lower than he'd expected. It seemed quite a few people had applied to State Security this year.

Dong Xuebin...

You have to pass!!!