In the following days, Luca sent his résumé to numerous places, his heart filled with anxiety. He didn't know what kind of response he would receive, but hope refused to let go.

Days stretched into an exhausting routine—washing dishes, carrying trays, delivering goods, even working as a janitor. Luca did whatever it took to make ends meet, but life was far from easy. He had to borrow money just to keep a roof over his head, struggling day by day to survive.

Two weeks later, on a particularly exhausting night, Luca received an email from a corporation he had applied to. He closed his eyes, held his breath, and clicked on the email. His heart pounded, filled with anticipation. But the moment he read the result, all his hopes shattered—he was rejected.

A heavy weight settled on his chest. Despite all his efforts, the outcome remained the same. He sat in his room, staring blankly at his computer screen, too drained to react. The days of waiting had led only to the echo of failure.

Luca sat there, his eyes reddened, unable to hold back his tears. It felt like everything was collapsing around him, leaving no escape. He sobbed, waves of grief choking him, his body trembling with emotions too overwhelming to contain. Burying his face in his pillow, he let the tears fall freely, as if life had lost all meaning. The memories of countless unlucky days, failures, and mounting pressure played over and over in his mind, leaving him utterly exhausted. Eventually, after what felt like an eternity of sorrow, he drifted into a restless sleep, where pain momentarily faded into the background.

The next morning, Luca woke up feeling drained, his spirit crushed. He felt as though he had lost all faith, as if there was no energy left in his body. Dragging himself out of bed, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and made his way to work. The entire morning, he struggled to focus, his mind drowning in thoughts of his recent failures.

While carrying a tray of dishes, his thoughts wandered, and he accidentally bumped into a table. Plates and bowls crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. The loud clatter jolted him back to reality. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" he blurted out, but his apologies couldn't stop the furious glare of his boss. A relentless scolding followed, making Luca feel even more dejected.

After enduring the reprimand, he slumped into a quiet corner, staring blankly at nothing. He had known things would turn out this way, yet he couldn't suppress the crushing disappointment. The weight of failure clung to him like an unshakable shadow.

Just as he was drowning in his despair, his phone suddenly rang. An unknown number flashed on the screen. He hesitated, unsure whether to answer. After a moment's pause, he decided to pick up.

A calm, composed voice greeted him. "Hello, is this Luca Moretti? I'd like to meet you. There's something I need to discuss. I'll be waiting for you at this address." The caller then provided a location and simply stated they would wait for him.

Luca was caught off guard. He wasted no time in asking, "Who are you? Sorry, but I can't meet right now—I'm working."

The person on the other end didn't address his question. Instead, they replied with just two words: "Up to you." Then the call ended.

Luca frowned, confused but not overly concerned. He patted his face a few times, trying to shake off his lingering thoughts and refocus on work. Yet, as he went about his tasks, unease crept in.

"What if they're really waiting for me?" The thought nagged at him, refusing to fade. No matter how hard he tried to dismiss it, guilt gnawed at his conscience. In the end, he couldn't ignore it.

He finally decided to take the rest of the day off and meet this mysterious caller. Though he had no idea what the meeting was about, something inside him urged him to go. With hesitation and a mix of nervousness, he approached his boss to request leave.

Luca arrived at a small but elegant café, the meeting spot. Inside, in the warm ambiance, a middle-aged man sat at a table, a laptop open in front of him, along with a few documents. When Luca stepped in, the man glanced up, smiled, and gestured for him to sit.

"Thank you for coming," the man said, his voice deep and confident. "I'm Victor, the head of Human Resources at G Queen."

Luca frowned, skeptical. "Why are you looking for me? I wasn't hired—do you have the wrong person?"

Victor smiled kindly. "No, I don't. It's true that you weren't selected, but your résumé caught my attention."

Luca widened his eyes, slightly taken aback. Victor continued:

"I heard you've been struggling to find a job, but I'd like to hear directly from you—why do you want to work at G Queen?"

Still a bit unsettled, Luca sat down, trying to compose himself. He wasn't used to interviews happening so unexpectedly, but he steadied his voice.

"I... I've been trying really hard. I believe I have the skills for marketing, and I want a stable job to grow," he admitted, his eyes full of determination. "I think G Queen is the place where I can learn and develop further."

Victor observed him closely, as if analyzing every subtle movement. Then, he put down his laptop and faced Luca directly.

"You know, G Queen doesn't hire people just based on degrees. We have an abundance of talented applicants. What we seek are individuals with true passion—people who can stand tall even in the face of difficulties." He paused before adding, "I see something in you that I don't often find in others... a fire, a drive."

Luca remained silent, listening. He wasn't sure if Victor was simply being kind or genuinely saw something in him, but those words ignited a flicker of warmth in his chest.

Victor leaned forward slightly. "So, convince me—why should I choose you when I have candidates with more experience and better connections?"

Luca hesitated briefly before deciding to be completely honest.

"Because I don't give up. No matter how hard things get, I keep pushing forward. I may not have many connections or much experience, but I have passion and an unbreakable will to learn."

Victor nodded thoughtfully. He was silent for a moment before flipping his laptop back open and sliding some documents toward Luca.

"This is the marketing role G Queen is hiring for. I need you to prove to me that you can do this job. No flowery words—just results."

Luca looked at the documents, realizing he was being thrown into a real challenge. He had thought all his chances were gone, but now, he had a sliver of hope.

"I... I'll do my best," he declared, his voice steady with determination.

Victor smiled and gestured toward the materials. "Good. Show me what you've got."

After leaving the meeting, Luca felt a renewed sense of purpose. That day, he worked harder than ever, as if everything had suddenly become lighter. A few days later, he completed the task and submitted his work.

That night, as he lay in bed, his phone rang again. It was Victor. His voice was warm and congratulatory—Luca had passed the first major hurdle.

Victor explained that his case was a bit unusual, almost like a "backdoor entry," but the real challenge was just beginning. He would start at a branch office in the city, and if he excelled within a year, he might be recommended for a transfer to headquarters.

The call ended with Luca overjoyed. He even invited Victor to a celebratory hot pot meal, though the offer was politely declined. Hanging up, Luca couldn't contain his happiness—he jumped up in excitement.

A few days later, he received his official job acceptance. With newfound confidence and enthusiasm, he stepped into his new company, ready to embark on the next chapter of his life.