Because of the matter concerning who would accompany the officials on the inspection tour, Yu Wan had been positively glowing with pride these past two days.
She had always been high-profile, and with her aunt and uncle’s connections, she might not literally be able to walk around the station like she owned the place, but she certainly carried herself as though she could.
There were plenty of people with connections in a place like this, so everyone was used to it. No one wanted to make an enemy of her.
Yet she insisted on going out of her way to provoke other people.
Ever since Qiao Yimian arrived, Yu Wan would make a point of taking little digs at her every now and then.
And now that she had received this piece of good news, she was even less willing to let the opportunity pass.
“Small fry will always be small fry. So what if you made it to the television station? Aren’t you still here to run errands and do all the dirty work? How could a chance to appear in front of the cameras possibly fall to someone like you?”
“If I were you, I’d have gone back to wherever I came from a long time ago! Even if you manage to climb up a branch, you’ll never become a phoenix!”
At first, Qiao Yimian had no intention of paying attention to her provocations. But Yu Wan kept getting in her face, refusing to let up.
Eventually, Qiao Yimian couldn’t take it anymore. She tossed a printed manuscript onto the desk in front of Yu Wan.
“I hear the governor is highly educated and well-versed in literature. You’d better improve your writing skills before you accompany him on the inspection tour. Just look at all the misused words and grammatical errors in this piece. I honestly don’t know how I’m supposed to fix them all.”
Qiao Yimian folded her arms, looking genuinely puzzled.
“Come to think of it, it’s strange. Your Chinese grades were pretty good back in university. How did you manage to return everything to your teachers after graduating just one year ago? Or were you so busy this past year that you didn’t have time to think, and your brain started deteriorating at an accelerated rate?”
“Who are you calling stupid?!”
Yu Wan’s face darkened instantly.
But Qiao Yimian merely tapped the manuscript on the desk with one finger.
“Finish correcting it before we start arguing.”
With that, she gave Yu Wan a wicked little smile and turned to leave.
Yu Wan was so furious her teeth hurt. She lowered her eyes to the manuscript and saw all the corrections covering the pages.
Enraged, she snatched it up and threw it straight into the trash.
“Who do you think you’re fooling, you little newbie!”
Qiao Yimian paid no attention to the dark mood she left behind. She cheerfully packed up her things and got ready to leave work.
Song Nanxing told her that her car had been repaired, but he really didn’t dare drive it back himself, so she had to go pick it up.
“Sis Yimian, I still have a news article to finish tonight, so I can’t go with you. Let me treat you to a big dinner tonight, okay?”
Song Nanxing pressed his palms together, looking apologetic.
Qiao Yimian couldn’t help laughing.
“Sure. Then I’m going to make you pay dearly! And this time, no ordering takeout!”
Song Nanxing grinned.
“Any restaurant in all of Linchuan is fine. You pick!”
It was already rush hour, so Qiao Yimian didn’t continue bantering with him. She quickly left the office.
She had just walked out of the television station building and was about to head to the intersection to hail a taxi when she noticed a black Hongqi sedan parked by the roadside.
At first, she didn’t pay much attention to it.
That was, until the front passenger window rolled down and Zhou Heng greeted her with a cheerful smile.
“Reporter Qiao! Where are you headed?”
Qiao Yimian hurried over a few steps, her eyes curving into a smile.
“Secretary Zhou, hello. I’m just heading to the 4S dealership to pick up my car.”
Ever since learning that Zhou Heng was the governor’s secretary, Qiao Yimian no longer dared call him “Big Brother Zhou.” After all, this seemingly approachable and easygoing man held a position that was actually half a rank higher than Linchuan City’s highest-ranking official…
Zhou Heng didn’t care what she called him. He smiled and continued.
“It’s rush hour, so it’ll be hard to get a taxi. We’ll give you a ride. It’s not far anyway.”
“No, no… Thank you, but I really don’t want to trouble you!”
As if she’d dare ride in the governor’s car whenever she pleased.
Even if she were given eight more times the courage she had, she still wouldn’t dare get in again.
But Zhou Heng was insistent.
“Come on, get in. We can’t stay parked here for long.”
Qiao Yimian was about to refuse again when the rear passenger window rolled down.
Li Yao’s exceptionally handsome profile appeared in her line of sight.
His deep eyes settled on Qiao Yimian for a moment before he spoke in a low voice.
“Get in. There are some things I want to talk to you about.”
Qiao Yimian opened her mouth.
Under that calm yet intimidating gaze, deep as an unfathomable pool, she ultimately chickened out and closed it again.
Fine.
If she refused again, it would start to look like she was being deliberately coy.
Qiao Yimian quickly got into the car, and the Hongqi sedan slowly pulled away.
To break the awkward silence inside the car, Qiao Yimian deliberately found something to talk about and spoke first.
“Um… you’re really not supposed to park on the grid markings here. A car was even towed a few days ago for illegal parking.”
Zhou Heng, sitting in the front passenger seat, flicked his eyes and instinctively glanced at the rearview mirror.
There sat the “culprit,” Governor Li, his expression completely unchanged. He gave a calm “Mm,” then even added in an unhurried tone:
“Observing traffic regulations is every citizen’s legal responsibility and obligation.”
Zhou Heng: “…”
So reporting people who failed to observe traffic regulations was also every citizen’s duty, huh?
But he didn’t dare say that aloud. He could only complain silently to himself.
Qiao Yimian smiled and gave a small response.
The car fell silent again.
After they had driven for a while, Qiao Yimian suddenly remembered what Li Yao had said before she got into the car. Unable to resist, she asked,
“Governor, you said just now that there was something you wanted to talk to me about?”
Li Yao kept his eyes on the road ahead.
After a few seconds of silence, he turned to look at her.
“How is the work at the television station?”
Qiao Yimian was taken aback for a moment before answering seriously.
“A city-level television station gets exposed to a wider range of news stories and covers more types of interviews. There are also different things to learn…”
She briefly explained the differences in the breadth and depth of their interview work.
Her eyes were clear and earnest, and her manner was neither servile nor overbearing.
Li Yao listened quietly, his gaze resting on her bright eyes.
For a moment, he found himself captivated.
It wasn’t until Qiao Yimian finished speaking that he belatedly looked away and asked about something else.
“Are you getting used to living in Linchuan?”
Qiao Yimian nodded.
“More or less. The food and climate here are similar to Chucheng. Besides, we usually either eat at the cafeteria or order takeout, so it’s not much different from being at the newspaper office.”
“You should eat less takeout.”
Li Yao’s tone was earnest as he reminded her, “It’s not good for your health.”
The sudden concern caught Qiao Yimian somewhat off guard. She smiled and replied,
“Yes, Governor. Thank you for your concern.”
She had naturally smiling eyes. Even when she wasn’t smiling, the corners of her eyes tilted slightly upward, giving her an effortless charm. Once a smile appeared in those eyes, her whole face seemed to bloom like peach blossoms in March—lively, spirited, playful, and alluring.
It was the kind of beautiful smile that made people want to stop and linger.
The corners of Li Yao’s lips curved upward slightly.
In a low voice, he murmured, “At least you’re obedient.”
A car horn sounded outside at exactly that moment. Qiao Yimian didn’t catch what he had murmured, but she found his questions a little strange.
He had clearly said there was something he wanted to talk to her about, yet all he’d asked about was her work and her life.
Could that really be what he wanted to ask her?
Impossible.
How could the lofty Governor possibly be interested in someone as insignificant as her?
But she didn’t feel comfortable pressing him for an answer, so she could only wait quietly for him to speak again.
However, by the time they arrived at the 4S dealership, Li Yao still hadn’t asked her anything serious or official. Their conversation had remained nothing more than casual small talk.
The car came to a stop, and Qiao Yimian finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She had thought this tense journey was finally over.
But just as she was about to get out, she suddenly remembered something. Belatedly, she slapped a hand against her forehead.
Oh no.
She’d forgotten her driver’s license…