Just two casual remarks were enough to crack the proud mask Yu Wan wore. She let out a cold snort.
“You’re still as sharp-tongued as ever.”
Miao Ying, who had been standing nearby enjoying the show, understood what was going on and couldn’t help covering her mouth as she chuckled.
So they were rivals in love…
“Since you two already know each other, there’s no need for me to introduce you. Aren’t you going to get something to eat? Do you know what time it is?”
Miao Ying tried to smooth things over and put an end to the conversation.
But Yu Wan wasn’t willing to let it go. She folded her arms and walked over, giving Qiao Yimian an up-and-down look before rolling her eyes in disdain.
“But… no matter how talented you are, didn’t you end up staying at that little ragtag newspaper, the Chucheng Evening News? What a waste of all those scholarships you competed with me for back then.”
Qiao Yimian didn’t take offense. She smiled and played along.
“Yeah, what a shame. What could I do? I don’t have a powerful relative to rely on.”
Yu Wan’s eyes immediately widened, and her voice rose several notches.
“What nonsense are you talking about? I got in on my own ability! Don’t you dare slander me!”
Qiao Yimian shrugged indifferently.
“Oh? Then you really are impressive. I’m impressed.”
With that, she gave her a thoughtful little smile and went straight back to her desk.
“You!”
Yu Wan gritted her red lips in anger. Fury tinged her carefully made-up features, making her look like an irritated cat whose tail had been stepped on.
Afraid the two would start arguing again, Meng Changfeng quickly cut off the exchange and called Yu Wan to go out for lunch.
“Enough reminiscing. Come on, let’s go eat! I’m starving!”
Yu Wan gave an irritated huff and stormed out of the office.
The room immediately fell quiet.
Qiao Yimian slowly let out a breath.
She and Yu Wan had never gotten along during college.
At first, they competed over exam rankings and scholarships. Then they fought over club president positions and student council posts. Eventually, things had escalated to competing over men…
Of course, Yu Wan was the one who insisted on competing with her over men. Qiao Yimian would have been more than happy to hand them over.
During their senior year, Linchuan Television came to their university to recruit interns. Both she and Yu Wan applied.
But there was only one position left.
Along with the other applicants, they took written and interview exams. Qiao Yimian came in first in both.
Everyone thought the position was obviously hers. No one expected Yu Wan to be selected instead.
The television station gave a very simple explanation: Yu Wan had experience doing livestreams, and her account had more than five hundred followers.
Qiao Yimian had believed them at the time. Although she was disappointed, she hadn’t held a grudge.
It wasn’t until much later, when she heard it from Shi Yan, that she learned Yu Wan’s aunt’s husband was the deputy director of the television station. He had specifically requested that Yu Wan be given the internship.
Only then did everything click.
After her internship ended, Yu Wan naturally stayed on at Linchuan Television.
Qiao Yimian, meanwhile, settled for the next-best option and joined the Chucheng Evening News.
Two years had passed since they’d last seen each other, and Qiao Yimian had had no idea that Yu Wan was also working at the News Center.
It looked like she was going to have to deal with that proud peacock for the entire month ahead.
Miao Ying rolled her chair closer to Qiao Yimian and couldn’t resist indulging her curiosity.
“You two really are rivals in love? The man she likes is pursuing you? Don’t blame me for being nosy. It’s just the first time I’ve ever seen ‘Beauty Yu’ get completely shut down. That’s a rare sight! It’s hilarious!”
Qiao Yimian gave an amused, helpless smile without confirming or denying it.
Wasn’t that exactly what they were? The man Yu Wan had been desperately pursuing was none other than Shi Yan.
Miao Ying tilted her head and carefully studied Qiao Yimian’s exquisite profile before sighing.
“Looks like that man really does have good taste. If I were a man, I’d know exactly who I’d pursue. But let me give you a warning—try not to provoke Yu Wan too much. Her uncle-in-law is the deputy director, and she practically struts around the station like she owns the place. Everyone has to give her some leeway.”
“Mm, got it.”
Qiao Yimian knew Miao Ying meant well, so she smiled and nodded.
All afternoon, Qiao Yimian concentrated on editing her articles, completely ignoring the pointed snorts Yu Wan made whenever she deliberately passed by her desk.
Although the two of them had always been at each other’s throats in school, refusing to yield and competing over everything, Yu Wan was ultimately nothing more than a proud peacock who was good at talking. The simplest and most direct way to deal with someone like her was to crush her—and ignore her.
Qiao Yimian knew this very well and didn’t take her seriously at all.
Near the end of the workday, she finally finished organizing all the articles.
She was discussing filming techniques with Meng Changfeng when someone suddenly called out from the doorway:
“The Governor is coming to the News Center for an inspection and to meet with everyone! Everyone, hurry up and get ready!”
Only then did Qiao Yimian remember what Miao Ying had mentioned at lunch when they went to the cafeteria—the “big shot” she’d been talking about was actually the governor of the Beijiang Region?
She had heard a little about this important figure before.
Born into a powerful family in the capital, he had been sent to the most grueling border military region when he was young. After years of outstanding service, he had earned a First-Class Merit Award through his own achievements.
With his abilities, honors, and formidable family background, his future should have been smooth sailing.
Yet, unexpectedly, he had been parachuted into Beijiang, the economically most underdeveloped region in the country, and appointed its governor.
As for why, that was something a small-time reporter like her could never hope to figure out.
And what little she knew was already the extent of the inside information available to her.
As for this man’s identity and background, even his appearance was completely unknown to ordinary people.
Sure enough, her colleagues were just as surprised.
Several of them began whispering among themselves.
“The governor just took office, and he’s already coming here for an inspection. That shows how much importance he places on the television station!”
“What did you expect? The television station is the primary window for news and publicity. Of course he’d take it seriously.”
“Don’t flatter yourself! ‘Primary window,’ my foot. We’re a sunset industry barely surviving on advertising revenue. If anyone’s supposed to take someone seriously, it should be us taking our advertising sponsors seriously.”
“Sunset industry? I’d say we’re almost out of daylight altogether…”
Hearing several of the older colleagues muttering under their breath, Song Nanxing couldn’t help trying to reassure them.
“Don’t be so pessimistic. We’re still journalists with passion and ideals, aren’t we?”
“Passion? Give me a break. You can’t put food on the table with passion.”
An older reporter patted Song Nanxing on the shoulder.
“You’re young. You just started, so naturally you’ve still got all that enthusiasm. We brothers were just like you once. Back then, we’d kill ourselves fighting for the first report and exclusive stories. We’d pour our hearts into writing thousands of words, only for the boss to read the whole thing, purse his lips, and say, ‘This involves sensitive issues. Don’t publish it for now.’ It’ll teach you to take another look at your profession and your ideals.”
Song Nanxing scratched his head, looking somewhat confused.
Qiao Yimian was some distance away and only caught fragments of the conversation. She could only shake her head helplessly.
Their words were somewhat pessimistic, but they also reflected the reality in many places.
Amid the overlapping chatter and discussion, several steady, powerful footsteps sounded from outside the door.
Everyone immediately stopped complaining and turned their eyes toward the entrance.