Ding Yawen had a big reputation in the circle, but upon hearing such flattery, she merely responded with modest pleasantries.
Xiao Hai then shifted the topic, saying, “I’ve always been a laid-back person. After all these years as a journalist, I haven’t achieved much. Honestly, I don’t care much about seniority points or official positions. What I care about more is money.”
“But these days, making money is truly difficult. Take my monthly salary of just over ten thousand—what good is it? Raising a family and supporting children is simply impossible. I bought my apartment with a loan, and after paying the mortgage each month, I’m barely scraping by. It’s really tough.”
One of the journalists laughed and said, “Manager Xiao, hearing you say that, it’s clear you have ideas. Could it be you have some money-making opportunities? Remember, ‘In prosperity, do not forget your friends.’ After all, we’ve been colleagues for so many years, right?”
Xiao Hai indeed had an idea: “I do have a thought. The live-streaming industry is so popular these days, and I’d like to give it a try. What do you all think?”
The journalists exchanged glances, smiling without saying a word, clearly indicating their disapproval.
Xiao Hai continued to persuade them: “I’m not just talking. I’ve made detailed plans and have a few potential clients willing to invest, but I don’t have enough people. Brothers, I think this is a great opportunity. We’ve all been in the workplace for years and have some skills, right? It’s not difficult, really not difficult.”
He tried to persuade them one by one, but no one was interested. After all, they all worked at the television station, a formal institution. Even if they were just contract workers, no one was willing to give up this place that others dreamed of entering.
Before Xiao Hai could approach her, Ding Yawen stood up: “It’s getting late, Manager Xiao. I’ll take my leave now. You all can continue chatting.”
It was already dark outside. Ding Yawen stepped out and looked up at the pitch-black sky. She hadn’t been drinking, but she felt strangely intoxicated. Outside the hotel, the winter jasmine had already withered.
Shanghai was like this—yesterday it was still winter, and today it felt like summer. Spring and autumn seemed to hide, rarely making an appearance for more than a few days each year.
Driving home, Ding Yawen wasn’t someone who feared loneliness, but on a night like this, she didn’t want to return to an empty house.
While waiting at a red light, Ding Yawen looked around idly and suddenly spotted a familiar figure. It was Huang Jianhui.
Huang Jianhui was still wearing a T-shirt and sneakers. Even in his thirties, he always seemed carefree, looking like a recent graduate in his early twenties. He was carefully supporting a woman dressed plainly, helping her cross the street with unsteady steps.
Tears welled up coldly on Ding Yawen’s cheeks as she watched them cross the street. The woman, with her large belly, bowed to Huang Jianhui in gratitude. Under the streetlights, Huang Jianhui smiled gently, waving repeatedly before turning and walking away.
He had always been like that—warm-hearted and polite, clearly a lively young man at heart.
The cars behind her began honking. Ding Yawen snapped back to reality, quickly started the car, and drove off. Her phone rang, and she glanced at it—an unfamiliar number. She answered using her Bluetooth earpiece.
“Is this Jiang Yuxin’s mother? This is Xining Police Station.”
Ding Yawen paused. Jiang Yuxin? She reacted quickly and replied, “Yes, that’s me. What happened to Yuxin?”
“Jiang Yuxin is lost and can’t find her way back. Could you please come pick her up?”
Ding Yawen had originally wanted to call Lu Jiaping, but she felt that since Jiang Yuxin had told others that her mother was her, it indicated she didn’t really want to see Lu Jiaping.
She checked the time—9:15. Lu Jiaping must be frantic by now.
Driving to Xining Police Station, Ding Yawen rushed inside and ran into two officers she had previously contacted while covering a news story.
When the officers saw her, they smiled. “So it’s your daughter! Reporter Ding, you’re so busy you can’t even keep an eye on your child. This little girl got lost and was crying all by herself. Luckily, our colleague on duty found her and brought her back. You really need to be more careful in the future. Even though Shanghai is safe, you should still pay more attention to your child.”
Ding Yawen thanked them profusely and took Jiang Yuxin far away from the police station before stopping the car and saying, “I’ll send a message to your mom.”
“Godmother.” Jiang Yuxin’s eyes were red. She was scared—the moment she ran away, she had been terrified. She was afraid her mother would be angry, but even more afraid her mother would be heartbroken. She didn’t dare face her, and she didn’t want her godmother to call her mom either.
Ding Yawen looked back at her and smiled gently. “We’ll deal with the future later, but I’ll protect you, Yuxin. It’s very late now, almost ten o’clock. Your mom must be worried sick, and Yucheng probably hasn’t gone to bed yet. He might even be looking for you everywhere, right?”
Jiang Yuxin didn’t want that and quickly said, “Then… can I not go home?”
Ding Yawen sent a message to Lu Jiaping before nodding. “I’ve told your mom you’ll stay with me tonight. But I won’t be able to sleep—work’s calling!”
She shook her phone.
Jiang Yuxin pursed her lips and smiled. “I’m willing to work with you, Godmother. Otherwise, if I go back, my mom will just make me write an essay, and I can’t write one.”
“Write an essay?”
Jiang Yuxin nodded. “I really don’t like writing essays. I don’t know how. Godmother, why does she always make me write essays?”
Ding Yawen smiled. “It’s not just your mom—it’s the overall societal environment. But essays reflect a person’s reading ability. I think you could work on improving your reading and writing skills a bit.”
“I don’t have time.” Jiang Yuxin lowered her head. “I barely have enough time to finish my homework every day. Now my teacher wants me to read for forty minutes daily, and I can’t even do that consistently. Plus, whenever I read, I get so sleepy. I want to sleep, but I never get enough.”
She spoke sadly, tears streaming down her face.
Ding Yawen’s heart ached for her. “It’ll get better in the future. The hard work now is for an easier life later.”
Jiang Yuxin looked up. “Godmother, is your life easy? I don’t think it is. You’re so busy every day. Does wanting to live a more successful life mean you can never have it easy?”
Ding Yawen thought for a moment before replying, “Even though my life isn’t easy, Yuxin, think about it—the money I earn from my hard work is several times what many others make. Even if they work just as hard, they might never achieve what I have, right?”
“Right,” Jiang Yuxin said, her expression dimming again. “So, if I want to be like you, Godmother, I’ll have to suffer for the rest of my life.”
Ding Yawen was usually eloquent, but faced with this innocent child, she found herself at a loss for words.
Jiang Yuxin wiped her tears, leaned back in the seat, and fell silent.
Ding Yawen had news on her mind and could only offer a weak consolation: “If you’re tired, get some sleep. Tonight is bound to be a sleepless night, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving you alone in the car. Hurry and rest for a bit—you’ll have to follow me around later.”