Yu Li naturally knew that Xu Hui meant well.
“Sister Hui, I understand everything you’re saying. The pregnancy really wasn’t part of my plans at first, but now that I have this child, I have to take on my responsibility as his mother.”
“But withdrawing from the prime-time anchor competition wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Although the baby is part of the reason, this in-depth talk show is something I’ve wanted to do ever since I entered the news industry.”
Yu Li explained sincerely: “The prime-time anchor has to broadcast live, as you know. I’ve just gotten pregnant, so I’ll inevitably have pregnancy symptoms. If something goes wrong during a live broadcast—”
“It wouldn’t just be a personal mistake on my part; it would damage the image of the entire station. So I believe that, weighing both options, it’s better to minimize the losses early on.”
“Besides, if I can make a name for myself with this celebrity interview show, I won’t be any less successful than a prime-time anchor. Don’t you think so?”
This well-reasoned analysis left Xu Hui unable to stay angry.
She sighed and said, “When you first came to the station, I could tell you’re someone with strong opinions of your own who doesn’t like following the beaten path.”
“I fully approve of your independent thinking and your spirit of daring to try new things. But you need to stay grounded in reality—just like that, you’re proposing to invite Qi Chenyan.”
“What’s the difference between that and running for president the moment you enter politics? People need to keep their feet on the ground and take things one step at a time.”
Xu Hui had already thought of a way out for Yu Li: “How about this—I’ll bring it up with the director again and try to get the board to approve the talk show project, but you must change your choice of guest for the first episode.”
“I think Yi Ning would be a good choice—she just won the full grand slam in diving and announced her retirement. Her star power certainly isn’t on Qi Chenyan’s level, but if you can get her first interview after retirement, it would still generate buzz.”
But Yu Li still insisted: “Sister Hui, you know how I work. If I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. Now that I have a first choice, I will never settle for less.”
“Rest assured, if I dare to make the ask, I will definitely land him. Just wait for my good news.”
Xu Hui shook her head helplessly, feeling that Yu Li’s path had been far too smooth, which was why she was so arrogantly overreaching.
The proposal for the celebrity interview show was presented to the board the very next day.
When the board members saw that the proposed guest for the first episode was actually Qi Chenyan, their first reaction was to think their eyes were playing tricks on them.
Though they felt the proposal was far too audacious, what if she actually pulled it off by sheer luck?
And if she didn’t, they could simply swap in a less prominent guest.
But if she succeeded, the boost for Blue Sky Television would be extraordinary.
The talk show project was approved without much resistance.
However, the board gave Yu Li a one-week deadline. If she couldn’t secure Qi Chenyan within a week, she would have to replace him with a celebrity whose fame was worthy of a first episode.
Otherwise, the project would be canceled, and Yu Li would face disciplinary action.
When the announcement came down, most of the people at the station were waiting to watch Yu Li fail.
Yu Li herself, however, wasn’t in any particular rush. Quite the opposite—she was leisurely shopping for furniture with Qi Xi, setting up their new home.
After wandering until they were tired, the two of them picked a random café and settled in to enjoy a lovely afternoon tea.
Qi Xi sipped her caramel macchiato. “Lili, you’re really something. Even though I’ve only just been recognized back into the Qi family, I still haven’t met that powerful uncle of mine, Qi Chenyan.”
“But from what I’ve seen online, he’s a diplomatic prodigy seen once in a thousand years. Ever since he started university, he was a state-designated reserve diplomat.”
“After graduation, he climbed the ranks nonstop—even a rocket couldn’t rise as fast as he did. Now he’s already a department director. Lili, comparing people really is maddening.”
Qi Xi shook her head with a sigh. “We both carry the Qi family blood, so how come he’s so insanely brilliant, while I had to grind my brains out just to get into a decent university?”
By that logic, wouldn’t a child born from her and Qi Chenyan’s union definitely be a genius baby too?
In all those CEO novels she read, twins or triplets were always genius hackers or business masterminds.
At that thought, Yu Li started giggling.
Qi Xi waved a hand in front of her face. “Lili, what are you smiling about? They say pregnancy makes you dumb for three years, but it’s only been a month—already going soft?”
“We shouldn’t compare ourselves to others. Besides, our starting points were completely different. Qi Chenyan was born in Rome, enjoying top-tier resources, while you, Xixi, nearly didn’t get to attend school at all.”
“The fact that you made it this far, one step at a time, is already amazing. Compared to Qi Chenyan, you’re not lacking in the slightest!”
Yu Li was excellent at comforting people, and with just a few words, she had Qi Xi puffing up with pride.
“You’re right, Lili. We just need to shine in our own fields. And you’re incredible—forget Blue Sky TV, even the national network couldn’t land an exclusive interview with my uncle.”
“But you did! Once the interview airs, it’ll blow up the internet. Promotion, raise, and crushing Qi Jianyue underfoot—just thinking about it feels amazing!”
The more Qi Xi thought about it, the more excited she got, laughing loudly with her hands on her hips.
Fortunately, the café wasn’t crowded in the afternoon, or she might have been hauled away for a psychotic episode.
Yu Li coughed dryly. “Actually, I haven’t gotten Qi Chenyan to agree yet.”
The air went silent for a second.
Then—pfft!
Qi Xi sprayed out her coffee. Wiping it off carelessly, she grabbed Yu Li by both shoulders and shook her.
“Lili, are you crazy? You hadn’t even secured him, yet you submitted the project—and it’s already been approved and scheduled?”
“What are you going to do if you can’t get him?”
Qi Xi held her face in her hands, already bracing for the worst: “If it really comes to that, then I’ll have to do it.”
“I’ll go to the Qi family, find some excuse, and trick him into coming as his niece. Then I’ll knock him out cold, bag him, and haul him to the studio so he can record the interview for you.”
Sisters going this far for each other—that was true love right there.
Yu Li patted her shoulder, amused, telling her not to panic and to take a sip of coffee and calm down.
“There’s no rush anyway. He’s still on an official visit abroad, right? We can only talk once he’s back in the country.”
Fair point.
Qi Xi had just nodded when she suddenly realized something odd. “Lili, how did you know my uncle is abroad on a visit?”
Of course, that was something Qi Chenyan had said to her face, in person, on the very day they got their marriage certificate.
But outwardly, Yu Li replied with perfect calm, “A big shot like him draws everyone’s attention wherever he goes. It was on the morning news—didn’t you see it?”