Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At the Managing Editor’s Office.
Qiao Lian stood before Liu Zhixing.
He smiled broadly as he spoke, “Where’s the report?”
Qiao Lian blinked and asked, “Where’s my reporter’s certificate?”
He paused for a moment.
He sighed, but did not make things difficult for her. He opened the drawer and took out the document. Then, placing it in front of her, he said, “Qiao Lian, from now on you’re officially a reporter. Work hard and continue to bring us big scoops!”
Qiao Lian’s lowered her head and stared at her reporter’s certificate.
She saw her name clearly printed on the reporter’s certificate.
After a very difficult year at the agency, she had finally got her certificate.
But right at this very moment, she didn’t feel relieved, on the contrary, her burden bore down heavier than ever.
Because this was not the end, but just the beginning of an uphill road ahead.
Qiao Lian took a deep breath and walked out of the Managing Editor’s office.
As she exited, she noticed there was a commotion in Team One’s office.
Qiao Lian raised her eyebrow questioningly as she heard congratulatory remarks.
“Chief Editor, no, I should say Deputy Managing Editor, congratulations on your promotion!”
“That’s right, Deputy Managing Editor, such great news!”
“Based on your capability, you should have been in this position long ago!”
“But after this promotion, you’ll have greater responsibilities. From now on, you have to take greater care of your health!”
“…”
Qiao Lian raised an eyebrow at all these remarks that could be heard coming from Team One’s office. Then, she saw Shi Nianyao walking out of the office Team Two shared.
Still puzzled, Qiao Lian asked, “What’s going on?”
With an annoyed twitch of her lips, Shi Nianyao said, “Team One’s Zhang Chunhua has been promoted to Deputy Managing Editor.”
Qiao Lian frowned upon hearing this and suddenly, a look or realization crossed her face. “No wonder Zhang Chunhua has not come to find trouble with me after Su Meimei’s incident! I did think that’s quite unlike her. Now it makes sense… She was just lying low and waiting for a promotion.”
Shi Nianyao leaned towards Qiao Lian and whispered, “Chief Editor Lian Lian, you never got along with her and now she’s your boss. We’re in for bad times!”
Qiao Lian chortled. “It’s not a matter of if, but when! She’s been lying low for a while now, so it’s about time.”
Patting Qiao Lian on the shoulder, Shi Nianyao said, “It’s going to be tough for you.”
Qiao Lian shook her head and said, “Enough of her. Have you looked at the report we drafted yesterday?”
Shi Nianyao nodded. “Yes, and I think it’s good to go. We can hand it in to Managing Editor.”
Qiao Lian nodded.
Very soon after Shi Nianyao entered the Managing Editor’s office with the report, Qiao Lian saw her come back out again.
Surprised, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Shi Nianyao replied, “The Managing Editor says that from now on, all our drafts are to be cleared by the Deputy Managing Editor.”
She turned and glanced in Zhang Chunhua’s direction. “I’ll go over to take a look.”
Qiao Lian nodded.
Shi Nianyao walked to Team One’s office.
Qiao Lian returned to her desk.
Not long after, a voice could be heard reprimanding, “… What kind of rubbish is this? It’s completely inarticulate. Anyone could produce this sort of run-of-the-mill writing. Take this back and do it all over again!”
Stunned, Qiao Lian stood up. She saw Shi Nianyao walking back with a sullen pout.
“She’s rejected the draft?”
Shi Nianyao nodded. “That’s right. She says our writing is too mundane. But this has always been the way we write. Did she want us to produce a report written in classical Chinese? Who’s going to understand that? She’s just deliberately making things difficult for us!”
Qiao Lian couldn’t help but laugh at Shi Nianyao’s lament. She shook her head and said, “Here, let me have the draft. I’ll take it to her.”