finally

As the Wednesday morning sunlight pierced through the glass curtain wall of the office building, Ning Zhichu stood waiting at the entrance of the editorial department, clutching her prepared documents. Lin Man, dressed in a sharp black suit and high heels, strode in, carrying a briefcase. Her tone was crisp: "Let's go. Today we have an exclusive interview with Su Qingyan. Her new drama is very popular, and readers are most interested in her real-life personality. Don't waste this opportunity."

"Okay, Editor-in-Chief Lin!" Ning Zhichu quickly followed, her notebook filled with notes on Su Qingyan's acting career, controversies, and anticipated questions. Her fingertips were slightly white from nervousness, but she couldn't hide the excitement in her eyes. This was her first time participating in a frontline interview since joining the company, and the interviewee was a top female star. Pressure and anticipation were intertwined.

The interview took place in a private studio on the outskirts of the city. Su Qingyan wore a simple white knit sweater, her long hair loosely tied up, and her makeup was light and elegant, giving her a softer look compared to her glamorous appearance on screen. However, her agent remained tense throughout, her sharp eyes scanning the room, clearly afraid that the reporters would dig up sensitive topics.

After the pleasantries, the interview officially began. Lin Man posed a few standard questions first, which Su Qingyan answered politely and flawlessly, but they were all official statements with little substance. Ning Zhichu sat to the side, diligently recording with a voice recorder, while secretly observing Su Qingyan's micro-expressions—when she answered a question about "work pressure," her fingertips unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, and a hint of fatigue flashed in her eyes.

"Teacher Su, I heard you lost ten pounds for your new drama and only slept four hours a day during filming?" Ning Zhichu seized on this detail and spoke softly, her tone filled with genuine concern rather than deliberate questioning. "How do you manage your condition under such a high-intensity work schedule? Do you have any unique tips you'd like to share with other young people who are also striving for their dreams?"

This question avoided sensitive topics such as "excessive dieting" and "excessive strain on the body," instead focusing on "self-regulation" and "positive energy transmission," which not only fit the column's theme but also gave Su Qingyan room to express herself. A hint of surprise flashed in Su Qingyan's eyes, but she relaxed a little and a genuine smile appeared on her lips: "Actually, there are no special techniques. It's just about gritting your teeth and persevering, plus occasionally going camping with friends in the suburbs to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city."

The agent tried to interrupt, but Ning Zhichu followed up by asking, "Camping sounds so therapeutic! Is it true that when you're alone, you can understand more clearly what you want? I saw in a previous interview that you encountered a lot of doubts when you first entered the industry. How did you persevere?"

Her tone remained gentle, her gaze focused and sincere, without the slightest hint of intrusion into her privacy; rather, it felt like a conversation between friends. Su Qingyan was clearly touched and began to speak: "Actually, in the first two years after entering the industry, I often doubted myself and even thought about giving up. But every time I saw fans leave comments saying that my roles gave them strength, I felt I couldn't let them down..."

She talked about the hardships she faced when she was a struggling artist in Beijing, her forbearance in the face of cyberbullying, and even mentioned her recent experience of secretly crying due to excessive pressure—details she had never shared publicly before. Her agent tried to interrupt several times, but Lin Man stopped her with a look—Lin Man looked at Ning Zhichu's composed way of guiding the conversation, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes.

As the interview progressed, Ning Zhichu noticed that Su Qingyan kept checking her watch, looking somewhat anxious. She glanced at Lin Man, who nodded in agreement, and then said, "Ms. Su, I can tell you have other commitments. One last question: If you could encourage young people who are currently pursuing their dreams in one sentence, what would you say?"

The ending was both dignified and heartwarming. Su Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief and, after careful consideration, said, "Don't be afraid of making mistakes, don't be afraid of hardship. Time will see your perseverance."

After the interview, Su Qingyan took the initiative to shake hands with Ning Zhichu: "You're a very good conversationalist, thank you for letting me talk so much."

Stepping out of the studio, Lin Man spoke, her tone clearly showing approval: "Not bad. You know how to observe details and grasp the emotions of the interviewee. You have high emotional intelligence. The camping topic you just asked was very clever. You got some information without making the other person feel uncomfortable."

Ning Zhichu blushed slightly, a little embarrassed: "It's all thanks to Editor-in-Chief Lin's excellent guidance. I was just following your lead."

“No need to be modest, opportunities are for those who are prepared.” Lin Man looked at her. “You did a lot of homework beforehand and you can adjust your questions flexibly according to the situation on the spot. These are essential qualities for a reporter.” She paused and added, “However, you should also pay attention to sincerity as the foundation, but you must also stick to your bottom line and not touch the other party’s privacy in order to dig up information.”

"I've got it!" Ning Zhichu nodded vigorously, keeping Lin Man's words in mind. The interview had been very rewarding; she had not only uncovered exclusive content but also understood that a good interview is not a one-way questioning process but a two-way, sincere communication.

On the way back, Ning Zhichu turned on her recorder and listened to Su Qingyan's answers repeatedly. While taking notes, she discussed the entry point for the column with Lin Man. "We can start from the perspective of 'ordinary people behind the top stars,' which will not only show her dedication but also highlight her authenticity and vulnerability. This will resonate more with readers," Ning Zhichu suggested.

Lin Man nodded approvingly: "This is a good idea, let's go with it. Go back and write a first draft, focusing on her conversations about being a migrant worker in Beijing and her self-doubt. The language should be delicate and warm."

"Okay!" Ning Zhichu was full of energy, her fingertips quickly jotting down the key points in her notebook.

Looking at the innocent smile on her beautiful face, Lin Man couldn't help but start to plan, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes.

Back at the company, Shen Yan saw her excited expression and walked over with a smile: "Did the interview go well? Judging from your expression, you must have gained a lot."

"It went super smoothly!" Ning Zhichu's eyes sparkled as she couldn't help but share with him, "Su Qingyan talked about a lot of things that haven't been made public before, and Editor-in-Chief Lin even praised me for asking such clever questions!"

"I told you you could do it." Shen Yan smiled and handed her a cup of coffee. "To have such a great opportunity so early in your career, make the most of it. You can show me your first draft and I'll give you some feedback."

"Really? Thank you so much, Teacher Shen!" Ning Zhichu felt a warmth in her heart. The recognition and help from her senior gave her more confidence. Ning Zhichu's eyebrows curved into a smile, a sweet smile spreading across her lips, her eyes sparkling like tiny stars, as bright as the summer morning sun. Shen Yan looked at that vibrant smile, his heart fluttering slightly. His fingers paused on the coffee cup for half a second, then he smiled as well. "It's nothing. I can help you even more in the future."

In a penthouse apartment on New York's Upper East Side, the floor-to-ceiling windows framed the inky pre-dawn sky, with scattered lights dotting the skyscrapers. Wei Ting leaned back on a leather sofa, his black silk shirt unbuttoned, revealing his pale neck and defined collarbone. An unlit cigar rested between his fingers, his knuckles distinct.

His brows were sharp, his dark eyes as deep as an icy pool, his nose high and straight, and his thin lips, when pressed tightly together, exuded a coldness that kept strangers at bay. Only the flick of his wristwatch revealed a hint of barely perceptible irritation. His laptop sat on his lap, the blue light from the screen reflecting on his face, making his features appear even more defined.

The phone on his lap vibrated. Wei Ting answered the video call, and Lu Zexu's figure appeared on the screen: "Brother Ting, the US stock market dropped another three points last night. Our heavily invested stocks are stuck, and several major clients are already urging us to withdraw our funds."

Wei Ting rubbed his cigar between his fingers, his voice deep and magnetic, yet without a trace of panic: "What's the panic?" He stood up and walked to the huge French windows, his back straight as a pine tree. "First, stabilize the existing investors, split up the high-quality assets we have, and make a phased redemption plan to alleviate the financial pressure."

“I’ve tried, but market confidence is lacking, and no one is willing to take over,” Lu Zexu said anxiously. “Institutions on Wall Street are all watching and waiting, and it’s incredibly difficult for us to find new capital injections.”

Wei Ting's eyes darkened slightly as he tapped his fingertips on the glass, producing a crisp sound. He remained silent for a moment, his gaze sharp as an eagle's: "If Wall Street doesn't work out, then go back to China."

“Return to China?” Lu Zexu was taken aback. “Although the domestic market is stable, our layout is not deep enough. It will be difficult to break through in a short period of time.”

“Difficult doesn’t mean impossible.” Wei Ting turned around, a sharp glint in his eyes. “The new consumption sector in China is booming, and there are several promising tech startups. The AI ​​project I asked you to keep an eye on has already doubled in value.” He walked to his desk, opened his notebook, and ran his fingertips over the dense data analysis. “Moreover, domestic policies strongly support the real economy, which may be a better breakthrough point than the capital battles on Wall Street.”

Looking at Wei Ting's composed demeanor on the screen, Lu Zexu's anxious heart gradually calmed down: "You've already planned your escape route?"

“It’s not a way out, it’s a new beginning.” Wei Ting’s lips curled into a very faint smile, with an air of strategic confidence. “I’ve already had my assistant book the plane tickets for the day after tomorrow. You stay in New York to handle the follow-up work, and I’ll go back to pave the way.” He paused and added, “Tell those clients who want to withdraw their investment to give me three months. Either I can get my principal back plus returns, or I will give them priority to invest in new domestic projects.”

"Okay, I'll take care of it right away." Lu Zexu nodded. "Do I need to contact our domestic partners in advance?"

"No need, I have my own arrangements." Wei Ting closed his laptop, walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and swirled the amber liquid in the crystal glass. "Finish your business here as soon as possible and come back. We'll restart in China."

The video call ended, and the apartment fell silent again. Wei Ting leaned against the liquor cabinet, tilted his head back, and took a large gulp of whiskey. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't suppress the fighting spirit in his heart. This financial crisis was a dead end for others, but for him, it was an opportunity to reshuffle the cards.

He walked to his desk, picked up a photo tucked inside his notebook. The photo showed an old neighborhood in China, bathed in sunlight, the alleyway brimming with the warmth of everyday life. It was the place where he had lived as a child, the softest corner of his heart.

This trip back to China is not only to break through a bottleneck in my career, but also to make up for some past regrets.

Wei Ting put the photo back, his eyes regaining their composure. He opened his phone, looking at the domestic schedule sent by his assistant. His fingertip swiped across the screen, his gaze lingering on the "connecting with domestic media resources" section. News reporting requires media support, and he needed a reliable partner to explore potential opportunities in the domestic market.

Author's note: Wow, you two are finally going to face each other!