23. Deep Sound Like Meeting

Backstage in the small auditorium of the College of Arts building, the air was filled with the distinct scent of old book pages, dust, and a hint of disinfectant. The lights were dim, with a few beams of light filtering through the gaps in the curtains, casting shadows on the floor. Prop boxes, unopened bottles of mineral water, and scattered brochures piled in a corner created a characteristically messy backdrop.

The student union member in charge of the connection was a girl with a high ponytail. She held the sign-in book and said, "Seniors, are you really not nervous? I see you're all chatting and laughing."

"Of course you're nervous. You have to trust this senior in front of you," Chi Jin raised his chin towards Chen Yisheng, "He's amazing. When he's around, he'll hold you up even if the sky falls, and nothing will go wrong. Come to think of it, I was 'tricked' into joining Zhongxin by his talk. It was also at a recruitment fair, but in our Journalism School building."

The young student's eyes lit up: "Really? What did the senior say back then that was so amazing?"

Chi Jin didn't answer immediately. Instead, a clear image in her memory struck her. She tilted her head slightly, a hint of emotion in her smile. "That day...it rained."

"I remember," Chen Yisheng took over, looking down at the microphone receiver. He didn't look at them, his profile clearly defined in the dim light. His voice was not loud, but it reached their ears clearly. "Your umbrella broke on the road."

Chi Jin was surprised that he actually remembered: "Haha, it seems it's hard to forget after getting soaked."

"You returned the towel to me after the meeting." He said lightly

Mentioning the towel, Chi Jin smiled again: "It wasn't until this year's autumn recruitment that I discovered that the magazine was a gift prepared by the company. It seems that the inventory has not been cleared out in the past two years."

Hearing this, the younger classmate beside him grinned: "I'm glad you're not nervous. Senior, get ready to go on stage. Come on, come on, there will be no problem."

Chen Yisheng nodded slightly: "Thank you."

At this time, the voice of the staff at the front desk came, indicating that they were ready.

"Come on." Chi Jin whispered.

"Don't worry." He turned his head to look at Chi Jin and curled the corners of his lips slightly.

The small auditorium of the Faculty of Arts wasn't spacious, but it was packed. Even the empty spaces in the back rows and the aisles on either side were filled with students. In stark contrast to the bustle of the job fair outside, the atmosphere here was tranquil and focused.

Chen Yisheng stood at the center of the podium, his posture as straight as a pine tree. He didn't use any fancy PowerPoint animations; the background was a simple dark background, against which miniatures of classic Face magazine covers played. The light fell on him, outlining his sharp features while softening his usually austere features.

Chi Jin found a seat behind the stage, his heart still racing over the words he hadn't fully heard. What had he been thinking about? He'd mentioned "that day," suggesting he'd been deeply impressed by their first meeting. And then there was the gossipy teasing from a classmate from the Arts Department, "Are you just boss and subordinate?" Though the speaker hadn't meant it, the listener's heart was already racing.

She took a deep breath and tried to focus on the stage.

His voice came through the microphone, still that calm and magnetic voice, not high-pitched, but very penetrating.

"The core of in-depth reporting isn't curiosity or sensationalism, but understanding." Chen Yisheng's opening remarks were concise and powerful, cutting straight to the point without any pleasantries. His gaze swept across the audience, calm and inclusive.

"Understand the fate of individuals amidst the tide of the times, the subtle glimmers of light within the complexity of human nature, and the intricate threads beneath the surface of events." He spoke slowly, each word as if carefully crafted. "This requires patience, waiting for a story to reveal its core; courage, facing the potential pain and heaviness; and even more, reverence, for the inviolable dignity of truth itself, for the lives behind every face you depict, and for the readers who place their trust in you."

There was no greasy terminology piled up, but instead he casually picked out several classic reports from the past of "Face" as examples. Chi Jin was surprised to find that he had chosen the same iconic report that he had deeply analyzed during his preparation.

He calmly peeled off the layers of the report and told the story in detail.

He tells how the interviewees hold on to a glimmer of hope in desperate situations, how journalists protect the dignity of the truth under tremendous pressure, and how a column becomes a lever for change.

Chi Jin listened intently. She thought she had already mastered the column, but as Chen Yisheng recounted it, the familiar details seemed to take on new life and deeper meaning.

His narrative was more concise, more powerful, and more touching than her revised framework.

The audience was completely silent, his steady voice the only sound. The students listened intently, their eyes brimming with fascination and excitement. Chi Jin even saw a few girls in the front row, gaping in amazement, completely absorbed in his story.

“So, the value of in-depth reporting lies not in how sensational it is, but in whether it can spark thought, establish connections, and leave a quiet echo amidst the clamor.”

Chen Yisheng concluded, his voice still calm, but with a resounding weight.

After a brief silence, the auditorium erupted in warm and prolonged applause.

The atmosphere became lively during the question-and-answer session. Students raised a wide range of questions, from career planning to specific business needs. Chen Yisheng patiently answered each one with clear logic and unique insights.

At that moment, a man wearing thick glasses stood up and asked a rather pointed question: "Editor-in-Chief Chen, you just mentioned 'patiently waiting for the story to reveal its core.' But in this era of speed and traffic, can the media really afford to wait?"

The question was pointed, directly addressing the core pain points and difficulties of the current media industry. The audience instantly fell silent, all eyes focused on Chen Yisheng, awaiting his answer.

"Good question. You're talking about how Faces balances the contradiction between depth and timeliness. This reminds me of two years ago, at the same autumn recruitment briefing, a classmate raised a very similar question."

Chi Jin's breath caught in his throat! He...he actually remembered?!

"She asked, 'Amid the onslaught of information fragmentation, what's the point of persevering in in-depth reporting?' My response at the time was, 'Precisely because fragmentation and superficiality have become mainstream, we need people to slow down and uncover the truths and warmth obscured by the pace of reporting.' Two years later, I still stand by that answer. Speed ​​is important, but Faces prioritizes depth. We believe that truly valuable content is worth the wait and will stand the test of time. This requires perseverance and choice."

Of course he didn't say Chi Jin's name, but every word was like a knock on her heart. He remembered not only her embarrassment, but also the questions she asked.

The audience applauded again for this wonderful answer and for the unwavering belief.

The lecture ended in a warm atmosphere. Students rushed to the podium, hoping to have more exchanges with Chen Yisheng.

She watched Chen Yisheng surrounded by enthusiastic students. He patiently answered questions, occasionally nodding, his demeanor calm. When he raised his hand to indicate a direction, the simple silver ring, under the light from the podium, reflected a cold and striking light, clearly piercing Chi Jin's eyes.

She knew it was a prop to deceive. A prop to avoid unnecessary personal attention, a prop to erect an invisible barrier in the workplace. But that light, as clear as when she first saw it, also left a subtle, distant mark in her heart.

As the next corporate presentation approached, the student union members began to clear the auditorium, and the enthusiastic students reluctantly dispersed. Chen Yisheng and Chi Jin were finally able to escape and leave the small auditorium.

The early autumn afternoon sun was warm, casting tiny specks of light through the tall sycamore leaves. The two walked side by side along the tree-lined path, their footsteps particularly clear in the quiet afternoon.

The two walked side by side. Chi Jin, as a subordinate and also as an audience, first expressed his sincere praise: "It's amazing, just like back then! As expected, even an old Ferrari is still a Ferrari, and old ginger still has its spiciest flavor."

"Thank you," Chen Yisheng said modestly. "I'm just throwing out some ideas. I look forward to your performance at the Journalism School tomorrow."

"Do you remember every editor's journey so clearly?" Chi Jin asked casually, but his fingertips pinched his palm quietly.

"Only yours."

The five light words made Chi Jin somewhat unable to control his expression, and he said again: "Then do you remember what answer you gave after I asked this question?"

“In an era of rapid decay, choosing to dig deep is itself a form of strength.”

Chi Jin's heart was hit hard. She didn't expect that he really remembered the idealistic answer she had given at that time, which even she herself had almost forgotten.

An indescribable feeling of self-mockery washed over her. She twitched her lips, a wry smile forming: "Now, doesn't it sound particularly...chicken soup? Especially naive?"

Chen Yisheng shook his head and nodded: "Well, this is very chicken soup, so you will be in "Faces" now."

He remembered her answer and approved of her choice to put it into practice.

Chi Jin suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart and pretended to be attracted by the roadside billboards. He tried to maintain a businesslike and stable voice, even with a hint of deliberate alienation: "Editor-in-Chief Chen, I saw the schedule. Are you on duty at the Normal University job fair tomorrow?"

Before she could hesitate to ask, Chen Yisheng spoke calmly. His voice was as steady as ever, but it was like a promise that met her expectations firmly: "I will come to your lecture."

It’s not “try my best” or “it depends on the situation”, but a clear and certain “will come”.

The sunlight shines through the gaps between the branches and leaves, jumping and freezing between the two people.