Is he testing me?
Lin Man stared at her phone, her fingertips suddenly tightening when Wei Ting's WeChat friend request popped up.
She and Wei Ting were classmates in the Finance Department of Yenching University. A chance encounter during freshman registration made her remember the boy in the white shirt in the sunlight—he was the top student in the department, a debating prodigy, so dazzling that she could only look up to him quietly. Being in the same group in the financial modeling competition in their junior year was the time when she was closest to him: his guidance when he stayed up all night revising the plan, the hot soy milk he brought her when she had an upset stomach, all became secrets hidden in her heart.
The cheers at the celebration party and his confident promise of a bright future at graduation made her realize that they could only be friends. After graduation, he went to Wall Street, and she went into the media industry, thinking that their paths would never cross again.
Now that they meet again, he's here for an intern, his eyes only filled with the coldness of the business world, completely forgetting the moments they shared back then. Lin Man submits the application, her fingertips swiping across the screen, concealing her decade-long unrequited love in a polite reply.
In the dead of night in Wuhan, the top floor of the Fifth Avenue office building is still brightly lit.
“Financial Sharp Eye has recently emerged as a dark horse,” the assistant said, pulling up information on the tablet. “Editor-in-chief Lin Man is a well-known ‘Iron Lady’ in the industry, with a sharp eye and reports known for their depth and exclusivity. More importantly, their readership mainly consists of high-net-worth individuals and investment institutions, which is exactly the target we need to reach.”
Wei Ting took the tablet, his gaze falling on a photo in the "Team Introduction" section. The photo was a group picture from the annual meeting of *Financial Sharp Eye*, and a young girl stood out in the corner. She wore a beige business suit, her hair meticulously pulled back into a low ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck. Her eyes curved into crescents, and when she smiled, her eyes held a shimmering light, like shattered stars, a stark contrast to the sharp aura of the surrounding business elites, yet exuding a clean and stubborn resilience.
“Ning Zhichu?” Wei Ting read out the name below the photo, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the girl’s cheek on the screen.
“She’s Lin Man’s intern, and she just graduated from Columbia University’s journalism department,” the assistant added. “Although she’s a newcomer, Lin Man reportedly values her highly. She’s the one who uncovered the core clues for that in-depth report, ‘The Capital Game Behind the Subprime Crisis.’ Moreover, she’s Chinese and very familiar with the domestic market and policies.”
It's her again... Wei Ting thought to himself, it really is a name that can't be avoided.
Wei Ting's gaze lingered on Ning Zhichu's resume for a long time. A graduate of a prestigious university, exceptionally capable, holding a key position, and still possessing an innocent naiveté—this was practically the perfect entry point. He needed a "bridge" who could access the core reports of "Financial Sharp Eye" and was easily guided, and Ning Zhichu perfectly met all the criteria.
As for the girl's unadorned beauty in the photo, Wei Ting considered it a bonus. Wall Street is never short of sophisticated women, but this clean-cut look, imbued with a scholarly air and youthful spirit, did indeed ease his tense nerves somewhat. His goal was clear: to leverage Ning Zhichu's resources and trust to orchestrate a series of reports favorable to "Tingyue Capital," attracting domestic investment and weathering this crisis.
Wei Ting's WeChat message came directly, without any unnecessary preamble: "Editor-in-Chief Lin, Ning Zhichu's report has received a very good response. I'd like to invite her to do a series of special interviews to deeply analyze Tingyue Capital's risk resistance strategy. I wonder if that's feasible?"
Lin Man stared at the text on the screen, her fingertips lightly tapping the table, her eyes darkening. She couldn't understand it. Given Wei Ting's current situation, every step should be taken with extreme caution. The special interview was about the capital's confidence in him, so logically they should have found an experienced senior reporter. Why was he so fixated on Ning Zhichu, a recent graduate?
Back at Peking University, Wei Ting was known for his precision and decisiveness, always seeking the optimal solution. But now, entrusting a major role to an intern with no experience in in-depth industry interviews simply doesn't fit his usual approach. Did Ning Zhichu's report happen to perfectly meet his needs? Or… is there more to it than meets the eye?
A barely perceptible bitterness flickered in Lin Man's heart, but she quickly suppressed it. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she replied, "It's our honor that President Wei approves. Ning Zhichu is a newcomer, but she's very talented, and I will arrange for her to fully cooperate."
The morning rush hour in Jiangcheng was as congested as ever. Although Ning Zhichu lived very close to the company, she still didn't have time for breakfast. The roads were still packed with cars, and Ning Zhichu had developed a habit of skipping breakfast. After arriving at her workstation, she first sprayed some water on the succulents on her desk and continued writing her interview article.
"Ning Zhichu, go to Sister Lin's office," Xiao Li from the company called out.
"Wei Ting has invited you to do a series of special interviews, and you will be in charge of the follow-up reports." Lin Man's voice was calm and unwavering.
Ning Zhichu's fingers, which were holding the mouse, paused almost imperceptibly, and a hint of doubt flashed across her eyes—she was just a new employee who had just been promoted, so why would such an important special report fall to her? But she didn't ask, and just nodded slightly: "Okay."
Lin Man was somewhat surprised by Ning Zhichu's calm demeanor. Other newcomers would probably have been overjoyed, but Ning Zhichu only showed a barely perceptible excitement deep in her eyes, with a more cautious and inquisitive look.
“This interview directly addresses Wei Ting’s core capital information,” Lin Man added. “Every outline and every quote must be submitted to me for review first. After each meeting, all the conversation content must be shared within two hours, without any omissions.”
"Understood." Ning Zhichu nodded, her fingertips lightly tapping the table, her mind filled with confusion. Although her report had been recognized, there were many people in the company more suitable than her in terms of qualifications and depth. Why did Wei Ting specifically choose her? Was it simply because he appreciated her perspective, or was there another reason?
She didn't voice these questions, keeping them to herself. Gaining such resources was a rare opportunity for her career; she was genuinely excited, but even more cautious.
Ning Zhichu went home with these questions in mind, turned on her computer and started researching Wei Ting's information, gradually figuring out how to write the interview transcript, and then forgot that she had finished eating...
The elevator was packed with people during the morning rush hour, the air filled with a faint aroma of coffee and perfume. Ning Zhichu stood in a corner, holding an unopened financial newspaper between her fingers, her eyes fixed on the fluctuating numbers on the screen, her mind still pondering the strangeness of Wei Ting's decision to assign her to the special interview.
"Good morning." A hand with distinct knuckles handed over a hot latte, with a note on the rim that read, "Less sugar, oat milk."
Ning Zhichu looked up and met Shen Yan's gentle eyes. He was a senior reporter in the company, with outstanding professional skills and a humble demeanor. Many people said in private that he took special care of Ning Zhichu. She took the coffee, her fingertips touching the warm cup, and said softly, "Thank you, I'm sorry to trouble you again."
"Just doing it on the spur of the moment." Shen Yan stood beside her, deliberately maintaining a polite distance, his gaze sweeping over her slightly furrowed brows. "You don't look too good. Didn't you sleep well last night?"
"It's alright, I'm thinking about work." Ning Zhichu avoided his gaze, took a sip of coffee, the temperature just right to soothe her throat.
Shen Yan smiled and lowered his voice so that only the two of them could hear: "I heard that Wei Ting appointed you to do the series of interviews? Congratulations."
Ning Zhichu tightened her grip on the cup, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "You found out too?"
"Editor-in-Chief Lin just mentioned it in the department group chat." Shen Yan's tone was full of genuine appreciation. "Your first report was indeed outstanding. It's a good thing that Wei Ting noticed it."
He paused, then changed the subject slightly, adding a subtle reminder: "However, Tingyue Capital is currently in a delicate situation, and Wei Ting is known for his shrewdness. You're a newcomer, so be careful in everything you do. If you're unsure about anything, feel free to ask me."
The elevator doors opened with a ding, and Ning Zhichu stepped out first. She turned back and smiled at him, her tone calm but with a hint of warmth: "Yes, thank you."
Watching her retreating figure, Shen Yan's eyes softened slightly. He had long noticed this low-key and intelligent newcomer, appreciating her talent and feeling sorry for her stubbornness.
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