It really was him.
As the noise of the terrace party subsided, Su Xiaoran pulled Ning Zhichu into a corner lounge area, where two cups of warm honey water dispelled the chill of the autumn night. Ning Zhichu curled up on the sofa, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the inside of the cup, his gaze fixed on the still-pattering rain outside the window, his expression thoughtful.
"Still thinking about work?" Su Xiaoran poked her arm and teased with a smile, "Looking at how absent-minded you are, are you still thinking about that super charismatic handsome guy from earlier?"
Ning Zhichu blushed slightly and glared at her, saying, "Don't talk nonsense. I was thinking about going back to China."
"Going back to China?" Su Xiaoran was taken aback, then realized, "You really plan to give up your internship opportunity in New York? I thought you would try to stay."
“New York is great, but I always feel like I don’t belong here.” Ning Zhichu sighed softly, but her eyes lit up. “Besides, I’m more familiar with the news environment in China. What I want to do is in-depth reporting that’s close to everyday life, and there’s more fertile ground for developing my career back in China.” She paused, her tone full of anticipation. “I’ve already applied to several top news media outlets in China, and one of them has already given me an internship offer. The person in charge is named Lin Man. I heard she’s a well-known top editor in the industry, with a sharp eye but also exceptional abilities. I’m sure I can learn a lot working under her.”
Seeing the light in her eyes, Su Xiaoran couldn't help but nod: "I know Lin Man! My senior used to work under her. She said that although she's strict, she's very protective of her subordinates and has tons of resources. If you can get into her team, you'll be incredibly lucky." She held Ning Zhichu's hand, her tone sincere, "Whatever you choose, I'll support you. But if you leave, I'll lose a best friend in New York whom I can have meals with anytime."
Ning Zhichu felt a warmth in her heart and squeezed her hand back: "Come back to China to see me when you have your vacation. I'll take you to eat all the local delicacies. And we can video chat, I'll definitely share interesting things about my work with you as soon as possible."
The two chatted for a while about their future plans. Su Xiaoran reminded her to take good care of herself after returning to China and to ask for help anytime if she encountered any difficulties. By the time the party ended, the rain had stopped. Ning Zhichu took a taxi back to her rented apartment and received a video call from her mother as soon as she entered the door.
On the screen, Mom's smile remained gentle, with the familiar living room furnishings behind her: "At first, the weather in New York got chilly, did you wear enough clothes? Did you have fun at your birthday party?"
"I'm so happy, Xiaoran looks especially beautiful today." Ning Zhichu nodded with a smile, set up her phone, and walked to the window to let her mother see the night view outside. "Mom, I have something to tell you. I'm planning to go back to China to develop my career. I've already received an internship offer from a domestic news media company."
Mom paused for a moment, then a relieved smile spread across her face: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back! Everyone in the family has been worried about you. We're always concerned about you being alone abroad." Dad also leaned closer to the screen, his voice tinged with barely perceptible concern: "It's good that you've thought things through with your job. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. The family will always be your support."
Ning Zhichu's nose tingled slightly, and she nodded, forcing back tears: "I know, don't worry. I've already found an apartment, it's very close to the company, only a ten-minute walk away, so commuting is very convenient."
"How's the house? Is it safe? Should I ask your cousin to take a look?" Mom's series of questions were full of worry.
"Don't worry, Mom, I've seen the house via video. The security in the community is very good, and it's fully furnished with all the appliances. You can move in right away," Ning Zhichu reassured her with a smile. "I'll send you photos once I'm settled in."
After hanging up the phone, Ning Zhichu felt a surge of warmth in her heart. The life of wandering in a foreign land had made her miss her family terribly. Her decision to return home wasn't just for her career aspirations, but also because of this deep sense of longing she felt for her family. She packed her luggage, watching the dawn break outside the window, filled with anticipation for her upcoming life back home.
A week later, Ning Zhichu dragged her suitcase out of the airport. The familiar air instantly put her at ease. She took a taxi straight to the apartment she had rented in advance. The apartment complex was located in the city center, with convenient transportation and complete surrounding amenities. The moment she opened the door, she smiled with satisfaction—the room had excellent natural light, the decor was a simple Nordic style, and the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room faced the street view, offering a wide and open vista.
She spent the afternoon unpacking, arranging the books and plants she had brought, instantly bringing life to the once empty room. That evening, she sent photos to her family and Su Xiaoran to let them know she was safe, then took out her nightly earphones to listen to music before going to sleep.
The next morning, Ning Zhichu changed into a smart white shirt and black skirt, put on light makeup, and arrived at the company building ten minutes early. The office building in front of her was magnificent, its glass curtain wall gleaming in the sunlight. People were coming and going at the entrance, each person walking briskly, exuding a professional and efficient atmosphere.
Ning Zhichu took a deep breath, gripped her internship registration form tightly, and walked into the building. The receptionist checked her information and pointed her in the direction of the editorial department. In the elevator, she looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes resolute—from today onward, she would begin her career as a journalist here.
Stepping out of the elevator, the editorial office area came into view, a cacophony of keyboard clicks, ringing telephones, and lively discussions, creating a bustling yet vibrant atmosphere. Following the receptionist's directions, she found Lin Man's office.
She knocked gently on the door, and a clear, efficient female voice came from inside: "Come in."
Ning Zhichu pushed open the door and saw a woman in her thirties sitting behind the desk. She was dressed in a business suit, her long hair neatly tied in a bun, and she wore thin-rimmed glasses. Her eyes were sharp yet gentle. She put down her pen, looked up, and a faint smile appeared on her lips: "You must be Ning Zhichu? Welcome."
"Hello, Editor-in-Chief Lin, I'm Ning Zhichu. Please guide me." Ning Zhichu bowed slightly, handed over her internship registration form, and spoke with a tone of respect and expectation. Her face was slightly flushed, carrying the awkwardness of a recent graduate.
Lin Man took the form, glanced at it, and got up to pour her a glass of water: "Don't be shy. Now that you're here, learn how to dig out effective information and create good news."
Her words were direct and frank, which only strengthened Ning Zhichu's resolve: "I understand, Editor-in-Chief Lin."
Lin Man nodded and pointed to an empty seat outside the office: "That's your workstation. The computer is already set up. Today, familiarize yourself with the company's rules and regulations and our previous case studies. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me or ask your colleagues."
"Okay, thank you, Editor-in-Chief Lin."
Ning Zhichu stepped out of her office, sat at her workstation, and looked at the computer screen in front of her, feeling a surge of energy. She opened the company's internal database, carefully browsing past reports, occasionally jotting down key information in her notebook.
As Ning Zhichu was engrossed in studying case reports at her workstation, her stomach growled at an inopportune moment. She had only hastily drunk a glass of milk that morning to save time, and now, nearing noon, the aroma of coffee wafting through the office was increasingly tempting. She got up, rubbing her aching shoulders, and decided to go to the break room to make herself a cup of oatmeal to tide her over.
The tea room was bustling with activity. Several female colleagues were chatting quietly around the water dispenser. Their voices weren't loud, but they were enough for Ning Zhichu, who pushed open the door, to hear clearly.
"Have you heard? Wei Ting is having a really tough time lately." The speaker was Sister Zhang, a senior editor in charge of the financial section, her tone tinged with a sigh.
"How could I not have heard! It's all over Wall Street. His fund suffered a huge loss in the stock market this time, and the losses are almost at rock bottom. It's said that many investors are withdrawing their funds." Another young colleague chimed in, his tone full of gossipy excitement.
Ning Zhichu's hand holding the paper cup suddenly paused, and her heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
Wei Ting?
The name was like a pebble thrown into the calm lake of her heart. That rainy night in New York, she clearly heard the assistant address that aloof and imposing man as "President Wei"—could it be the same person?
She walked quietly to the coffee machine, pretending to be focused on operating it, but her ears were involuntarily picking up on their conversation.
"Speaking of which, Wei Ting used to be so successful. He established himself in the financial industry at a young age, and so many people were eager to cooperate with him. I never expected him to suffer such a heavy blow this time." Sister Zhang sighed. "I heard that he is currently in a bottleneck period and is looking for new projects to break through, but in the current financial crisis, it's not that easy."
"That's right! I heard from my friend who works in investment banking that the losses this time are beyond imagination. Several of his key projects have been halted. If he can't find a breakthrough in the short term, it will be difficult for him to turn things around."
"But seriously, Wei Ting is really handsome. I met him once at the last industry summit, and he had even more charisma in person than in the financial magazines. It's a pity that now..."
Her colleagues continued their chatter, but Ning Zhichu was somewhat absent-minded. She prepared the oatmeal, her fingertips slightly cold, and the image of the man on the New York terrace kept replaying in her mind—a dark gray suit, dark eyes, a restrained sharpness, and those deep words, "Tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock, arranged in the company conference room."
If the "Wei Ting" being discussed in the break room is indeed the man they met in New York, then he is currently in deep crisis.
Could someone who seemed so composed and in complete control also have such a vulnerable moment? A complex mix of emotions welled up in Ning Zhichu's heart—curiosity, a hint of barely perceptible worry, and above all, a strange sense of connection—it turned out that the stranger she had only met once wasn't living in a distant vacuum; he too faced the storms and challenges of the workplace.
She was carrying her oatmeal, about to quietly leave, when a gentle male voice suddenly came from behind her: "Ning Zhichu? You're making coffee too?"
Ning Zhichu turned around and saw a man in a light gray shirt standing at the door, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a gentle smile and a refined look in his eyes. She recognized him as Shen Yan, a senior reporter at the company. Lin Man had specifically introduced him on her first day, saying that he was experienced, skilled in in-depth reporting, and that she could ask him for advice if she had any questions.
"Hello, Teacher Shen." Ning Zhichu nodded and greeted her quickly, her cheeks slightly flushed, still feeling embarrassed from eavesdropping on her colleagues' conversation.
Shen Yan walked in, picked up his mug, and asked with a smile, "You seem a little distracted. Is something wrong?"
"No, no," Ning Zhichu quickly waved his hand, hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't help asking, "Teacher Shen, do you know Wei Ting? He's the investor they were just talking about."
Shen Yan paused in his coffee-making, glanced at her, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, then smiled knowingly: "You want to do related reporting? Wei Ting has indeed been a hot topic in the financial circle recently, and his fund loss incident has attracted a lot of attention."
"No, no," Ning Zhichu quickly explained, "I just... overheard my colleagues talking about it and I was a little curious." She was too embarrassed to say that she might have met the other person before, afraid of seeming too abrupt.
Shen Yan didn't ask any further questions and said gently, "Wei Ting is a legendary figure in the financial world. He founded his own investment company at the age of thirty, and several of his previous investments were very successful. It's just that he encountered the financial crisis this time and failed to stop the losses in time." He paused and added, "However, to be able to achieve this scale at this age, he must have the ability. His current bottleneck may only be temporary."
Ning Zhichu nodded, her doubts deepening. If it really was the same person, then he must have been in New York to deal with this crisis, right? On that seemingly peaceful rainy night, he might have been under immense pressure.
"Why are you suddenly interested in him?" Shen Yan asked with a smile, his tone casual and without any hint of probing.
“I just feel… the contrast is a bit too big.” Ning Zhichu said carefully, “I heard from a colleague that he is not in a good situation right now, but I think I saw him at an event before. He seemed to have a strong aura and didn’t seem like someone who would be troubled by difficulties.”
Shen Yan raised an eyebrow, not pressing her to reveal where they had met before, but simply said, "The more capable a person is, the more pressure they face that is unimaginable to ordinary people. The financial world is inherently a high-risk, high-reward place, and ups and downs are common." Looking at Ning Zhichu's curious eyes, he added, "If you want to do financial reporting in the future, I can find you some relevant materials. Wei Ting's entrepreneurial experience and this crisis actually have many points worth exploring."
"Really? Thank you so much, Professor Shen!" Ning Zhichu's eyes lit up, instantly transforming her personal curiosity into a professional interest. As a newcomer to the journalism department, she didn't want to miss any opportunity to gain experience and broaden her horizons.
"You're welcome. Let's learn from each other." Shen Yan smiled and handed her a freshly brewed cup of coffee. "Don't rush things when you first start. Take it one step at a time. If you don't understand anything, whether it's about business or company matters, feel free to ask me."
"Okay, thank you, Ms. Shen!" Ning Zhichu took the coffee, feeling the warmth on her fingertips, which warmed her heart as well. Meeting such a helpful senior colleague on her first day gave her even more confidence in this job.
The two walked out of the tea room together. Shen Yan casually chatted with her about the company's business processes and reporting directions, his words full of experience. Ning Zhichu listened attentively, occasionally nodding in response, and not forgetting to write down the key information in her mind.
Back at her desk, Ning Zhichu took a sip of her oatmeal, but the name "Wei Ting" still lingered in her mind. She turned on her computer and couldn't resist typing those two words into the search bar. Immediately, a series of related news articles popped up on the screen—"Wei Ting Fund Suffers Over One Billion Yuan Loss, Facing the Biggest Crisis Since Its Founding," "Capital Game Under the Financial Crisis: Can Wei Ting Break the Stalemate?"...
She clicked on one of the reports, and a photo of a man appeared on the screen. The man in the photo was wearing a black suit, standing in front of the backdrop of a press conference, with a cold face and sharp eyes. It was the same man who had brushed past her on that rainy night in New York.
It really is him.
Ning Zhichu's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. Looking at the man's slightly furrowed brow in the photo, she saw it overlap with the image of him leaning calmly against the railing in her memory. A sudden thought arose in her mind: if she had the chance, she really wanted to do an in-depth report about him, not just to chase the trend, but to explore what secrets lay behind this man in the eye of the storm.
Author's P.S.: Ning Zhichu, you're just after President Wei's good looks, aren't you? ^o^
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