Chapter Sixty-Five
Zhou Mo truthfully wrote a report about the incident, but it encountered obstacles during the internal review process.
Her manuscript was rejected.
My supervisor said this matter involves a wide range of issues and needs to be 'verified' before deciding whether it can be released.
Zhou Mo didn't argue with her boss; her calm demeanor suggested she had already anticipated this outcome.
Seeing that Zhou Mo was so sensible, the leader had the idea of grooming her. "You've been frightened by this incident. I'll give you a few days off to rest. When you come back, you'll be promoted to a permanent position."
Zhou Mo nodded and left the office.
The leader sat at his desk thinking that if Zhou Mo hadn't been recommended by that troublesome person, he would have promoted her long ago. After all, who wouldn't like someone so good-looking and capable? Of course, now she also has one more thing he likes the most: she's obedient and knows what's important.
But soon, Zhou Mo proved her boss wrong.
The kidnapping incident spread quickly online, and Zhou Mo's face, which flashed briefly in the footage, became a hot topic, earning her the title of "most beautiful reporter" from netizens.
The level of popularity remains high.
At this point, Zhou Mo chose the platform with the largest user base and started broadcasting.
Countless netizens flocked to Zhou Mo's live stream because of her looks. The comments in the chat section were mixed. Some people started criticizing Zhou Mo for profiting from someone else's misfortune and trying to use her as a source of traffic to sell products before she even spoke. Others praised Zhou Mo's looks. In short, there were all sorts of opinions.
Zhou Mo ignored the comments and got straight to the point.
She recounted what the kidnappers had told her and presented the evidence she had gathered, including what her superiors had said. She spoke at a moderate pace, and every sentence was crucial.
Zhou Mo knew she had to race against time, because she could be carried away at any moment.
Just as she finished speaking, her phone screen went black.
She was carried away.
Zhou Mo lay back on the sofa, exhaling the breath she had been holding in. A smile appeared on her usually calm face, turning from faint to intense.
The laughter spread throughout the small room and reached Zhou Mo's ears.
Zhou Mo's phone vibrated. She glanced at it and saw it was her boss calling.
Zhou Mo hung up immediately; she didn't want to answer anyone's calls right now.
"So refreshing!" Zhou Mo raised her fist, slowly opened her palm, and touched her fingertips together, vaguely forming a circle that perfectly encircled the disc-like light above her head.
"A man-made moon is still a moon, and a hero who is not hailed as a hero is still a hero."
When Zhou Mo returned to the station after her vacation, she found that her employee ID was invalid and she could not enter the station building. Her colleagues who knew her well quickly avoided her when they saw her in the lobby, and no one spoke to her.
Zhou Mo was not surprised by the result at all, and she dialed her boss's number.
Before she could even speak, she was met with a barrage of insults from her boss. The voice was so loud that Zhou Mo moved her phone away. Some people were afraid to approach Zhou Mo, this shrew, but they wanted to watch the drama unfold, since watching a spectacle is a human instinct.
"Finished yelling?"
"Zhou Mo! Are you out of your mind?! I'm telling you! You're fired!"
"I still need to go upstairs to complete the resignation procedures, and you didn't throw away my things at my workstation, did you? There's something quite valuable in there. If it's missing, I can report you to the police for theft."
This time, Zhou Mo could only hear the leader's heavy breathing, clearly indicating that he was quite angry with Zhou Mo.
The boss slammed his phone on his desk and glared at it angrily.
How could he have underestimated Zhou Mo, actually thinking she was obedient and docile?! In the end, not only did she scheme against him, but he might even lose his job. Now that the higher-ups are blaming him, how is he going to clean up the mess? It's impossible to get rid of Zhou Mo now. He just doesn't understand why the higher-ups would set up a special investigation team to investigate such a small matter. In the end, it was the person behind Zhou Mo who pulled the strings, seizing on a small mistake to kill them all.
Who doesn't make mistakes these days? If you have power, you should exercise it; otherwise, what's the point of having power? Otherwise, why would they go through all that trouble to climb to this position?
Making a mountain out of a molehill.
Zhou Mo waited until her supervisor hung up the phone before sitting down on the sofa in the lobby. A short while later, her intern colleague came toward her with a bag of things.
"Everything is here, including your termination letter."
Zhou Mo nodded, accepted the items, said thank you, and left the station.
People at the station say Zhou Mo is an oddball. She could easily get along with everyone with just a little effort, but she insists on being a weirdo, an unsociable person, which makes many people unable to understand Zhou Mo.
As Zhou Mo saw her off, her colleague didn't think Zhou Mo was a strange person. On the contrary, she thought Zhou Mo was the most suitable person to be a reporter, but this place was not a breeding ground for becoming a reporter.
Zhou Mo lost her job. She stayed at home for three days. On the fourth day, the sky was very blue, and she decided to go out for a walk. One of the main reasons she rented this small studio apartment, less than 30 square meters, was that there was a very nice park outside, which was very lively and full of laughter.
She wore a thin camel-colored cardigan and simple jeans. Her hair, which was usually tied up, was now casually loose, and she exuded a calm and carefree air in the sunlight.
After walking for a while, Zhou Mo saw an empty bench at the corner. She stopped there, then went over and sat down. Before she could even warm the wooden bench, an acquaintance sat down next to her.
"Could it be that the bench is my monster spawner?"
The person who came was none other than the high-ranking leader who had internally recommended Zhou Mo to the station.
Lin Zhenghua is 45 years old this year, which is the peak of his career. His appearance, personality and work style are completely unrelated. He has the face of Jia Baoyu but does the things of Sun Wukong. He does what he doesn't like, he corrects what is wrong, and he steps down if he is not good for the people. Therefore, his career has not been smooth. He is a ruthless person to have reached his current position.
Zhou Mo observed him for a long time. During the observation, she was impressed by his intellect and even had a momentary daze, wanting to tell him everything, but it was only for a moment.
I thought you would call me.
"Getting your referral is already the best opportunity I've ever had. How could I possibly trouble you any further with the trouble I've already caused?"
Lin Zhenghua smiled at Zhou Mo, then became serious. "You're still talking to me like an official. Zhou Mo, whatever you want to do, as long as it's for the good of the people, to seek justice, and to bring those old cases to light, I will give you my greatest support."
Zhou Mo's background is not difficult to investigate. Lin Zhenghua only needs to instruct his secretary to check the files, and everything will be clear to him.
That is power.
But this is not respect.
So Lin Zhenghua came to find Zhou Mo in person. He hoped that the child could live a good life in her eyes, instead of struggling in pain, torment, and regret.
"What are you talking about? Maybe I'm not suited to be a journalist. Now that I'm on vacation, I should think about what I want to do in the future."
Lin Zhenghua: "You've only been working for a short time, why do you seem like you're about to retire?"
Zhou Mo laughed, "Working is all for retirement."
Lin Zhenghua: "Then remember to pay your pension insurance, you're self-employed."
A wise person speaks only to the point. Although Lin Zhenghua acts decisively, he never forces others. If he were to force others, how would he be any different from those in power who he attacks?
Lin Zhenghua left, and no one bothered Zhou Mo while she sunbathed anymore.
Zhou Mo stayed in the sun until sunset before leaving the park. On her way home, she passed a store that sold hot pot ingredients. On a whim, she went in and did a big shopping spree. When she came out, both her hands were full of things.
The house was small, and once the hot pot broth boiled, the house was filled with a fragrant aroma. Zhou Mo opened the front and back windows, which reduced the smell a bit. After the meatballs, meat, and vegetables were laid out, Zhou Mo began to eat. She was still very proper when she ate. When she was little, Zhou Qinian and Hua Rong corrected her eating posture and etiquette a lot. She was not allowed to smack her lips, pick at the food randomly, and hold her chopsticks properly.
Of course, Zhou Qinian had his own agenda, for example, that chopsticks shouldn't be held too far away, because it was said that if you held them too far away, you would marry someone from a faraway place.
Zhou Mo, despite her young age, already showed the potential of a little devil. She deliberately teased Zhou Qinian by holding the chopsticks far away. Later, she didn't change this habit. It wasn't that she really wanted to stay away from her parents, but mainly because she felt that holding the chopsticks that way saved her energy.
The incident of Zhou Mo exposing the truth during a live broadcast but being fired by the station has sparked another wave of online discussion. Most people believe that Zhou Mo did nothing wrong, so why was she the one who was fired? Did someone at the station abuse their power, turn a blind eye to the affairs of ordinary people, and give a cold shoulder, leaving a true hero of the people feeling disheartened?
The online buzz amplified the issue, preventing the authorities from taking further action. Moreover, the trial's outcome had to be public and fair, otherwise it would invite another wave of public ridicule.
Zhou Mo was not surprised by the online buzz. In fact, she had already planned it out in her live stream: the topic wouldn't be banned because Lin Zhenghua had come to her.
She received the above attitude, so she continued with what she needed to do.
Zhou Mo thought she would have to wait a long time for this opportunity. She had been looking forward to it since she went to college, hoping for a chance to become famous. So she joined the journalism club in her freshman year and kept an eye on the news that might break the news.
But later, some people disappeared, and she continued to wait.
Zhou Mo put down her chopsticks. The pot was boiling, and the meatballs were churning inside.
From that moment on, Zhou Mo understood why Yu Xi did that thing, and why he used such an extreme method to change his imprisoned life.
Even without Yu Xi, Zhou Mo continues to wait.
Even with Yu Xi by her side, Zhou Mo continued to wait.
Yu Xi is not Zhou Mo's only one.
But Zhou Mo made herself Yu Xi's only one.
It took Zhou Mo four years to realize that she was the one who drove Yu Xi to her death.
"Yu Xi, whether you believe it or not, I am still persisting, I am still waiting."
"I am not a liar, I never lie or cheat."
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