24. His Absence
At the Journalism School's briefing session, Chi Jin stood where Chen Yisheng had stood in the past.
The auditorium was packed, even more so than the Arts College. Zhongxin Media's prestigious reputation held a natural appeal for students majoring in related fields. This was where she had first met Chen Yisheng, and it was also the opportunity she longed to demonstrate her competence as an editor. She took a deep breath and scanned the crowd, searching for Chen Yisheng. Yesterday, he had said he would try his best to come.
No. In the empty entrance, amidst the bustling crowd, there was no sign of Chen Yisheng.
It’s okay if I didn’t see him, it really doesn’t matter.
Chi Jin muttered to herself, her fingertips unconsciously curling. After the host's introduction, she immediately regained her composure, her lips curling into a confident, composed smile. She didn't copy Chen Yisheng's style, but incorporated her own style. The opening was just as concise and powerful, but with a touch of Editor Chi's agility and approachability.
"I'm not here as a successful person, nor am I here to preach from a high position as a so-called outstanding graduate. Two years ago, I joined Zhongxin Media. At Faces, I failed many times. At the first topic selection meeting, four columns were rejected." Her opening remarks were almost sharp in their frankness, her voice clear. "At the second topic selection meeting, two more were rejected. The only one left was the one I printed out the column I was most confident in and distributed it to all the senior editors like flyers, begging them to be kind and keep it."
The laughter spread like ripples.
"In the end, this one was kept. They said it was the cheapest and they didn't feel bad about having to replace it in the end."
Bigger laughter.
Chi Jin's voice gradually faded. "I followed the vendor for fourteen days, standing on winter nights. I filmed his cracked hands, the scars from oil burns, and even the way he secretly left sausages for stray cats after closing his stall. Later, I promoted it, published it, and even released a short documentary. It didn't get many hits, but it received over thirty thousand comments—some people wanted to donate gloves to the vendor, and some said they called their fathers for the first time after watching the film."
She paused, her eyes sweeping across the crowd, like spreading a spark of fire into the darkness.
"From that moment on, I understood that success isn't about appearing on a cover or publishing a beautiful column, but about making someone trust the world a little more because of the words you write."
"But to this day, no one considers me a success. Even I often feel increasingly powerless." She changed the subject, her eyes burning, "But I'm still standing here today. Two years ago, I was in this auditorium, listening to Zhongxin Media's presentation. Coincidentally, the editor in charge at the time was also from the editorial department of Faces."
She shared her journey from intern editor to her current position, the stories of rejected proposals, the late nights spent revising manuscripts, the frustration of being turned down during interviews, and the satisfaction of seeing her manuscripts published and resonating with readers. Her story isn't about setting a high standard, but about a genuine, heartwarming, and deeply personal story of growth.
The audience responded enthusiastically. During the interactive session, students enthusiastically asked questions, and Chi Jin responded with ease, his quick thinking and earnest yet sharp words. A well-placed joke elicited laughter from the audience.
…
Console area, where shadows and lights meet
Chen Yisheng had quietly arrived without anyone noticing. He was hidden behind the equipment, his tall figure blending seamlessly into the background like a silent fir tree. He didn't approach, simply standing quietly, his gaze fixed through the crowd on the radiant figure on the stage.
Zhong Xin's presentation ended successfully with applause. Chi Jin bowed in thanks, his face flushed with excitement.
"Master! That's amazing!" Duan Xingche's face was filled with pure, fervent admiration. As if by magic, he pulled out a small handful of vibrant sunflowers simply wrapped in colored paper from behind him and handed them to Chi Jin with both hands. "Congratulations, Master, for successfully completing the task!"
This sudden surprise made Chi Jin stunned for a moment, and then she was amused by her "apprentice's" sincerity. She accepted the bouquet generously, and the brilliant golden color of the sunflowers reflected her bright and dazzling smile.
"Thank you, Xiao Duan!" She patted Duan Xingche's shoulder, "When did you prepare it?"
"I passed by the flower shop on my way here. I grabbed the last bouquet!" Duan Xingche grinned, "I knew my master was worth it."
Chi Jin took the flower, lowered her head and smelled it. The pollen rubbed against the tip of her nose, like a small golden mole.
"Ah, actually, this is just a job completed. Thanks for buying the flowers. These sunflowers are quite expensive, right?"
"It's no big deal! Of course I wouldn't mind if Master wants to treat me to coffee when he returns to the company!" Duan Xingche responded with a smile.
The master and the apprentice stood beside the podium, chatting and laughing. Chi Jin, holding the small bouquet of sunflowers, was bathed in joy, his face harmonious and full of vitality.
Chen Yisheng, who was walking from the field control area, wanted to come and congratulate, but when he saw this scene, the bright smile on his face froze instantly.
The bunch of sunflowers was so bright that it was blinding.
He looked at the master and disciple on the stage, chatting and laughing. Duan Xingche was young and full of energy. His eyes were clear and warm as he looked at Chi Jin, unconcealing his admiration and closeness. Chi Jin's smile as he accepted the flowers was so relaxed and bright.
A sharp emotion suddenly seized him - jealousy.
Clear and intense jealousy.
What followed was a deeper regret and... inferiority complex that came like a tide.
Duan Xingche was about the same age as Chi Jin. He had a lot of youth and a bright future ahead of him. His praise was direct, passionate, and unrestrained, tinged with sunshine. But what about Chen Yisheng?
The eight-year age difference between them now stood out before him like a decayed tooth. He was no longer at the age where he could express his feelings without any burden.
He couldn't even convey the complete sentence "I hope you come to accompany me, I will feel more at ease" clearly in the crowd, let alone rush forward like Duan Xingche, holding a bouquet of flowers and expressing congratulations and admiration without hesitation.
What right did he have to be jealous? And what right did he have to feel regret?
Chi Jin should have accepted the pursuit of such a young and sincere heart. That was the vitality and future that matched her.
And he? He's just an "editor-in-chief" who needs to keep his distance.
She may not even expect or need my presence, because she is good enough, and even without his witness, she still blooms so dazzlingly.
The hidden emotions deep in my heart were instantly extinguished by the cold reality and self-denial, leaving only bitter embers.
He silently retracted the step he had just taken, turned around, and left the small auditorium silently.
…
After the autumn recruitment period concluded, Zhongxin Media held its customary dinner at its three editorial offices in Beiyuan University Town. The company paid for the meal, and naturally, everyone was in attendance. Chi Jin had met the three editors of "Face," of course, as well as the five editors of "Childhood." However, because she had been stationed at Jingda University for the past three days, she hadn't met the two female editors of "Her Production."
From the outset, the atmosphere at the dinner table was subtly tense. Chen Yisheng, who disliked socializing to begin with, exuded a cold, unapproachable aura. He sat silently at the head table, a sort of barrier of his own. Liu Yingyue, the deputy editor-in-chief of "Her Made," clearly disdained Jiang Hu's behavior, especially his illegal recruitment during the autumn recruitment. She barely responded to his comments, while the junior editor she brought with her politely echoed Jiang Hu's words, seemingly playing the good cop and the bad cop role.
With their editor-in-chief being unenthusiastic, Chi Jin and Duan Xingche naturally maintained only basic politeness, appearing rather uninterested. Chi Jin was even more upset—he had clearly broken his promise without even a word of explanation, and his expression remained stern. The meal, while clearly delicious, left a tightness in his chest.
After three rounds of drinks, the situation gradually spiraled out of control. A junior editor at "She Made" stood up to toast the three editors-in-chief. Jiang Hu immediately followed suit, sending Xiao Sun, the only female editor in the department, to toast as well. Xiao Sun, clearly a first-timer, was shaking as she held her glass, her eyes timid. Several drunken male editors at the table began to boo, their voices growing louder, and their ire gradually shifted to Chi Jin, the only female editor sober.
"Editor Chi, you should also show some appreciation, right?"
"Yes, Editor Chi is as capable as any man!"
"Come on, come on, fill it up!"
Chi Jin watched coldly. Chen Yisheng sat across from her. Not only did he not help Xiao Sun, he didn't even bother to stand up for his subordinate.
Duan Xingche couldn't bear to watch this and stood up quickly: "My dear seniors! I'm blocking for my master! It's only natural for a disciple to take over for a newly worshipped master!"
He drank half a bottle of beer generously, winning a few sparse cheers.
"Haha, Xiao Duan, this is the only way to be a hero saving a damsel in distress!"
Half a bottle of beer was like drinking water, no big deal. But the male editors at Childhood forced Xiao Sun to down three small cups of baijiu! Xiao Sun choked until tears were about to come out, and his face turned pale. Liu Yingyue frowned and said something like, "As long as the meaning is conveyed," but it was drowned out by the noisy jeers and had no effect.
Jiang Hu, with a smile on his face, personally picked up a freshly opened bottle of beer, walked around the table to Chi Jin, and stuffed it into her hand without saying anything: "Editor Chi, can you do me a favor? Let's have fun together!"
Chi Jin looked at Xiao Sun's painful and helpless expression, and a surge of anger mixed with a strong sense of justice rushed to his head.
She knew her alcohol tolerance, and couldn't stand this kind of despicable behavior, where someone bullies the weak and only gets women drunk. She stood up and said, "Thank you, Editor-in-Chief Jiang. Give me Xiao Sun's bottle of white wine. If you want her to drink again, give her beer. We're all here to have fun together, so what we drink doesn't matter."
Jiang Hu's eyes lit up, as if he had found a more interesting prey. He immediately put the beer bottle next to Xiao Sun, grabbed the bottle of white wine, unscrewed the cap, walked up to Chi Jin, and was about to pour it into her cup.
Chen Yisheng suddenly stood up and held his hand. "Editor-in-Chief Jiang, when did this rule become a habit in the editorial department?"
The force was so great that Jiang Hu's movements came to a sudden halt.
"Your editor Xiaochi said it was fun to get together, and it was her own choice. Chief Editor Chen should give his editors some freedom."
"Yes, I volunteered, but Xiao Sun didn't."
Editor Sun looked at Chi Jin with red eyes, his lips moving: "Sister Chi Jin..." In fact, this was the first time the two of them spoke.
Chi Jin gently pushed Chen Yisheng away, took the white wine from Jiang Hu's hand, poured himself a glass and drank two taels of white wine in one gulp.
The wine slid down her throat like magma, burning her eyes red, but she didn't cough even once.
All the sounds of laughter, booing, and urging to drink came to an abrupt end.
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