9. Senior Brother is on Top
As expected, Sebok won first place, while Yue Kairu narrowly missed out on silver. The "Face" column in both the print and WeChat official account "Sports Faces" didn't cause much of a stir. While it chose a niche track, the writing was excellent and featured many insightful quotes, but the response was mediocre, and sales remained flat.
"It's actually quite good in the industry, and the data feedback from new media is also OK." In the tea room, Jiang Xuhuan gently comforted Chi Jin, who was lying on the table in a depressed mood, "Don't take it too seriously."
Chi Jin nodded listlessly, her heart feeling like a ball of waterlogged cotton. She had hoped this battle would be a great turnaround, but in the end, it was just a salted fish turning over.
Ultimately, it was still her own lack of ability that was to blame: "Thank you, Sister Huanhuan. Maybe I was a little too ambitious."
"Okay, make yourself a cup of coffee and get back to work." Jiang Xuhuan patted her shoulder and lowered his voice. "Look at how depressed you are. Even Xiao Qin doesn't dare to come over and talk to you. Don't let anyone see you like this."
Chi Jin forced himself to sit up straight: "I'm fine, Sister Huanhuan. I just... can't accept that I missed such a good opportunity."
"If you're not willing to give up, then take action. Anyone can talk."
Jiang Xuhuan stood up upon hearing the voice: "Editor-in-Chief."
Chen Yisheng's gaze passed Jiang Xuhuan and fell on Chi Jin, as if he were examining a non-compliant manuscript: "Slacking off here during working hours? The editorial department doesn't support idlers."
Chi Jin couldn't even muster the energy to retort. With his head drooping, he followed Jiang Xuhuan into the office. Just as he was about to return to his workstation, the death-threatening voice behind him rang out again, clear enough for the entire open office to hear:
"Chi Jin, come to my office."
Chi Jin rolled his eyes inwardly. He could have said it directly in the tea room, but he had to wait until she returned to her work area before calling her out, clearly trying to intimidate her in public.
"Don't really think you're some genius editor." As the door closed, a barrage of reprimands followed, showing no mercy. "The market doesn't revolve around your emotions or expectations. Look at the atmosphere in Team A right now. Just because you're in a bad mood, does that mean the whole team should be down with you?"
Chi Jin was already upset: "...Is it not okay for me to feel bad for a bit? Which company rule forbids employees from having emotions?"
"There's nothing wrong with the column, and the data hasn't declined. Just because it didn't meet your personal expectations, you have to let the whole office go with it?" Chen Yisheng's voice was as cold as ice. "Since the launch of Faces, there have been countless columns with unsatisfactory performance. But who are you like, wearing your emotions on your face and affecting everyone else? The editorial department is not your personal show. If you don't even have this much ability to withstand pressure, I can help you apply for a transfer to another leisure magazine for retirement. That would be just what you want."
Chi Jin was angry and aggrieved. "I didn't cry or make a scene at my workstation, did I? I went to the tea room to calm down, and Sister Huanhuan came to comfort me. What were you eavesdropping on? Besides, you participated in this column, too. Don't you hope for a good outcome?"
"You think too highly of yourself," Chen Yisheng said coldly. "My so-called 'involvement' is merely objective advice from the editor-in-chief's perspective. You're not special."
"I just can't put one failure behind me so easily."
"But you were foolish enough to carry that emotion into the rest of your work."
This is clearly adding fuel to the fire! The more Chi Jin thought about it, the angrier he became. A surge of anger shot up his head, and he rushed to his large desk in a few steps: "Why am I so evil that you are targeting me like this? You are so kind that you even interfere with your subordinates' emotional problems. Why don't you pay attention to the cleaning lady in the cafeteria? She just got divorced the day before yesterday. Out of humanitarianism, why don't you be her psychologist?"
Each rebuttal was sharper than the last, choking Chen Yisheng so much that his face turned pale.
"You've kept me here just to make me laugh, right? I haven't done anything to show off my achievements or violate any rules, but I'm in a bad mood, so why should I be targeted?"
Looking at his face, which was devoid of any softness, Chi Jin became even angrier. "How much money do you pay me and still expect me to come to work sunny and bright every day? I'm not Mona Lisa, do I need to smile all day? Don't you also have a poker face and act bossy and scold people every day? With your mouth, no wonder you can only communicate with cavemen."
"Chi Jin. Do you know who you are talking to?" In this situation, his tone was still calm.
"I know. He's my boss, Chief Editor Chen Yisheng, the backbone of the magazine." Chi Jin's every word hit him hard.
As expected, as a superior, you cannot be nice to your subordinates, otherwise they will be the best at taking advantage of you.
Chen Yisheng turned around abruptly, his back facing her, his broad shoulders tense as if he was trying hard to suppress his surging anger.
At this moment, someone suddenly knocked on the door. It was the unlucky Duan Xingche, who happened to run into Chen Yisheng's gun.
"Editor-in-Chief Chen, we're going to Jingda for an interview tomorrow afternoon..."
"as usual!"
Duan Xingche was frightened by his tone, and sensing the tension, he didn't dare to reply.
"Your current state will affect the interviewee," Chen Yisheng said. "Don't act worse than an intern."
"I haven't forgotten. I'll prepare it now." Chi Jin said, "I will take care of my own column. Don't worry about it."
Duan Xingche scratched his head: "Editor-in-Chief Chen, although I am an intern, I will cherish this opportunity. I will definitely not cause trouble for Editor Chi and will work hard!"
"We'll be ready." Chi Jin glanced at Duan Xingche, "Little Duan, let's go to the discussion room to confirm the details."
After saying that, she walked out of the office first.
Chi Jin didn't say a word to Chen Yisheng until the three of them went to Jingda together the next day.
Chi Jin was both confused and angry. Didn't this living devil have any emotional intelligence? Couldn't he see that being with him would affect his mood even more? Chi Jin suddenly felt like the fat cat in their house, only getting angry in front of him.
Neither the editor-in-chief nor the column editor spoke. Xiao Duan took the initiative to break the ice: "Sister Chi Jin asked me to come along and broaden my horizons. She said that Editor-in-Chief Chen is very experienced and asked me to take this opportunity to learn from you."
The second half of the sentence was added by the emotionally intelligent Xiao Duan to return the favor, but Chi Jin took advantage of the situation and said, "Don't be like me, who has been working for a year and a half and still lacks experience."
"You really should study hard."
The innocent Duan Xingche then realized that the atmosphere between the two people was quite tense, and his expression was immediately filled with fear and anxiety. For a moment, he didn't know whether to cover his ears or find an excuse to slip away.
"Sister Chi Jin, how about I take the subway? I downloaded an app and got five free rides that I haven't used yet."
Chi Jin guessed that he was going to escape, and quickly grabbed the strap of his backpack and said, "No, you can't go."
Chi Jin's mood was low the entire way. She was overwhelmed by the fear and dread she felt after contradicting Si Zhizhou the previous day. She knew that both Jiang Xuhuan's comfort and Chen Yisheng's sternness were meant to help her recover quickly and get back on her feet. It was just that Chen Yisheng's words... were truly venomous!
She had no control over her temper at all, but she couldn't let the same mistake happen again.
Apologize. The apology must be immediate and sincere.
She made up her mind that as soon as Chen Yisheng's car arrived at Jingda, she would immediately admit her mistake to him and make peace with him, and she would not let it affect the subsequent interview in any way.
However, Chen Yisheng seemed to be born incompatible with her.
The car had just stopped beside Jingda Boulevard, and Chi Jin was still ruminating on his prepared apology when Chen Yisheng pushed open the door and exited. He swiftly pulled two boxes of supplements from the trunk, then walked without pause, with a familiar air, towards a quaint teaching building deep within the campus.
Chi Jin and Duan Xingche looked at each other and hurried to catch up.
Chi Jin suddenly remembered that they were alumni, and Chen Yisheng was also in the Journalism Department of Jingda University.
She apologized and took the initiative to make peace, "Editor-in-Chief Chen, who was your mentor before?"
"Liu Min."
Chi Jin's steps suddenly stopped, his eyes widened: "Ah?!"
Before this, she had no idea that they were from the same school.
Duan Xingche was also confused: "Huh?"
He turned his gaze to Duan Xingche: "Little Duan, haven't you always said you wanted to come to Jingda for a visit? This is a rare opportunity, and there's still some time before the scheduled interview. Why don't you take a look around on your own first?"
As he spoke, he naturally pulled out his work badge from his pocket and handed it over: "By the way, go to the teaching and research office of the School of Humanities and see if there are any suitable materials."
How could a mere intern disobey the orders of his boss's boss? Duan Xingche looked at Chi Jin for help, but received only a helpless look. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and take his badge, looking back every few steps as he left.
With her allies dead, Chi Jin could only physically evade this elusive monster. She leaned against the wall, her back to him, as a sign of defiance. Then, she frantically searched various browsers for keywords like "Chen Yisheng, Jinghua University, College of Humanities, Journalism Department," "Chen Yisheng Zhongxin Magazine," and "Chen Yisheng's 'Face'"—any clue that the man before her was a hypocrite, a true villain. However, the search results were all "Outstanding Graduate of Jinghua University's Journalism Department," "Youngest Editor-in-Chief"—all glitteringly positive, without a single shred of gossip.
Before I could finish reading the internet, a gentle, smiling voice sounded from not far away: "Yisheng? Been waiting for a long time?"
Chi Jin immediately put on a professional, friendly smile to greet the interviewee: "Teacher Liu, your interview today will be handled by me and another editor. Editor-in-Chief Chen is mainly here to catch up with you."
"Xiao Chi, you forgot about your teacher right after graduation. Yisheng comes back to Jinghua to see us every year."
Chen Yisheng's face was filled with a brilliant smile that Chi Jin had never seen before, and his tone was more gentle than ever before: "Xiao Chi has just started working and is quite busy. I will bring her back to see you later."
Still Xiao Chi? Pah! Chi Jin had never seen him smile so happily, and cursed in his heart that he was so hypocritical.
The three of them sat down, and Liu Min asked with a smile, "How is it going for you brothers and sisters to work together?"
Of course, Chi Jin couldn't say she'd only just learned about this five minutes ago. Senior brother and sister? Chi Jin felt her scalp tingle. She glared fiercely at the "comfortable" senior brother next to her. Senior Brother Chen leisurely drank his water, his long legs casually crossed, a faint smile on his lips, a look of pure enjoyment.
Chi Jin took a deep breath, put on a fake smile, and said sarcastically, "Senior brother, you take special care of me at work. Among all of us little guys, he's the one who pushes me the most. And he's a super workaholic, he'd love to be at the company 24 hours a day."
"Don't work overtime all the time, and take care of your health." Liu Min looked at Chen Yisheng distressedly, "You were like this when you were in school, and you're still like this now that you're working. I'm going to have Xiao Chi keep an eye on you this time. You can't ruin your health at such a young age."
Chen Yisheng finally stopped looking at the show and said seriously, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Liu Min nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Chi Jin and jokingly lowered her voice, "Let's chat a little more about family matters. Xiao Chi, do you know why your senior brother works so hard?"
Chi Jin shook his head.
Liu Min paused and glanced at Chen Yisheng mischievously, "It's because of him. He's not young anymore, and he's not in a hurry to get married and start a family. He just spends all day working!"
What? !
Chen Yisheng is unmarried?!
The smile on Chi Jin's face froze instantly. She turned to Chen Yisheng abruptly as if she had been scalded, her eyes fixed on his left hand on his knee.
The slender, clean ring finger was completely bare. But upon closer inspection, a faint white mark at the base of the finger, slightly different from the surrounding skin, was visible—the mark left by long-term wearing of the ring.
The man remained calm and didn't even try to explain himself. He just smiled and replied to the teacher, "Just now you said I was young, but now I'm already grown up."
"What about Xiao Chi? Did you marry your boyfriend? I remember his name was Yang, right? I've already received three wedding invitations for your class." Liu Min turned the topic to her. "Xiao Fang, Professor Sun's student, is getting married in the fall and asked me to be the witness."
Chi Jinzheng looked at Chen Yisheng with gritted teeth: "That is already in the past tense, but it is not in the present tense. The men circulating in the market nowadays are too untrustworthy."
"Yisheng, please introduce your junior sister to someone new." Liu Min said, "You entered the industry early and know a lot of people. If you have the chance, you can help Xiaochi find a suitable partner. I'll leave her in your care."
"I'm struggling to protect myself, so I won't try to match my junior sister up with someone else." He put down his teacup and looked at Liu Min, his tone returning to his usual calm. "Don't worry about the work. Xiaochi has an active mind and solid writing skills. He excelled during his internship and after becoming a regular employee. I will definitely pay close attention to him."
At this moment, no matter how sincere Chen Yisheng's "praise" seemed, it sounded like irony to Chi Jin.
There were so many clues that he was unmarried, and I had doubts about it, but I still foolishly believed it.
What is hateful is not only Chen Yisheng’s concealment, but also my own stupidity.
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