An Eye for News Chapter 21
That night, County S Tv Station
stood like a solitary bulwark against the heavy rain.
Even though the broadcast was
over, it didn’t mean that everything was done. Many people, Se Cai included
still hustled about the station.
It was a general belief that a
reporter’s day ends with the broadcasting of news and for the most time, that was
true.
However, for unique cases like when
there was important news, the program team had to stay after initial broadcast to
cut and edit the film for reruns.
The reruns were for the station
higher-ups that were perhaps too busy to catch the initial broadcast. This was
beneficial for both because the program team thus had time to correct the mistakes
found during initial broadcast.
“Everyone must be tired after
such a long day, tonight’s supper on me.”
A tired-sounding Hai Dong
announced after the work was all wrapped up.
“It’s raining so heavily
tonight. Thank you, Director Bai but count me out.”
Se Cai said, rubbing his overworked
eyes.
Se Cai actually had been given
early leave for his impressive contribution but he had volunteered to stay to
replace the pregnant Editor Zao.
He was physically tired but was
mentally excited because a fresh harvest of News Point was coming in.
If his previous lead news in the
county station nabbed him 10 points, he expected more from this piece that
headed at least to the province station.
Se Cai might still be treating
everything like a game but subtly his perception of his job had changed.
Before this, Se Cai entered the
journalistic world because he admired the elegance and grandeur of the anchor
but after realizing the harsh reality, his interest towards his job was slowly
eroded.
However, thanks to the Eye for
News system, perhaps not even to his knowledge, his initial pa.s.sion was
reignited!
“I too shall be leaving, I’m
tired.”
Xin Yu added. She only stayed
because there was correction to the voiceover.
After a long day of repeating
the same script over and over again, she was no less tired than anyone else.
“Alright, you two be careful on
the way home then.”
Hai Dong patted Se Cai on his
shoulder before venturing out to the corridor for a cigarette break.
He had been hankering for one
for quite some time since the newsroom was a no-smoking zone.
“Uber is quite fantastic, I must
say. There’s still driver service so late at night.”
Se Cai observed after flipping
open his vibrating cellphone. If not for the incident that morning, Se Cai
would have asked Xin Yu who drove to work for a ride. Other than that, there
was the consideration of their different genders. Since Xin Yu didn’t offer, it
would be too forward for Se Cai to ask.
Se Cai waved smilingly at Xin Yu
before darting out the door.
The rain outside continued
pouring while Se Cai scoured the office corridor for an umbrella. His only find
was a semi-broken umbrella that had the word “X Realtors” printed on it. Few of
its skeletal frames were already broken but he was in no position to choose.
Se Cai braved the weather to get
to his ordered car. With just 2 steps, he was already soaking wet.
“So freaking cold, sir, please
get me to 105, XX Street.”
Se Cai slammed the door
hurriedly and said.
“Who are you?”
The driver had on a baseball cap
and sungla.s.ses. He asked rather rudely when Se Cai got in the car.
“I called Uber, your car plate
is PL0523 right?”
Se Cai pulled out his phone to
show the man.
“I’m sorry but you got the wrong
car, please get down.”
The driver replied in a rigid
tone.
“Driver sir, couldn’t you just
do me a favor? It’s already so late and it’s raining…”
Se Cai begged while pa.s.sing the
driver a cigarette reverentially.
One of Se Cai’s seniors tipped
him off to the importance of cigarettes in social conventions. Oftentimes, it
can be used as a relationship lubricant. Therefore, even though Se Cai didn’t
smoke, he always had a handy pack of cigarettes in his pocket.
“When I said no, I mean no. You’re
not my designated pa.s.senger…”
The driver didn’t even move to
accept Se Cai’s offer.
“How about I double the fare…
Please, driver sir, I’m begging you here…”
Se Cai pleaded with a helpless
expression.
Humans are realistic creatures.
As a reporter, Se Cai had seen plenty examples of human greed. He believed this
was ultimately what the man wanted.
Se Cai knew he shouldn’t usurp
someone else’s ride but he was tired and wet, he just wanted to get home and
take a warm bath.
“This is not a matter of money!”
The driver retorted with more
than a hint of impatience in his voice.
Se Cai’s frustration turned into
anger.
“Why are you acting like this?
We’re all paying customers, right? What’s the difference between me and your
caller who isn’t even here!”
Agitated, Se Cai used his
mind-reading power to get into this man’s mind.
“Boss ordered me to kidnap the
female anchor but this fella here is making my life miserable. I swear if he
doesn’t get out in the next minute, I’m going to shoot him and shove him in the
trunk…”
Se Cai’s face blanched. That was
certainly not what he was expecting. Then, the door opened.
A woman scurried into the car,
permeating it with her perfume.
“It’s you?”
A shocked Se Cai asked.
“Wait, why are you here? This is car number PL0523,
isn’t it?”
The woman wore a white T-shirt
and carried a blue handbag. It was Zhang Xin Yu.
Xin Yu too had fallen victim to
the rain. Her white T-shirt was drenched and Se Cai could see the pink outline
of the clothing underneath… The pattern seemed awfully familiar.
I thought it was a phase but it seemed like
she’s in love with loli-style bras, the thought popped into Se Cai’s mind
before he shook it out.
Se Cai quickly shifted his eyes
away. He coughed, “You already have a car, don’t you? Why are you fighting with
people like myself who doesn’t have that luxury?”
Se Cai put 2 and 2 together and
understood the female anchor the man was thinking about must be Zhang Xin Yu.
He most likely was up to no
good. Se Cai suspected he was one of the lackeys from Blue Sky Rehab.
Of course, he didn’t expect them
to masquerade as an Uber driver to set a trap for Xin Yu.
“My car’s broken down. The engine
won’t start.”
Xin Yu explained, clutching her
handbag tightly to her chest.
Obviously, she knew how she looked
and she wasn’t to let Se Cai ogle her.
You drive a Lexus, they don’t
break down so easily, it’s so obvious it has been tampered with!
Se Cai wanted to yell at Xin Yu
but was apprehensive of the driver.
After all, Se Cai knew the man
was armed.
“We’re colleagues, why are you
acting like I’m some kind of s.e.xual predator.”
Se Cai tried to drag out the
conversation, hoping to drop hints in it somehow.
Xin Yu retreated further into
the door, as if she was actually afraid of Se Cai.
“If you’re so afraid of being in
the same car with me, get out and get another ride.”
Se Cai saw Xin Yu’s reaction and
decided to play into her preconceived notion.
“You’re such an uncouth man. I
called for this car, didn’t I?”
Xin Yu argued indignantly.
“Well, you know the real me
today. Behind you is the door if you don’t want to share a car with me.”
Se Cai crossed his arms and
stared at Xin Yu.
However, out of the corner of
his eye, he kept watch over the driver. If the man did anything weird, he
planned to drag Xin Yu out the car.
The driver though was watching
the both of them silently through the rear view mirror. He didn’t seem like he
was going to make a move.
“You… hoodlum!”
Xin Yu spat while pointing an
accusatory finger at Se Cai.
She turned to open the door
behind her and made to leave the car.
“Finally, the plan’s working!”
Se Cai’s mouth twitched in a
slight smile.
However, before Xin Yu got out,
she looked at the pouring rain outside and closed the door again. She slumped
in the seat and glared at Se Cai.
Her face was wet and it wasn’t
all rain.
“Hey, star anchorwoman, are you
crying?”
Se Cai teased rather
unconvincingly. He was finding it hard to keep up the façade. He wanted to
force Xin Yu out, not make her cry.
Xin Yu was used to people
treating her with respect or admiration. She was crying because she was feeling
helpless and mad at herself for her inability to handle a hoodlum like Se Cai.