An Eye for News Chapter 3
“With
my current 103 News Point, should I trade for this mind-reading skill?”
Se Cai
thought to himself.
His
choices were the mind-reading unit or the storage unit. Since he felt storing
items in his eye was too awkward, and he didn’t really need such a skill, he
opted for the other available choice.
“Trade
successful.”
After
Se Cai’s confirmation, the voice announced in his mind. Instinctually, he felt
his brain gained something extra.
“I’ve
been a reporter for almost a year and had published multiple news but those only
added up to 103 points? This system sure is stingy.”
Se Cai
realized trading for the mind-reading skill had almost cleaned his collected
News Point.
If this
was how things would go, it would be another year before he could trade for
another item.
“Having
a lead news only nabs me 10 News Point, I’m sure normal news will get me less.
I’ll have to work harder to get my hands on those other goodies.”
In any
case, the appearance of this mysterious system took his mind off his
unfortunate incident and Se Cai was itching to try his new mind-reading skill
out.
Regrettably,
Gao Xiang wasn’t around and there was no else in the room.
Right
then, a series of footsteps sounded outside his room. Based on the commotion,
it appeared to be quite a large group. Then, their conversation wafted into Se
Cai’s ears.
“The
sickbay ahead should be his. The d.a.m.n reporter himself asked for it by meddling
in our business…”
“Yup,
all the reporters are the same, every one of them has that punchable face!”
“Shut
it, you two. There are ears behind these walls. Later, you guys just stand
quietly while I talk to the guy. After all, he’s already a dead man for
crossing our Headmaster w.a.n.g!”
The
person behind this last sentence had a nasally accent and had a commanding
presence because he shut down the whole gang with just one sentence.
Then,
the corridor door opened with a creak. The sound of footsteps came closer and
closer.
The
nasally voice reminded Se Cai of something, then it dawned on him, “I recognize
this voice when the thugs was a.s.saulting me in front of the Blue Sky Rehab! But
why are they here… Could they possibly dare to create a scene at a hospital?”
Then
the door to his room opened to reveal a gang of people.
A
well-groomed, obese middle-aged man walked in first. Based on the person’s
bulging stomach, Se Cai was even more sure that this man was there at the Blue
Sky Rehab.
Behind
the man was a sizeable crowd and in a matter of seconds, his room was full.
“You’re
Se Cai from County S Tv Station?”
The man offered in lieu of greetings, “You can
call me Wong, I’m the manager for Blue Sky Rehab’s security office. Previously,
we mistook our reporter friend here for a thief, we’re so very sorry!”
The man’s
mouth curved into a smile and took from his briefcase a credit card. He set it
on Se Cai’s bedside table, adding, “Of course Blue Sky Rehab will provide full
cooperation for the media’s investigative needs. As way of apology, our
headmaster w.a.n.g would like to pay for Mr Se’s medical expenses… The pa.s.sword
for this card here is 8888-8888… Please take this as a form of repayment and
accept our apology.”
Se Cai
was startled by his effusive apology. This money coupled with promise of
systemization, the people at Blue Sky Rehab really didn’t want this news out.
Se Cai
thought to say, “You think you can buy my silence with such pittance?” but he
swallowed it.
The man
had been nothing but courteous but Se Cai understood the underlying threat. At
the end of the day, he was only a temp reporter, there was no way he could win
this.
Se Cai
smothered his anger and forced a smile, “Headmaster w.a.n.g is being too kind. I’m
sure it’s all just a misunderstanding, plus the injury’s not serious because I’m
leaving the hospital tomorrow…”
“It’s
wonderful that you’re being so understanding. I sincerely wish you a speedy
recovery…”
The man
smiled kindly as he moved to pat Se Cai on his shoulder.
“Something’s
wrong!”
Se Cai
was alarmed. The man was acting too courteous… and what about the things he
said out in the corridor?
He
suspected the man had hidden intentions.
“If
only I can read his mind… Wait, I can!”
And
wasn’t this the perfect situation for an experiment?
A row
of shining paragraph appeared above the man’s forehead, it said, “This dude
must have forgotten who our boss is. The money’s to buy one of his arms! Headmaster
has already bribed the doctor to tweak his medicine so he’ll no longer hold a
camera again in his life. Next will be that reporter b.i.t.c.h. These people need
to be taught a lesson!”
Se Cai
expected as much but to have the man’s actual thought exposed still came as a
shock.
“Alright,
young man, rest well and remember to cooperate with the doctor. Our headmaster would
like to invite you for lunch when you’re out of the hospital. He would like to
personally apologize.”
Unknown
to the fact that his inner thoughts had already been exposed, the man kept up
his cheerful charade before retreating out of the room.
Using
his super hearing, Se Cai picked up on the rest of the conversation that
continued outside his room, “Stupid reporter! Didn’t he realize he is literally
nothing if compared to our boss?! Boys, this is the power of our boss… With
just one order, he could make this reporter’s life miserable, stripping him of
his livelihood!”
“F*ck,
these people are unbelievable!”
Se Cai
slapped his bedside table angrily, knocking over the water gla.s.s that sat on
it.
Its
alleged forceful detention aside, the Blue Sky Rehab had a.s.saulted reporters,
and even bribed the hospital. Was there still law in the world?
It was
not hard to believe the rehab’s closet to be filled with skeletons.
Se Cai
had the heart to topple this Headmaster w.a.n.g and his supporter, the department
head w.a.n.g Run Fa but he was only a lowly temp reporter. He could barely save
himself much less pose a threat to others.
He was
lucky to have escaped this tragedy with the aid of the mind-reading skill but
what about next time?
“If all
else fails, I’ll expose this evil rehab on the provincial city station news or
even the central news, we’ll see where you hide then!”
Se Cai
swore fervently.
Town Z
belonged to the jurisdiction of County S. As powerful as County S’ Publicity
Department, its stranglehold didn’t reach beyond the county’s news stations. If
the news was brought to the provincial level, then even department head w.a.n.g
couldn’t suppress it.
Se Cai
though knew this was a dream. The only way news from County S could reach the
central news was through Town Z of County S’ city news then Provincial X’s
provincial news and then only finally the central news. And there were
gatekeepers every step of the way.
Therefore,
unless all the producers from County S went blind, there was no way a small
producer from Town Z would purposely cross the County Publicity Department
head.
Right
then, a crisp ding crossed Se Cai’s mind. It was followed by the familiar male
voice, and another row of shiny paragraph.
“Acquired
news lead, accept new a.s.signment? a.s.signment objective: Expose Blue Sky Rehab
on Tv. Completion rewards: 200 News Point and 1 Rank E Authorization.”
“This
thing even gives out a.s.signments?”
A
surprised Se Cai blurted. This system reminded him more and more of an online
game.
However,
his attention was quickly grabbed by the 200 News Point. That amount was
greater than the total of 103 points he had collected over a year!
The
attraction was definitely there!