An Eye for News Chapter 5
Di
Di Di...
A
cellphone that sat on the bedside table shattered the silence of the room. A
hand stretched out from underneath the bed covers to s.n.a.t.c.h the phone.
Se
Cai pulled himself up and peered at the screen.
The
caller ID was none other than the producer of
Bai Hai Dong.
Director
Bai just turned 30 that year but he had joined the County Tv Station as an intern
since he was 19. He had a pa.s.sable looks and was the friendliest of all the
station directors. He treated his subordinates like friends and always had a
smile to greet the world.
Therefore,
it came as a surprise for Se Cai when he heard Director Bai argued with the
station manager on his behalf. Director Bai failed to demand justice for Se Cai
but he did end up winning Se Cai’s utmost respect and admiration.
“Director
Bai, h.e.l.lo,” Se Cai coughed after he picked up the phone.
“Xiao
Se [Xiao means small, Xie Se is a term of endearment], nice to hear from you. I
intend to visit you today but Gao Xiang told me you were already discharged
yesterday afternoon. Are you sure you’re feeling fully rested?” Hai Dong
intoned in his local accent, “Don’t leave early just to save the medical bills.
I’ve given the station most of our youth, the least they can do is to pay your
medical bills. Just send me your bills and I’ll get them reimbursed for you.”
“I
can cover the bills myself, Director Bai, thanks anyway.”
Se
Cai didn’t want to trouble Director Bai because he knew the company’s medical
benefits didn’t extend to cover the temps. The fact that Director even cared to
suggest so was good enough for Se Cai.
“Se
Cai, you’re part of my production team so I swear I’ll fight tooth and nail for
you.”
Director
Bai paused before continuing in a disappointed tone, “Who am I kidding? You
must have heard already, the best I can get the station to do for you was to
script you into the system… I’m sorry. But please take this opportunity to
rest. There’s no need to rush back to work.”
“Really,
Direction Bai, I’m doing just fine.” Se Cai said appreciatively, “I still have
a few scripts to finish at work plus I have no close families or friends in
County S, instead of staring at my room’s four walls, I might as well head to
work.”
Of
course, Se Cai’s true intention was to finish the script so that they can get
published and earn himself some News Point.
“Xiao
Se, you’ve got to learn how to take it slow… Fine, I’ll allow you to come in
for the day but please take care of your health,” Director Bai advised before
cutting off.
Se Cai
put down his phone and felt his heart warmed.
He knew
the phone call was perfunctory but he didn’t mind it in the least.
After
all, it was Director Bai who helped him secure this rented house when he first
arrived at County S with no one to turn to. Now, it was again Director Bai who
stood against the station manager for his behalf.
Se Cai
rushed in and out of the bathroom. On his way to the Tv Station, he bought a
bun to munch on.
County
S wasn’t at all big so Se Cai’s rented apartment was only 10 minutes away from
the Tv Station.
“Oh my,
isn’t that the great hero that save our star anchorwoman? Why are you at work?
People might think County S Tv Station are exploiting its workers.”
A
gangly teen who had a camera in his hand said snidely as Se Cai stepped through
the station entrance. He was in casual wear, sporting a white T-shirt, army-print
slacks and a pair of fashionable sneakers.
The
teen was Xu Ran, County S Tv Station’s Vice Manager Xu’s son. It was an open
secret that he got his job only through his father’s connection. He had no
official role and was initially part of the broadcasting team by name.
He
voluntarily asked for a transfer to
Yu arrived. Even the blind could see his intention.
Xin Yu
though paid him no mind, barely acknowledging his existence. Now that Se Cai
had saved Xin Yu, he had inadvertently stepped on Xu Ran’s tail.
Se Cai
understood the open hostility but since he had no intention of having any relationship
with Xin Yu, he decided to ignore the man.
“Xiao
Se, how are you? Are you still hurting?”
A female
voice behind Xu Ran asked concernedly.
The
voice belonged to Huang Xi. The girl looked young in her sharp bob, small stature
and professional suit. In reality, she was reaching 30, one of the founders of
“Thanks
for asking, Sister Huang. I’m fully recovered.”
Se Cai
smiled.
“That’s
good to know. When we visited you, you were still unconscious and the doctor
said there was internal bleeding in your head. It looked worse than when I was
in the hospital… You surely gave us a fright.”
It sounded like Huang Xi had her own
run-in with thugs before. Of course, it was not uncommon for reporters on
society beat to run into altercations. However, things tended to be on the
lighter side… Se Cai’s incident was one of the heavier isolated cases.
“Good
morning, Director Bai. Any a.s.signments for me today?”
Se Cai
asked with a smile as he waltzed into the newsroom.
Sitting
in the deepest corner of the room was a short, stocky man wearing a
black-rimmed gla.s.ses. This was Bai Hai Dong, the producer and news director for
Director
Bai had in his hand a memo pad and was in the middle of a discussion with Gao
Xiang that sat beside him.
“Xiao
Se, you’re here! Remember to take it easy. We’re just in the middle of a
morning meeting,” Hai Dong replied as he lifted his head to smile at Se Cai,
then he added with concern, “You’re still recovering, so I’m not going to give
you any outstation a.s.signment. Just stay at your table and finish your scripts.”
The phone that sat in front of Director
Bai was their program’s hotline. People called in to offer news leads or tips.
It was during morning meeting that Director Bai delegates his people to follow
up on these leads.
“No,
Director Bai. My body’s fine so just treat it as any other day. Plus, I
understand that the station’s running low on staff…”
Se Cai
said pleadingly.
There
were still some healing bruises on his body but Se Cai couldn’t wait to go out
and earn some more News Point, to expand the features on his Eye for News
system.
Furthermore,
there was truth to what Se Cai said. The station was running low on staff.
Their program team had few contributors, not counting Hai Dong the producer and
Xin Yu the host, there were only 5 reporters.
If he was set off work, they would have to
ask other program teams for help.
“Don’t
stress yourself, Xiao Se. Yes, the station’s low on staff but not until the
stage where it needs to exploit the sick. So just stays put and finishes your
script.”
Hai
Dong shook his head before turning to address the room, “that’s all the
a.s.signments for today. If you have any additional leads, now is the time to
share. We might have a hotline but as a reporter, we must keep our eyes peeled
because news can happen anywhere...”
“Sorry, Director Bai. We have nothing…” the
room echoed.
With
their a.s.signments readily handed to them, who would be so hardworking to find
additional work for themselves? This was why there’s a saying that goes, human
are born lazy.