An Eye for News Chapter 6
Hai
Dong closed his memo pad with much frustration, “With such laziness, how is our
program going to fulfill its goal of bouncing our news up to the province and
central stations? We’re approaching November and completion of this year’s goal
is still nowhere in sight. You people are going make me lose the bonus that I
need to find a wife. No woman is going to take me without a house.”
Although
Hai Dong was joking, it was undeniable that there was such a goal.
Hai
Dong’s
Department to at least bounce 50 of its own news to the province station and 2
news to the central station every year.
The
goal had been reached easily for the past few years because their county was
near the ocean. Whenever there was a tornado, their station’s disaster relief
reports would get on both province and central news.
This
was why Hai Dong always commented jokingly that the survival of their program
depended on the heavens. And heavens weren’t smiling on them that year. There
was not one tornado.
As the
end of year drew nearer, the station people got increasingly pressured and agitated.
Everyone
cracked up hearing Director Bai’s complaint. Huang Xi even chided him, “Director
Bai, if you cut back on the beer money, you would have both a house and a wife
by now.”
Cigarettes
and alcohol were Director Bai’s Achilles’ heels and those were the 2 things his
subordinates usually teased him about.
“Shut
it. Quickly get to work, the earlier you finish, the earlier you can leave!”
Director
Bai scolded half-seriously. The morning meeting thus drew to a close.
Half an
hour later, the newsroom was empty again. All the reporters were out hunting
their own news, only Se Cai sat in the room facing his computer.
“This
d.a.m.n computer, it’s giving me a blue screen again. It’s the second time this
has happened today!”
Se Cai
screamed in agony as he slammed his fingers on the keyboard.
Most equipment
in County S Tv Station was as old as the building itself. Even if they bought
new equipment, they were reserved for current politics programs like
After
all,
figures to their shows. It was only natural that shows like these needed a
sense of grandeur that befitted its guests.
focus and guests were the general public. Naturally, they got the hand-me-down
equipment.
Along
with the show set, they were also still using old tape recorders that often got
stuck.
“Hmm…
Since Zhang Xin Yu is still not here, I’m sure she doesn’t mind me borrowing
her personal computer.”
Se Cai
sucked in a breath and peered into the dubbing studio that was beside him.
The
studio was Zhang Xin Yu’s domain, it was her office. Since she usually stayed
at the station until 7 or 8 pm to record her voice over, she would come in late
every morning at 10.
The
computer inside the dubbing studio was built for recording and not typing work
so it was much faster.
It would
finish rendering a 3 minute newsreel in 20 seconds while Se Cai’s old computer
would take 5 to 6 minutes. It was the best computer in the whole Tv Station.
A piece
of device so impressive was understandably guarded. The directors wouldn’t even
let the reporters get close to it, fearful that it would be ‘tainted’.
“I’m
sure no one would mind me using it for a while… No one will be hurt by things
that they didn’t know.”
Se Cai
convinced himself as he tip-toed into the studio.
For its
purpose, the room was heavily padded. Once Se Cai was in the room, the noise of
the outside world immediately fell away.
County
S Tv Station that was famously stingy wasted no resource to build this dubbing
and broadcast study to keep Zhang Xin Yu. The studio was draped with the best
sound-proofing material. It was so quiet that it freaked Se Cai out. He
wondered how the woman could survive in the room for so long day in and day
out.
Then, he remembered he was on a
mission. He planted himself firmly on the leather cushion and switched on the
expensive device.
“Let’s
get this over with quick and get out of here… Hmm, what’s this?”
Se
Cai could feel something sharp poking his lower back. He sprang up from the
seat and realized he was sitting on a paper bag. The bag had the logo of a
famous cosmetic shop.
“This
should be Zhang Xin Yu’s. c.r.a.p! I hope I didn’t break anything inside…”
Se Cai laughed without mirth. His b.u.t.t had
completely dented the bag.
Se Cai
opened the bag to inspect the damage he had done. To his surprise, the bag not
only contained some make-up kits but it also contained a beige-colored suit!
“F*ck,
I’ve crushed her powder pad!”
Se Cai
was dumbfounded to see powder from the broken pad spilling on to the suit.
Then,
he remembered Director Bai telling him Zhang Xin Yu had that suit tailored made
because she believed the color beige made her looked more photogenic.
The
suit was custom-made and she only had one. She refused to go on set without it.
“What now?!”
Se Cai
broke out in cold sweat. He laid the suit down on the table and patted the
powdered spot repeatedly. The powder started to fall off until there was only a
hint of color difference left. No one would notice until they paid special attention.
“Thank
G.o.d it wasn’t something like a lipstick or blush.”
Se Cai
sighed in relief as he pulled the suit upright to inspect it once more.
Suddenly, a pink object fell to the floor with a tap.
“What’s
that?”
Se Cai
followed the sound and spotted a pink-colored bra, most likely snuck into the
suit by Zhang Xin Yu after finishing a day of work.
Se Cai
started to blush in spite of himself.
He was
mortified to know Zhang Xin Yu was modern enough to do things like leave her
bra behind at the office!
“This
is so wrong…”
Silencing
his wayward thoughts, Se Cai bowed down to pick up the bra to stuff it back
into the bag.
However,
he couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the article of clothing. The bra had
polka dots and lace fringes. It even had a cute bow at the front. The thing was
excessively cute and it ran opposite to the cold front that Zhang Xin Yu
normally portrayed!