Time Passed Us By - Chapter 10

The next morning, Song Jianan got up early, made breakfast, and called Song Rui to wake up. While eating, she remembered that she had not had a good talk with Song Rui yet. She sat up straight and tapped the edge of the bowl with her chopsticks, saying, “Song Rui, I have to have a good talk with you. Your mother said you’ve been focusing on boys instead of studying.”

Song Rui choked on a mouthful of porridge and coughed until she felt dizzy. “What’s there to talk about? I don’t want to hear those clichés. Sister Jianan, you’ve been through this too, why do I feel like the generation gap between you and me is getting wider and wider?”

“I just want the best for you. Forget it. I won’t say you, but I’ll just remind you that nowadays most relationships don’t work out. You should just focus on studying.” Song Jianan thought for a moment and added, “After you get into college and look back on this relationship, you’ll definitely think how naive you were back then, how you could fall in love with someone like that.”

Song Rui squinted at her, and rolled her round eyes twice, “Sister Jianan, then right now when you look back at the person you liked at that time, do you feel that you were very naive, how you could like someone like that?”

“I—”

Song Jianan was speechless for a moment. She didn’t know whether to answer, so she could only stare. “That’s all I’m going to say. It doesn’t matter whether you listen or not. Don’t come to my place often in the future. I have to help you get up at 5:30 in the morning. I’m not your mother. I don’t have that much perseverance and patience. If you stay overnight, you’re going to have to pay me.” 

Song Rui stuck out her tongue and muttered softly, “Huh, must’ve struck a nerve…”

After Song Rui left, Song Jianan felt very sleepy. She wanted to sleep, but she also thought about finishing her work today, so she went to the newspaper office. She took the newspaper from the security section and opened it. She saw that the report from last night was in the newspaper. She breathed a sigh of relief and felt that she could finally put a perfect end to her career as a social news reporter.

After waiting for a long time, some people came to work one after another. Everyone was reading today’s newspapers. Some were disappointed and some were happy. After the morning meeting, she explained the work in her hands to another reporter. At this time, the director called her over. Song Jianan thought it was because of her work, so she quickly put down her work. Unexpectedly, the director waved to a boy who was typing at the computer desk and said, “Xiao Song, Zhou Yu is on a business trip these days. This child turned out to be his intern. Please help take care of him for two days.”

She was a little surprised. The newspaper had no intern quota this year, so how could someone get in? Just as she was wondering, the boy stood up neatly and smiled sweetly. “Teacher Song, hello. My name is Fang Yanyan. I am a senior from Foreign Affairs College, and I am here to intern at the newspaper. Please give me your guidance.”

The seriousness of the situation immediately made Song Jianan laugh. She quickly explained, “Just call me Sister Jianan. Calling me teacher is too formal. It’s not like teaching. We can learn from each other.”

When he returned to his seat, people immediately surrounded Song Jianan and asked about Fang Yanyan, “Jia Nan, didn’t our newspaper recruit interns this year? How did that boy get in?”

“He has connections. Nowadays, you need a strong background to work in a TV station or a newspaper.” Someone interrupted, “I guess that boy is from a prominent family. Song Jianan, the director really entrusted you with an important task by asking you to lead him.”

She quickly explained, “Actually it was Zhou Yu who brought it. He’s on a business trip right now. I’m going to the entertainment section soon. What nonsense are you talking about?”

At this time, the person on duty at the news hotline came over and said, “Just now a citizen reported that a thermal well at the intersection of Changchun Road and Shanghai Road poisoned five migrant workers and two firefighters who were trying to rescue them. The director asked Song Jianan to get ready and take someone with you.”

She immediately called Fang Yanyan to get ready and took a taxi. When they arrived at the scene, the police had already blocked the road, and a crowd of onlookers had crowded the road. Later, reporters from the Provincial TV Station, People’s Broadcasting Station, News Channel 18, Metropolitan Express, Convenient Metropolitan News, and other media also rushed to the scene.

It was already past four in the afternoon when they returned to the newspaper office. They hadn’t even had lunch yet. Song Jianan took out two packs of biscuits from under her desk, handed one to Fang Yanyan, and tore open another pack herself, saying weakly, “I’m so tired. Your first day here must be unbearable. Eat something quickly, and then have a good meal to refuel yourself in the evening.”

Fang Yanyan replied, “Yes, I didn’t expect it to be so exciting on the first day. It really challenged my ability.”

“You will encounter more things during your internship here, not only in terms of work but also in terms of interpersonal relationships. To be a good reporter, you need to constantly explore.” Song Jianan thought about it and felt that she was taking advantage of her seniority, so she quickly changed her words, “You did a great job today, keep up the good work tomorrow.”

Fang Yanyan said seriously, “Actually, I really like being a journalist because my cousin is also a very good host, and my other cousin is even better. But I’m afraid that I can’t do well. You know, when there are people to compare with at home, there’s always pressure.”

Song Jianan nodded, “I understand. My little cousin gets compared to me by her mother every day. The first thing she says when we meet has to be ‘I hate you, don’t want to talk to you’. But everyone has their own aspirations. Just be yourself and have a clear conscience.”

The phone rang at the right time, and Zeng Shuyi’s voice came over, “Song Jianan, why haven’t you arrived yet?”

She was confused and asked, “Where to? What’s going on?”

“I’m dying. Did you see the message I sent you? Xiaoyi was here on a business trip tonight, so we all went out to eat together. I waited and waited but you never came. Looks like you didn’t even receive my message.”

Song Jianan jumped up quickly, “Now I know, I’ll be here soon, wait for me.”

After hanging up the phone, Song Jianan said to Fang Yanyan, “There’s nothing left to do, we can go back now. Aren’t you leaving?” 

He smiled and said, “It’s okay. I won’t leave for now. My cousin is coming to pick me up for dinner. It will probably take some time. Sister Song, you can leave first if you have something to do.” 

She nodded, “Okay, then I’ll head out first.” 

When she arrived at the restaurant, she met all her good friends from college. All of them were news media workers. Except for Song Jianan, they were all in finance or entertainment and were dressed up nicely.

When they saw Song Jianan, they all joked, “Here comes the social section one, let’s watch some Oriental Horizon first.”

Song Jianan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Oriental Horizon was a joke they had made when she was in school. At that time, she was determined to cover social news. They once did a simulated episode of Oriental Horizon. As a reporter and anchor, she set her alarm clock and cell phone ringtone to the theme song in order to get into the role. As a result, during a live interview, her cell phone rang and someone immediately shouted, “Someone from CCTV is here, everyone hurry up and get in the screen.” The chaos was so hilarious that those who went with them didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

She sat down and said, “There’s no Oriental Horizon today, and I don’t have the energy to have fun with you guys. I had a live interview today and I’m exhausted. I didn’t even have lunch. Can I go eat something first?”

The others understood and said, “Eat quickly, the social section is the hardest.”

She ate the pork ribs without caring about her image. Zeng Shuyi looked at her attire and said, “Jia Nan, you’re going into the entertainment section soon. This outit just won’t do.”

She nodded while holding a piece of pork chop in her mouth, “I know. I just don’t have any other option. I bring two pairs of shoes to work every day. One pair for sitting in the office and one pair for reporting. Otherwise, my legs will definitely be crippled.”

Others were quite touched, “You’re almost there, you’re almost there, you’ll be done soon, and the entertainment section will be much easier.”

After dinner, they went to a nearby sake bar, where the group of women got into a playful mood out of nowhere and started playing truth or dare. Song Jianan was a little tired, so Zeng Shuyi quietly told her, “It’s all a cover, just a game to pick up men. Look, there are a few good-looking men over there.”

She followed her gaze and saw a few young people sitting in the corner of the bar. They had very young and energetic faces and were indeed good-looking. No wonder these women had to use such a poor excuse. It turned out that necessary modesty was still needed.

Song Jianan was caught in the first round. She chose truth, and the question was both offensive and explicit. She laughed proudly, “I have never had a boyfriend, so it’s better if you save these type of questions for someone else.”

Zeng Shuyi came over to take a look and also shook her head, “It would be more practical to ask her to say who she had a crush on before instead of asking her this kind of question.”

Song Jianan waved her hands quickly, “Here, I’ll switch, I’ll switch to the dare game.” She chooses the dare. The dare: Find a man and have a conversation with him. Then, make everyone here notice you. She was stunned for a moment.

She had no choice but to go, then Zeng Shuyi offered her a candidate, “I just took a look and thought that man over there was not bad looking, gentle and virtuous. You can go and give it a try, you shouldn’t be looked down upon too badly.”

The lights in the bar were not bright, and she could barely make out that the man had a high nose bridge, tightly pursed thin lips, thin shoulders, and wore glasses. His eyes were very clear under the glasses. He seemed to be waiting for someone, but he didn’t seem to be in a hurry, and he was listening to the music with his ears tilted.

The temperament he exuded was very peaceful. Song Jianan thought that if she was a little rude, he would not stand up and beat her up and then walk away.

She pretended to walk over to the man, and he seemed to notice her and looked up at her. Those eyes were really beautiful, gentle, and full of inquiry. Song Jianan felt a little guilty, but her voice was steady, “Hello, sir, can you help me?*

The man smiled politely, probably thinking she was a woman who came to chat up with him, “What do you need?”

Song Jianan gritted her teeth and blurted out, “I’m sorry”. The man was stunned for a moment, and before he could react, Song Jianan’s voice suddenly rose by the double, “What?! You only gave me two hundred yuan for one night! It’s too cheap for you!”

In an instant, the whole audience fell into dead silence. The effect was achieved very successfully.

She saw the man’s face go from stiff to twitching, then he turned around, left his seat, and walked to the bathroom in a very casual manner. The group of women making trouble was also shocked. Zeng Shuyi shook her head, “Song Jianan, you can really amaze people with a single brilliant feat!”

Most people’s eyes fell on her. She had no expression on her face. It took a long time for those inquiring eyes to shift away. Zeng Shuyi kicked her foot, “Song Jianan, that handsome guy is looking in your direction, do you want to leave first?”

She felt guilt, “Forget it, it’s safer for me to stay with you guys. Do you think I will get into trouble with the underworld? After all, I am a reporter for the largest circulation evening newspaper in the province, so I still have some status.”

Zeng Shuyi also felt that this joke was a bit too much, “You should go and explain it to him later. We thought you would run over and slam the table and yell, ‘I want to break up with you.’ How can your thoughts be so impure?”

She suddenly realized and screamed, “I’m sorry, ah—”

The bar returned to its usual bustle. The man seemed unaffected and still sat leisurely at the table. Song Jianan moved to that table at a snail’s pace and said in a voice as quiet as a mosquito, “Sir, I’m sorry, we were playing truth or dare. I didn’t mean to do that. I just had no other choice.”

The man adjusted his glasses and said with a smile, “Miss, what’s your name and which newspaper do you work for?”

“Huh?” Song Jianan’s head was immediately twisted into a knot. Was he really going to retaliate? She decided to cheat and said, “Actually, my last name is not important. What’s important is that we understand and tolerate each other.”

“Li Xinyi from the provincial TV station’s Rule of Law Online, right?” The man laughed and his eyes indicated the women at the other table.

Song Jianan looked at him warily. The man rested his hands on the table, still smiling. Before he could speak, the phone on the table rang. He glanced at it and said to Song Jianan, “Goodbye, Miss.”

She snorted slightly in dissatisfaction. The light reflected on the glass, and the tiny silver lights were dazzling. The man’s back turned into a shadow under the strong reflection.

Song Jianan returned to her seat and released a sigh of relief. The game was still going on, but suddenly someone exclaimed, “Oh my God, it’s Xi Luoyu, how could I be so tactless. Song Jianan, the man you flirted with just now was Xi Luoyu!”

 “The gangster boss?” she asked unhappily.

“No!”

“Then it doesn’t matter,” Song Jianan didn’t want to care at all about who he was. It’s better to avoid such a stingy man, so fussy that he’s even more annoying than a woman.

“But he’s the golden signboard of Ningxin Law Firm, one of the top ten outstanding young people in the city, and most importantly, he’s unmarried! I wanted to interview him before, but that damn guy stole the chance.”

Everyone’s conversations immediately turned to this. Song Jianan thought it was a good thing that she didn’t ask to go to the legal section. It seemed that choosing the entertainment section was a very wise one. Otherwise, it would be terrible if she met her enemy in the future and got into trouble.

But she didn’t expect that she would meet him outside of work in the future. At that time, she thought that the world was really huge, and “our” world only had two people, and the space between two people was really “narrow”.