Chapter 11: The Press Conference (Part 1)

  The consequence of tossing and turning all night was that Gu Xixin was late the next day. Before the newspaper's punch-in system was thoroughly implemented, Gu Xixin could occasionally slack off and come up with a reason to say she was going for an interview. But now, without having punched in on time and unable to produce her actual interview records, nor having registered information on the editor-in-chief's interview log, Gu Xixin could only wait for her full attendance award at the end of the month to be forfeited.

  Hurriedly rushing to the floor where the newspaper office was located, Gu Zixin quickly collapsed onto her chair, "I'm so annoyed, one power outage and I just want to scold someone." She muttered as she turned on the computer's power button.

  "Reporter Gu, you're beaming with joy! What's going on? Tell your sister about it, is there something new?" Before she could even catch her breath, Shen Zihuan's heavily made-up face leaned in close to Gu Xixin.

  Gu Xixin waved her hand, creating some distance between them. "This news has really gotten to you, hasn't it? You've been thinking about me so much that you're even reading my mind. Do you see the words 'spring heart fluttering' written on my face?"

  "Don't try to deny it, look at you, your eyes are sparkling like water, your face is radiant like spring rain, with just one glance, one turn of the head, you're clearly a charming and alluring person, so just admit it already!"

  "Pfft... What's with you? You sound like a matchmaker! How boring!"

  "Whatever, don't try to deceive me. Someone clearly said yesterday that they were going out to eat with their sister, and I've never heard you mention having a sister in all the time we've worked together. And even if it's true, your sister is quite something, driving a luxury car?" Shen Zihuan looked at him with an expression of "what else can you say".

  Gu Xixin hadn't even swallowed her water yet and almost choked on it, "You've been following me?"

  "I'm stuffed and was following you." Shen Ziheng glared at her, "I happened to be going to the intersection to hail a taxi and saw you getting in."

  "Oh..." Gu Xixin thought she could get away with it, but unfortunately, she couldn't.

  "Alright then, tell me, who is that person?"

  "Yin Shu."

  "My goodness, what great luck have you encountered? Is he pursuing you?"

  "Don't talk nonsense, he invited me out for a meal as a thank you for the report earlier."

  "Alright, he must have an ulterior motive. Who doesn't know that such a large group wouldn't care about what the media thinks? Besides, even if it's really gratitude, there's no need for him to personally take action, right?"

  Gu Zi Xin remained silent.

  Shen Zihan looked at her, straightened up and said, "Zixiin, I'm telling you, you need to have a clear understanding of this. This person's background is too complicated. It's said that he entered Shengyu at a young age and quickly rose to a high position, there must be reasons for it. Whether in the group or his personal environment, things are more complicated than they seem. You should think many things through yourself."

  She looked at her and knew she was worried about herself, nodded and said, "Don't worry, I have it under control, besides, it's not as complicated as you think."

  "That's good." Shen Ziheng looked at her, wanting to speak but stopping himself, and in the end didn't say anything, while Gu Xixin's thoughts had long since wandered off somewhere.

  Entering November, the weather is getting colder day by day. After several heavy snowfalls, the north has thoroughly entered the severe cold of deep winter. Gu Zixin's body is weak and she can't withstand the cold. Every year at this time, she would wear scarves, hats, down jackets, gloves, and everything else that could be worn, but even so, on especially cold days, she still feels like she's not wearing enough.

  Gu Xixin has always been more rational about this, and she won't be like some girls who wear less to avoid looking bloated, only to freeze themselves.

  Gu Xixin often sees on the street, many girls in very cold weather, just wearing a pair of leggings, with a pair of high boots, letting their small faces freeze to purple, still proudly holding their beautiful figure and dashing about in the snowy ground.

  Every time Gu Zixin felt cold for them, but she also understood that everyone has their own way of living, and it's not necessarily that the lifestyle should be accepted by others' criticism.

  The last time she had dinner with Yin Shu, he dropped such a bombshell and then disappeared like a ghost, leaving no trace. Sometimes Gu Xi thought she was doubting whether she really knew this person or not.

  At first, for two days, Yin Shuo did not appear in Gu Zhi Xin's life as expected, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. However, after such a long time, this person completely disappeared, and Gu Zhi Xin began to get a little angry.

  What's the point of saying that? He says something like that and then mysteriously avoids her, it's too irresponsible. Did he really just say those words on a whim to pursue her and then forget about them as soon as he turned around?

  Gu Xixin thought about it more and more, but couldn't make sense of it. She had a strong feeling that she was being played with. When this feeling surged up, Gu Xixin seemed to see Yin Shuo throw out such words, then look at her turning over and over, secretly laughing on the side. Every time she thought about it, Gu Xixin felt like there was a small mouse hanging in her heart, neither up nor down, swaying back and forth, making Gu Xixin feel uncomfortable.

  She didn't want to share these thoughts with anyone, not even with someone as close as Shen Zihuan and Gao Muyang. Firstly, she didn't want to admit to herself that she was indeed very concerned about this matter. Secondly, she also didn't want others to think that she was a lovesick fool, who could be disturbed by a man's few ambiguous teasing words.

  Gu Xixin tried to get her life back on track, intentionally increasing her workload in the process. By keeping herself busy, she could numb herself and convince herself that everything was still the same, unchanged.

  After really thinking about it, things seem to have developed in the direction of thought. In fact, at this time, there is no room for nostalgia and sorrow, because soon after the end of the year, the newspaper company will be busy.

  This morning, Gu Zixin got up at 6 o'clock and hastily packed her bag, drank a few mouthfuls of milk, and rushed out the door. Today, the city is holding its annual People's Congress and Political Consultative Conference, and Qiao Xuanan notified everyone yesterday to arrive at the unit before 7 o'clock to await task assignments.

  Every year before the two sessions are held, there is a long period of preparation work, including division, reporting, and discussion. The media generally receives the corresponding schedule in advance to coordinate with the interview work of the newspaper and TV station, so the personnel arrangement is also well-organized.

  This year is an exception, previously there was no news of the meeting being held, and it wasn't until yesterday afternoon near closing time that Qiao Xuanan received the notification. The relevant meeting materials didn't come out until after 7 pm, so everyone waited together at the newspaper office until after 8 pm, but the materials still weren't complete, so they had to disperse separately, with a notice saying that an early morning meeting would be held to confirm who would participate in the interview.

  Rushing to the conference room, more than half of my colleagues were already there. After waiting for ten minutes until everyone arrived, Qiao Xuan'an and two deputy editors briefly exchanged opinions and announced the reporting plan.

  According to the annual convention, different batches of people need to run on-site registration at the conference venue, grab two sessions of flowers and grass outside the meeting, be responsible for contacting NPC deputies and CPPCC members to understand the submitted suggestions and proposals, as well as group discussions with each small group.

  Gu Xixin has always been in charge of the economic edition, and sometimes at the scene of the conference, there are reporters from the political edition who don't need her. In the end, she was assigned to find several departmental leaders at the meeting site to discuss their future work ideas in their respective fields, write a side note on the meeting, and participate in a subgroup discussion.

  Gu Zixin and her colleagues were ready to set off after receiving their assignments.