The next day, Qiao Yimian and Song Nanxing went to the television station to report for duty.
They had a rare opportunity to be in Linchuan this time, and she didn't want to waste any time.
Song Nanxing insisted on pushing her wheelchair, but she refused.
After a night of rest, her ankle wasn't hurting much anymore. Walking slowly wouldn't be a problem, and there was no need for a wheelchair; it would be too conspicuous.
The personnel officer in charge of reception registered their information, issued temporary work permits, and said with a smile:
"Reporter Qiao's foot injury hasn't healed yet, so I won't take you on a tour of the various departments. Someone will take you to the news center later; the director specifically instructed this yesterday."
Linchuan City Television Station was divided into several departments: the News Department, the Program Production Department, the Technology Department, the Advertising Department, and so on. Each department had several subgroups, and the news center was considered the core subgroup within the News Department.
Qiao Yimian and Song Nanxing exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in the other's eyes.
Although the Chucheng Evening News had already coordinated with the television station, the two of them were just minor figures. It was truly flattering that the director himself had arranged their placements.
Qiao Yimian subconsciously thought of the phone call Zhou Heng had made to Director Kang yesterday, vaguely feeling that this was the real reason for their preferential treatment.
An administrative staff member led them to the news center. A man in his forties spoke with a smile:
"Two promising young reporters, welcome to our team! I'm the team leader, Zhao Wei. For the next month, we'll be 'fighting side by side' as teammates."
The two of them quickly greeted Zhao Wei. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhao Wei looked at Qiao Yimian.
"Comrade Xiao Qiao, since it's inconvenient for you to walk, you can first follow the editors in the station and organize manuscripts. After your injury heals, you can go out for interviews with Xiao Song."
Qiao Yimian nodded quickly, saying sincerely, "Thank you, Team Leader. I will work hard to do the editing work and learn from the seniors in the station."
"Me too! Me too!" Song Nanxing smiled brightly: "I've long heard that the Linchuan Television Station news center is full of talented people. It's truly fortunate to have such an opportunity to learn and exchange ideas!"
Zhao Wei laughed heartily, "Don't be so modest. You coming here to 'exchange ideas' is a form of support for us. I'm just worried you'll be overwhelmed by the workload and run yourselves ragged!"
The other person was completely approachable, friendly, and humorous. Qiao Yimian and Song Nanxing breathed a sigh of relief simultaneously and smiled along.
The news center team had nine employees, but only seven were present. Zhao Wei introduced the two of them to everyone, then glanced at his watch.
"You two should familiarize yourselves with the environment and work here today. I have a meeting to attend. Everyone, please relax and don't be so formal. Miao Ying, please take care of them."
After Zhao Wei left, the editor, Miao Ying, assigned them workstations and gave them a brief overview of the workflow.
Qiao Yimian listened attentively and was also very sweet-talking, calling her "Teacher Miao" at every turn, which made the young editor, just over 30, feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
"Just call me 'Sister Miao'. 'Teacher' makes me feel so much pressure." After saying this, she took a closer look at Qiao Yimian, smiling and adding, "You're really beautiful. If you went on camera, your looks alone would crush everyone else in terms of viewership."
Qiao Yimian shyly touched the tip of her nose, "Oh, come on, you're flattering me."
Miao Ying didn't take it seriously, and instead promoted Qiao Yimian to a few other colleagues: "Luckily, Xiao Qiao isn't a permanent employee, otherwise, the most beautiful flower in our news center would have to change hands!"
The others laughed and agreed, with someone else teasing, "Don't go running your mouth, Sister Miao! If 'Yu Meiren' hears this, won't she blow her top?"
The laughter grew louder.
Qiao Yimian was puzzled but didn't ask, just subconsciously glanced at the innermost workstation, which was decorated with flowers.
She heard that the host reporter and the cameraman had gone out for an interview early in the morning and hadn't returned yet.
The morning passed in a flurry of activity.
Song Nanxing went out for an interview with the other reporters in the morning and texted her that they wouldn't be back for lunch. So, Qiao Yimian went to the cafeteria with Miao Ying to eat.
"The food in our cafeteria is pretty good, with a variety of choices and cheap prices. There are also individual stir-fries on that side. The second floor has private rooms, usually for the station's leaders to entertain guests."
Miao Ying walked alongside Qiao Yimian, introducing things to her. Then, she lowered her voice mysteriously:
"I heard a big leader is coming this afternoon to inspect and offer condolences! The leaders held a morning-long meeting just for this."
Qiao Yimian blinked. She happened to run into a colleague from another group on the road, so she didn't continue the topic.
The canteen food was indeed excellent, far superior to the Chucheng Evening News's canteen.
After eating their fill, Miao Ying even got her a cup of red date yogurt. The two of them enjoyed the winter afternoon sun while slowly walking back, sipping their yogurt.
"Ugh, this time after eating is the freest. After the manuscripts come flooding in this afternoon, we'll be busy until we're dizzy!" Miao Ying complained.
Qiao Yimian smiled and nodded, "It's the same at our newspaper. We have a bit of work during work hours, and no set hours after work. There's a saying that's spot on: 'For journalists, leaving work isn't leaving work, it's just changing locations to continue working overtime.'"
"Haha, that's right!" Miao Ying agreed wholeheartedly, clapping her hands and laughing.
The two of them returned to the office and found two more people inside.
A young woman in a Chanel suit was facing away from them, complaining impatiently, "We were stuck for over forty minutes, and we missed lunch! It's so annoying!"
Another man in his thirties smiled good-naturedly, "There's nothing we can do, Guangming Bridge is always jammed, morning till night. You know this isn't the first time. Let's order takeout."
"I'm so sick of the takeout around here! It's greasy and salty, not healthy at all!" The young woman pouted and turned around, just in time to see Miao Ying walking in front. She whined, "Sister Miao, you didn't even offer to bring us lunch～"
Miao Ying wasn't buying it at all, "How would I know when you'd be back? You didn't tell me beforehand."
Then she pulled Qiao Yimian forward, "By the way, let me introduce you. This is Qiao Yimian, a reporter from the Chucheng Evening News. The other reporter is out on an interview, you'll meet her later. Yimian, this is the cameraman Meng Changfeng, and this is the host reporter Yu Wan."
As soon as Miao Ying finished speaking, the two young women present looked at each other, both stunned.
Qiao Yimian looked at Yu Wan's exquisitely made-up face, and a few fragments of the past suddenly surfaced in her mind. There were quite a few of them, scattered and fragmented, and each one was labeled with two words: Annoying.
It was simply because Yu Wan was her university classmate, and furthermore, the two of them had a rather tense relationship.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them sworn enemies.
But no matter what, this wasn't at school anymore. She was facing a job, and the other person was just a regular colleague she shouldn't have much to do with. Maintaining surface-level peace wasn't difficult.
Thus, Qiao Yimian greeted the older camera reporter first: "Hello, Teacher Meng."
Then she looked at Yu Wan. Just as she was about to speak, the other person suddenly laughed.
"Oh, who do we have here? Isn't this our Journalism School's campus belle!"
Miao Ying's gaze swept over Yu Wan, then turned to Qiao Yimian.
"Do you two know each other?"
"Know each other? She was the woman I admired most throughout my entire university life!"
Yu Wan chimed in, sarcastically "praising" Qiao Yimian.
"Student Qiao is beautiful, studies well, and is successful in student societies and clubs. Even the men chasing after her could circle the teaching building! It's truly enviable～"
Qiao Yimian heard the sourness in her tone and didn't respond for the moment, simply smiling at Miao Ying. "We were classmates in university."
Then, she looked at Yu Wan, smiling, but not quite, and retorted, "We haven't seen each other in two years, Yu Wan, why are you still so dramatic? There weren't that many men chasing me, maybe seven or eight at most. Oh, right, that also includes the one you desperately pursued but couldn't get."