Chapter 395: Chapter 356: Can’t Even Keep the Job_2
"Still sleeping? Don’t you have work today?"
"I didn’t sleep at all last night, I’m so tired."
"If your dad finds out, he’ll definitely call you back to City A."
"So don’t tell him, okay? He always treats me like a kid, but I’m all grown up now."
"Find time to come home, your dad misses you."
"I know, I miss him too, and you as well, hehe." Zhuo Yuqing yawned, intending to tell her mom about Bai Chengxi, but when it came to her lips, she didn’t know how to put it. She was afraid her mom would berate her for getting married in such a hurry; probably no parent would agree to it if they knew. After thinking it over, she decided to let it be and hung up after chatting about other things.
Liu Lian was also awake and glanced at her watch: "Let’s go, back to the office. I bet the news has already exploded; time to collect our reward."
Zhuo Yuqing opened the webpage on her phone and, sure enough, saw that their story was the headline of entertainment news, topping every major ranking list, and was the number one trending topic on Weibo. It was everywhere.
When the two arrived at the company, their colleagues were all discussing the matter. Zhuo Yuqing saw the editor-in-chief talking with Tong Bi, with several people gathered around.
"Tong Bi, you’ve done our magazine another great service with this scoop about Chi Ming’s affair. It’s been explosive news," the editor-in-chief said with a grin that couldn’t be wider, "Your bonus this month is definitely secured. Keep up the good work."
Liu Lian pricked up her ears, asking Zhuo Yuqing with a puzzled face: "Did I hear that wrong? Did the editor say that Tong Bi reported the news about Chi Ming’s affair?"
Zhuo Yuqing found it strange too, and was about to step forward to find out what was going on when the editor turned his head and saw her, looking a bit embarrassed as he said: "Yuqing, Tong Bi has recovered from her cold, so she will take over the assignment to interview Zhou Xiaoyu this week. You take a break."
"Editor-in-chief, about the news on Chi Ming..." Before Zhuo Yuqing could finish her sentence, the editor interrupted: "Yes, it was an exclusive scoop that Tong Bi got after staking out all night."
Zhuo Yuqing looked at Tong Bi, who was being flattered by everyone in the middle. Feeling Zhuo Yuqing’s gaze, Tong Bi provocatively raised her eyebrows at her.
"How is that possible?" Liu Lian was immediately outraged, charging over to question: "Tong Bi, have you got no shame? Did you gather this news yourself?"
Zhuo Yuqing hurriedly pulled her back, shaking her head at her. It’s not that she didn’t want to make things clear, but she didn’t yet know where the mix-up occurred, and a rash argument would only make the editor think they were making unfounded accusations.
"This is infuriating, absolutely maddening." Liu Lian, back at her seat, was so mad she clutched at her chest, "That Tong Bi has the gall for sure, daring to pull off something like this."
After thinking, Zhuo Yuqing said, "The problem must have originated from the review department. Zhu Lin from the review department is close to Tong Bi. We submitted the news there first, and he was the first one who could have accessed it. If he passed the message to Tong Bi, everything makes sense."
"Those two lowlifes," Liu Lian said through clenched teeth, "unacceptable, I’m going to the editor-in-chief. My photos are still on the camera, and the document on your computer has the save time. One look and everything will be clear."
"Let’s gather the evidence before presenting it together," Zhuo Yuqing suggested, getting ready to turn on her computer when suddenly a hand landed on top of her laptop and pressed down forcefully.
She looked up to see Tong Bi’s arrogant face: "Zhuo Yuqing, I’d advise you to know your place. In this magazine, you better clear up who has the say. Don’t make foolish moves or you might lose even the bowl that feeds you."
"Feeling guilty?" Zhuo Yuqing stared at her and smiled, "If you’re feeling guilty, then don’t do such immoral things. What skill is it to snatch others’ hard work? Now I see, all this ’entertainment queen’ buzz, I’m afraid your headlines have all been gained through such disreputable means."
"You don’t have to worry about how I do it. If you don’t believe it, you’re entirely welcome to bring up your so-called ’evidence.’ Let’s see whether the editor trusts you or me. Zhuo Yuqing, you’ve just been here for a few days, right? There are some waters you’re better off not stirring. Trying to fight with me, you should look at your own weight first."
Liu Lian stepped forward in front of Zhuo Yuqing, "Fine, just you wait and see how we expose your shameless tricks."
Tong Bi scoffed dismissively and turned to leave.
Zhuo Yuqing and Liu Lian brought last night’s photos and drafts to the editor-in-chief and explained the situation all over again. But after finishing, the editor showed no sign of surprise, calmly sipping water, and then after a few swallows, he put down the cup.
"Liu Lian, Yuqing, I know you’ve worked hard. So, I’ll apply for a little extra bonus this month on your behalf. Go back to your work and strive to produce even better news," he said.
Upon hearing this, Liu Lian lost it, determined to state her case: "Editor-in-chief, there’s solid evidence now. Isn’t this condoning what happened?"
At her words, the editor’s face hardened.
Zhuo Yuqing quietly tugged at her: "Editor-in-chief, we’ll take the loss this time. There must be others who have suffered just like us, and those people wouldn’t be talking against Tong Bi. They’ll only think you, the editor-in-chief, can’t judge people. Okay, we’ll be going now."
Having said that, Zhuo Yuqing, pulling Liu Lian along, turned and walked out.
The editor-in-chief sighed helplessly as he watched them leave. This wasn’t the first time he had received a complaint about Tong Bi stealing someone else’s news, but Tong Bi had connections with the company’s president, so there were some things he simply had to turn a blind eye to.
"That Tong Bi, utterly shameless." Liu Lian was red in the face with anger.
Zhuo Yuqing was also furious. Their hard work from the whole night had been hijacked by someone else. But despite her anger, she could guess that Tong Bi must have connections with the higher-ups. Otherwise, the editor wouldn’t cover for her.
As she was stewing in her anger, her phone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID, Zhuo Yuqing felt somewhat apologetic. The tip was provided by him, but she had let someone else take the news away.