Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

How could he back out at this point, after the company had made all the arrangements?

Her eyes widened. “What happened? Mr Fan, you promised me. How can you go back on your words? We have signed an agreement!”

Fan Jie felt extremely embarrassed. “Sister-in-law, listen to me… it’s not that I want to go back on my words. It’s- I think you better ask Brother Shen about this. I’ll agree to the interview anytime, provided that Brother Shen gives the go-ahead!”

Shen Liangchuan?

Qiao Lian widened her eyes instantaneously.

She had had an inkling that he wasn’t going to take this lying down, but what she hadn’t quite expected was that he would go to that extent to corner her.

So… was this his way of forcing her to go back to him, to submit to him?

Qiao Lian was in turmoil. She replied coldly, “Okay, I understand.”

She hung up the phone, feeling angry and frustrated.

What right did he have to be such a bully?!

And now…

She turned back and looked at the people in the meeting room.

She was in fact already halfway through this exclusive.

And it was because of this exclusive that she had managed to get a promotion and become Team Two’s Chief Editor.

It wasn’t that she was yearning for the position. It was just that… if she lost this exclusive, she could end up losing her job!

There were only three more months to go before she could obtain her reporter’s certificate.

Qiao Lian was close to tears of frustration. She took a deep breath. As she turned around, she saw Liu Zhixing looking at her, wide-eyed. “Qiao Lian, what happened? Why does Mr Fan wish to terminate the agreement?! What have you done!”

Qiao Lian bit her lower lip and was about to speak when Liu Zhixing silenced her with a wave of his hand. Looking very gloomy, he gave an order, “Qiao Lian, this exclusive with Fan Jie was the justification we gave the company headquarters to support your application. If you lose this exclusive… you will take full responsibility for it!”

After saying these things, he stormed away with a wave of his hand.

Zhang Chunhua flashed Qiao Lian a cold smile. “Qiao Lian, my dear Qiao Lian, you’ve offended Best Actor Shen. How do you think you’ll be able to continue surviving in the journalism industry?

She smugly added as she picked up her notebook, “I can’t wait for the moment you are told to scram!”

Then, with her nose in the air, she left the room with her team trailing behind her.

All at once, Qiao Lian and Shi Nianyao were the only one left in the office.

Shi Nianyao was concerned. “What do we do now?”

Qiao Lian gritted her teeth and replied, “It’s back to the original plan!”

–

That night, Beijing experienced its first snowfall of the year.

Bundled up in her down jacket and shuddering in the cold, Qiao Lian paced up and down while keeping her eyes on the hotel that was not too far away.

She had spotted moments ago the entertainment scene’s current heart throb entering the hotel building with a girl. Hence, she had positioned herself in this spot with the hope of capturing pictures for a big scoop.

Now that Fan Jie had backed out, she had to find an equally impactful story, to lessen the impact of the bad situation.

However, she knew very well that she was fully reliant on luck to be on her side.

Therefore now, her eyes were fully fixed on the hotel entrance, hardly daring to even blink.

The icy wind wrapped its fingers around her and stung her bones. Her lips turned purple from the cold, but she could hardly spare a few minutes to get herself a hot drink. She was afraid that the pair would give her the slip the moment she got distracted.

Despite this, Qiao Lian did not manage to capture the pictures she was hoping to.

She hung her head in disappointment. The mobile started ringing.

She picked up the phone and Doctor Zhang’s voice came through. “Ms Qiao, your partner has come to pick your brother up. Their plane has just taken off and they should be arriving in the afternoon.”

Qiao Lian froze. “What? Who has taken my brother away?

Xiao Yi… is coming back?

“Your partner. He even brought proof of your marriage. He said you should wait for them at home.”