Is This Reporter Also Paying Off Debts Today? Chapter 7

Wen Di Wants to Live a Normal Life

Ding.

The elevator numbers finally settled on the 28th floor.

On the plaza, a small child took a few steps before tripping and falling. A grandmother pushing a stroller nearby approached, picked the child up, brushed off the dust, placed the child in the stroller, and slowly walked away.

Wen Di stepped out of the elevator and happened to run into Huo Qingyun coming out of the restroom. The man still had traces of water on his hands that he hadn’t wiped dry. “Xiao Wen, over here.”

“President Huo,” Wen Di greeted him politely and followed Huo Qingyun into the office.

In the conference room of Anzhou First People’s Hospital.

“This is the report about our hospital that was published across the internet this morning. The reporting is quite neutral and doesn’t show much bias, but I fear some people with ulterior motives might use this report to hype things up. Every department must remain cautious in their words and actions lately. No one is permitted to accept interviews from any media or individuals privately, nor are you allowed to post any comments regarding this report online. The Cardiology Department, in particular, needs to pay extra attention lately.” President Liu sat in a large conference chair, holding a copy of the Anzhou Times with a very serious expression.

Lu Huaichu also pulled a copy of the newspaper from the table, his eyes instantly locking onto the words “Staff Reporter: Wen Di” at the end of the article.

The corners of his mouth curled into a slight arc.

After the two of them got together, Wen Di had told him what report he was working on recently, and Lu Huaichu had even “leaked” some inside information.

He wondered if his baby had reached his workplace yet and if he had eaten breakfast.

Lu Huaichu quietly took out his phone, clicked on Wen Di’s WeChat profile picture, and sent a message under the table.

“Wen Di? I know this reporter. He’s a star reporter for the Anzhou Times and has covered many high-profile events.”

Hearing his colleagues’ discussion, a hint of small pride flickered across Lu Huaichu’s face.

“I think I’ve seen the name somewhere too. Based on the style, he’s probably an older reporter. Their profession is like ours—the older you are, the more sought after you become.”

The pride was instantly extinguished.

Old? You’re the one who’s old! My baby isn’t old at all!

“Alright, quiet. In short, public opinion during this period is very sensitive for us. Words in black and white carry no emotional bias, but there’s no stopping how the people reading them will interpret it. Everyone must get through this period with extreme caution. Meeting adjourned. Everyone, please arrange your morning rounds and outpatient clinics as soon as possible.”

In the large conference room, people left in groups of twos and threes, leaving only Lu Huaichu and the Director of Cardiology, Wang Deming, walking at the back.

“Director Wang, I’d like to take my annual leave next week,” Lu Huaichu spoke up, while carefully observing Wang Deming’s expression.

Wang Deming was a bit surprised by Lu Huaichu’s request. Why did this workaholic, who basically had perfect attendance every year, suddenly want to take annual leave?

He raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s wrong? Is something happening at home?”

“Nothing is wrong at home. I just want to take a trip abroad.” This was the first time Lu Huaichu had requested annual leave, and he was quite nervous about whether it would be approved. He had originally thought about making up an excuse, but after thinking it over, he decided to tell the truth. The reason of accompanying his boyfriend for a birthday was very legitimate!

“Oh…” Wang Deming looked at Lu Huaichu with a face full of relief. “You kid finally wised up after all these years. Fine, it’s approved. Go to HR in a bit, get the leave form, and bring it to me to sign. Young man, you have to be good to the girl. Don’t be stingy with money. Have a good time when you go! Hahahaha!”

Wang Deming walked out of the conference room with his hands behind his back, laughing loudly. He felt a sense of pride as if he had finally married off an old son who had been single for years. Aside from himself, someone in the Cardiology Department had finally escaped bachelorhood!

The honorary title of “Monk Temple” would cease to exist at this moment!

Lu Huaichu stood frozen on the spot, only reacting after a long while to what his director’s laughter implied. He had been misunderstood. He would explain it later when he went to sign the papers.

“Xiao Wen, sit.” Huo Qingyun took a copy of today’s “freshest” Anzhou Times and handed it to Wen Di, while he sat behind the computer, opened the internal network, and logged into the city’s public opinion monitoring system to look closely.

Wen Di was in no mood to read the newspaper. He was using all his strength to fight the surging nausea in his body.

Wen Di sometimes felt that since being with Lu Huaichu, he had become increasingly delicate—so delicate that his body would only behave if he ate the breakfast Lu Huaichu made or bought.

Thinking of this, he gave a bitter smile. Truly pathetic.

“I have always highly recognized your news sensitivity. This report proves once again that my judgment of people was not wrong.”

Huo Qingyun turned the computer screen toward Wen Di, gesturing for him to look.

Wen Di had no choice but to put down the newspaper he was using as a shield, bracing his hands on his knees to support his body as he looked at the screen.

The Anzhou City Public Opinion Real-time Monitoring System was a mature system the city government had spent a great deal of effort building a few years ago. All official media and influential self-media in the city were under real-time monitoring. Even a Weibo post or a short video uploaded by an ordinary citizen would be monitored immediately if the likes, comments, and shares rose rapidly in a short time.

Wen Di saw that the search bar displayed the title of his own report, while the red circles of various sizes on the webpage showed how many netizens were currently browsing or searching for his report in real-time.

The entire page was glowing red.

“At the editorial board meeting this morning, we decided to contact several trending search lists to add more heat to your report. That award will be a guaranteed thing then.”

Wen Di nodded noncommittally.

After being with Lu Huaichu, Wen Di found that some of his thoughts were slowly changing. It wasn’t because Lu Huaichu nagged him every day to switch to an easier job or position.

Wen Di wanted to be a reporter, a reporter for his whole life; he loved the news industry. But he also wanted to get off work at a normal time every day, go home and give Lu Huaichu a hug and a kiss, help him cook and wash dishes, and then the two of them could turn off the lights and curl up on the soft sofa to chat or watch a movie.

He wanted to live a normal life.

“Regarding the matter of your promotion to Deputy Department Head that I mentioned last time, we also discussed it at the meeting this morning. If it were a few years ago, with your grassroots experience and excellent track record, the promotion would be a matter of course. But with the internal adjustments and reforms of the group these past few years, there are some new rules for personnel promotion.” Huo Qingyun pulled up a red-headed document titled “Anzhou Times Personnel Appointment and Dismissal Details” from the computer.

“I studied it carefully. You are still short one year of overseas experience.”

“Overseas?” Wen Di was stunned. He was always out running after news stories. Whenever the group issued a public document, he would just click it open and mark it as completed without reading it seriously.

“When?” Wen Di sighed. Since President Huo had called him up this morning, everything must have already been arranged. Asking for his opinion was a formality; notifying him of the itinerary was the reality.