The younger generation, starting from where the wind blows...

Chapter 302 Ye Jinyan and His Reading Variety Show

On her way to the office, He Huan texted Bai Yang:

How do you know that the director calling me out must be for good news?

Just as I reached the office door, I received a reply from Bai Yang:

"Okay, you're sure to get a scolding from the director this time, are you satisfied now?"

He Huan stopped and quickly typed a text message:
"Jealous?"

Just as I was about to press the send button, I hesitated again.

Finally, He Huan deleted the text message and put her phone back in her pocket.

"Boom boom boom!"

The office door was not closed, and He Huan knocked on it before entering.

Director Chen looked up from behind his desk, saw that it was He Huan, and immediately stood up.

They were very enthusiastic.

"Xiao He, come in."

Not only the tone of voice, but even the way they address each other has changed.

Previously, everyone addressed He Huan by his given name.

Director Chen walked around the desk to the rest area and invited He Huan to sit down with him.

After sitting down, He Huan straightened his back and asked curiously:
"Director, you wanted to see me—"

"Don't rush, would you like some water?"

"No, no, no need, I'm not thirsty," He Huan called out to Director Chen, who was about to get up to pour herself some water.

Seeing this, Director Chen stopped beating around the bush:

"Xiao He, you've seen all the comments online about your interview at Southeast University, right?"

"I saw it, and everyone's criticisms are very valid. I will learn from this experience and strive to improve in my future work."

The attitude was proper and the tone was sincere.

Director Chen was taken aback.

“Xiaohe, people on the internet did have some misunderstandings about you at first. As journalists, it’s normal to encounter this situation. You need to keep a calm mindset. If you have any misunderstandings, correct them; if not, keep up the good work.”

He Huan nodded vigorously, looking guilty and receptive to being taught a lesson.

Director Chen then changed the subject:
"However, you also suffered a setback this time. Your reputation turned around later, and it caused quite a stir online! Even the station director called me last night to ask about it."

He Huan sat up straight with her legs together:
"Director, there is clearly someone behind this, but I absolutely did not do it. I can swear that."

"Don't worry, your fame this time is a good thing for our station. The station hopes that we can make good use of this opportunity."

At this point, Director Chen adjusted his glasses.

"Currently, there are two preliminary plans. The first is to transfer you to be the anchor of 'News in Progress'—"

Before he could finish speaking, He Huan couldn't help but interrupt:
"If I go to host 'News in Progress,' what will happen to Bai Yang?"

“There are no other vacant hosting positions at the station right now, so we can only have Bai Yang and you switch roles. You will host and she will go to the scene to conduct interviews.”

As soon as Director Chen finished speaking, He Huan firmly refused, "Director, the news about the exorbitant price for finding the dog was discovered by Bai Yang. I just benefited from her influence. I will absolutely not accept the station doing this."

Director Chen had anticipated He Huan's reaction.

"This is just a preliminary plan. How it will be implemented will definitely respect your and Bai Yang's personal wishes."

"Director, I definitely won't agree to this plan," He Huan said firmly and resolutely.

"Okay, the second option is for the station to start a new program for you, but this program will be under the Variety Department. I need to ask for your opinion on whether you are willing to go there."

"Director, what kind of program is that?"

"The name, content, and positioning are all still undecided. The only thing that's certain is the program sponsors."

what?
He Huan was stunned.

"Director, the advertising sponsor you mentioned, could it be Jingyan Group?"

"Yes, it's Jingyan Group."

Director Chen spoke frankly.

He Huan instinctively wanted to refuse, but she held back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

If they refuse the new program, the station will have no choice but to reassign themselves and Bai Yang to different positions.

At this moment, He Huan finally understood what the "open conspiracy" that He Huan had mentioned in the taxi last night meant.

Yang Muyi hired online trolls to make himself famous, which forced the station to give him more important responsibilities.

He either has to replace Bai Yang as the host, or he has to accept this new program.

"Director, could you give me some time to think about it?"

"Okay, is half a day enough?"

What, half a day?

He Huan almost thought she had misheard.

After taking a deep breath, He Huan nodded emphatically.

"enough!"

After leaving the office, He Huan immediately took out her phone and sent a text message to Bai Yang, asking him to meet at their usual spot.

After putting down her phone, He Huan looked preoccupied, and even when her colleagues greeted her warmly, her smile seemed somewhat perfunctory.

Upon arriving at the secluded stairwell, it wasn't long before the sound of high heels clicking on the floor came from outside the fire door.

Bai Yang pushed open the door and saw He Huan leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and a frown on her face.

"What happened?"

He Huan raised her head.

"You guessed it all."

Bai Yang was completely baffled.

"What did I guess?"

"The director said he wants to switch positions with you. I'll host 'News in Progress,' and you'll go to the field to conduct interviews."

Bai Yang paused for a moment.

My first reaction upon hearing this was—

Why!

However, my mind quickly calmed down.

He Huan spoke frankly about this matter right away, which meant he definitely hadn't agreed to the station's arrangements.

"Did the station give you any other alternatives?"

He Huan sighed.

"They want me to go to the variety show department to host a new program. The theme and positioning are all unknown. All I know is that the program is sponsored by Jingyan Group."

Bai Yang's face then revealed an expression of "I knew it."

"Does the station mean you have to choose between two options?"

"The director didn't say it explicitly, but I guess so."

"Then let's transfer you to another position! You can host 'News in Progress,' and I'll go cover the scenes!"

He Huan's eyes widened.

After confirming that Bai Yang was not being sarcastic, He Huan immediately shook her head and refused.

Do you think I'm the kind of person who would use a good friend as a stepping stone?

Bai Yang looked at He Huan with a determined gaze: "I'd rather be your stepping stone than let the other party buy you off step by step like this."

He Huan laughed, sounding annoyed.

"Am I really that wavering in your eyes? Can't I just swallow the sugar coating and then fire the bullet back?"

Bai Yang replied with a serious expression, "Is it possible that your idea was already anticipated by them, and they were just waiting for you to step into their trap step by step?"

Just as He Huan was about to say that Bai Yang was overcomplicating things, her phone suddenly rang.

When I picked it up, I saw it was a call from an unfamiliar local Shanghai number.

Bai Yang, with his sharp eyes, snatched He Huan's phone and confirmed once again that it was indeed the right number.

He Huan also realized what was happening at this moment.

"This number—"

"It's the one who called me yesterday, Ye Jinyan's secretary." Bai Yang handed the phone back to He Huan.

After hesitating for a moment, He Huan finally answered the phone.

"Excuse me, are you reporter He from the 'News in Progress' program?"

"Yes, it's me."

Hello, I am—

“Secretary Fan, I was right there when you called Bai Yang yesterday, I still remember your voice.”

"Ms. He, you truly are a professional journalist, remembering things so clearly. Here's the thing: are you free now? I'd like to invite you to our group headquarters. Mr. Ye would like to meet with you."

"Mr. Ye?"

"It's my boss, not the young Mr. Ye who treated you to dinner yesterday."

Ye Jinyan asked me to meet her?
He Huan was truly shocked this time.

Looking up at Bai Yang across from him, he saw that the other man had his brows furrowed.

"Miss He, are you listening?"

"Yes, Secretary Fan. May I ask what brings President Ye to see me?"

"So Director Chen hasn't told you yet?"

what?
He Huan then realized what was happening.

Ye Jinyan asked her to meet him, but it turned out to be about the new program that Director Chen had mentioned?

No, you, a real estate tycoon on par with Wang Shi and Pan Shiyi, actually want to meet with me for a TV program sponsored by your group.

Does it really need to be this detailed?

Just as I was racking my brains trying to figure it out, Fan Jingang's voice continued to ring out from the other end of the phone.

"Ms. He, Mr. Ye invited you here mainly to hear your opinion on this program."

I?
What are your thoughts on the program?

How fresh this is!
I know that this program is sponsored by Jingyan Group, so what can I say?
Should I tell Ye Jinyan that I don't think the program sponsor is good, and that we should change to another one?
After calming herself down, He Huan looked longingly at the poplar tree opposite her.

Bai Yang shrugged, looking helpless.

She finally understood what Yang Muye meant when he said "If you can't beat them, join them" last night.

With Ye Jinyan personally stepping in, not only He Huan, but even the station itself probably couldn't refuse.

Bai Yang just couldn't understand how Yang Muye had managed to persuade Ye Jinyan.
It definitely wasn't because of Ye Luming.

Bai Yang had already investigated and found that Ye Luming and Ye Jinyan's relationship was not as close as the rumors suggested.

After much deliberation, He Huan finally spoke:
"Okay, I'll be there right away."

"No need, no need, I'll send a car to pick you up. The driver should be downstairs at your TV station by now."

-

In front of the headquarters building of Jingyan Group.

As soon as the black sedan came to a stop, Fan Jingang, who was waiting at the door, quickly stepped forward and opened the back door.

The security guards from the group, seeing this scene, thought that Ye Jinyan was sitting in the car, and quickly straightened their backs.

Unexpectedly, a beautiful woman got out of the car.

The security guards were dumbfounded.

Who is this woman?
How could Fan Jingang personally wait at the door to greet you?

After getting out of the car, He Huan was also quite uncomfortable with Fan Jingang's welcoming party.

After closing the car door, Fan Jingang pointed towards the building entrance.

"Miss He, please come in."

This was He Huan's first visit to the headquarters of Jingyan Group. From the moment she entered the door until she got into the elevator, people kept greeting Fan Jingang and casting curious and scrutinizing glances at her.

I took the elevator all the way to the floor where Ye Jinyan's office was located.

Fan Jingang pushed open the door and gestured for them to come in.

Upon entering, what first caught He Huan's eye was not the imposing and large desk, but the entire wall of bookshelves in the rest area opposite the desk, stretching all the way to the ceiling.

This collection of books must contain several thousand volumes.
"Mr. Ye, Miss He has arrived."

As Fan Jingang reminded her, Ye Jinyan looked up from behind her desk.

At the same time, Yang Muye, who was standing in front of the bookshelf in the rest area, snapped the book in his hand shut.

Both of their gazes were simultaneously focused on He Huan.

"Miss He, we meet again."

Yang Muye was the first to greet He Huan.

He Huan quickly scanned the entire office but did not see Ye Luming.

Just as Bai Yang had predicted, today's events had nothing to do with Ye Luming.

But why is Yang Muye here?
Just as I was wondering, Ye Jinyan's voice rang out.

"Miss He, please have a seat."

Ye Jinyan stood up from behind the large desk and walked towards the rest area.

Once she came to her senses, He Huan quickly greeted Ye Jinyan.

"Hello, Mr. Ye."

Ye Jinyan smiled and nodded in response, while gesturing for He Huan to relax and sit wherever she pleased.

He Huan was still politely waiting for Ye Jinyan to sit down first, but Yang Muyi had already sat down without any ceremony.

He Huan noticed that Yang Muye was holding a book when she sat down.

—Yu Hua's "Brothers (Part 2)".

"Does Mr. Yang also read Yu Hua's novels?"

He Huan asked curiously.

This is an insinuation that Yang Muye was putting on an act in front of Ye Jinyan.

Yang Muye shrugged indifferently.

"Didn't Miss He already have the answer in her heart when she asked this question?"

"That's right, I was just flipping through it casually. My knowledge of Yu Hua is limited to his few more famous novels, and I've only heard of them by name, I haven't read them in their entirety."

"It's all thanks to director Zhang Yimou for making the movie 'To Live' that I found the original novel to read. It's also the only work by Yu Hua that I've ever read."

Faced with Yang Muye's candor, not only He Huan was surprised, but also Ye Jinyan.

"You've only read 'To Live'?"

"Correct."

What do you think of this novel?

"Although Yu Hua is still alive, he can no longer write a work like 'To Live'."

The same applies to Zhang Yimou.

Ye Jinyan turned to look at He Huan, who was still pondering Yang Muye's words.

What do you think, Miss He?

He Huan composed herself.

"There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand readers' eyes. I personally like several of Yu Hua's works, and Yu Hua himself has said that 'Brothers' is his favorite work."

Ye Jinyan nodded.

"Ms. He, if there were an opportunity for you to talk to Mr. Yu Hua face-to-face about literature and writing, I don't mean an interview, just a simple chat with him, would you be interested?"

He Huan was slightly taken aback, glancing at the empty seats in the rest area out of the corner of her eye.

Could it be that Ye Jinyan also invited Yu Hua today?
Although... it sounds a bit like a fairy tale.

But considering Ye Jinyan's identity and the entire wall of books in the office, He Huan felt that it wasn't entirely impossible.

"Mr. Ye, you really—"

Yang Muye's voice rang out at the right moment, interrupting He Huan's question.

"That's right, Mr. Ye invited Ms. Yu Hua, but not now. It's for the program sponsored by Jingyan Group. We'll find a beautiful place suitable for a vacation and use an outdoor shooting + book club format to talk about the writing process and reading insights. The first season of the program is tentatively named 'Reading on an Island'!"

Once the library in Yunmiao Village is renovated next year, the second season of the program can be renamed "I Read in the Mountains".

While we're at it, let's also give Yunmiao Village a little free advertising.

(End of this chapter)