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

Chapter 306 The Charm of Journalism
Tang Ruo immediately looked at the photographer behind He Huan and asked to stop filming.

“Ms. He, didn’t I already explain this to you on the phone before? Those posts are smears and rumors spread by our competitors, and we will resolve this issue through legal means.”

“Mr. Tang, Panda TV hasn’t even launched yet, and you’re already labeling your competitors. It’s hard not to suspect that you’re just making baseless accusations.”

Tang Ruo hadn't expected He Huan to be so difficult, and her brows furrowed involuntarily.

"Ms. He, Panda TV hasn't launched yet, but who told you we have no competitors?"

"Who are your competitors?"

“ICC, they are also preparing to transform into live streaming. During the ‘Let’s See’ period, we and ICC have always been competitors. ICC was more skilled during the website’s financing stage and won against ‘Let’s See’.”

"However, we later focused on content operations and withdrew from 'The Wandering Da Vinci'. As a result, ICC's website traffic was constantly crushed by 'Let's see how it goes'. That's when our feud began."

After Tang Ruo finished speaking, she looked up at the photographer behind He Huan.

"Should we cut out what I just said and not broadcast it?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than He Huan's voice rang out.

"Mr. Tang, the editing and broadcasting of news is controlled by the directors. We must respect the objectivity and integrity of every news item."

Tang Ruo moved her lips, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

Didn't you ask me to do an interview?
If I can't even decide what to say in an interview, then why should I accept your interview?
"Since Ms. He keeps saying that we should respect the integrity of the news, I would like to add a couple of points to what I just said. I only said that ICC is a competitor of Panda TV, and there is currently no evidence to suggest that those smear and rumor-mongering posts on the Internet are related to them."

As she spoke, Tang Ruo took a voice recorder out of her pocket and threw it on the table.

"If you cut this part of my speech when you broadcast the news, don't blame me for posting the full recording of the interview online and demanding an explanation from your TV station."

He Huan remained calm, his face still bearing a professional smile.

"No problem, we welcome Mr. Tang to monitor the news content of our TV station."

Tang Ruo leaned back, her attitude during the interview clearly shifting from active cooperation to passive resistance.

“Ms. He, according to the provisions of the Civil Procedure Law, the burden of proof lies with the person making the claim. You say that those posts on the internet that smear and spread rumors about Panda TV were created by us, then please provide evidence. Otherwise, I can sue your TV station for defamation.”

Just as He Huan was about to retort, the photographer behind her coughed softly.

We're here to conduct interviews, not to argue or debate with people.

He Huan adjusted her mindset and explained in a kind tone:
“Mr. Tang, our interview with you is itself an act of seeking verification. You can rest assured that we will not report things without evidence.”

Tang Ruo, however, did not buy it.

If it weren't for the fact that He Huan knew Yang Muye and Ye Luming, he would have just stormed off.

Facing the camera, Tang Ruoyi said sternly, "Ms. He, let me say it again, Panda TV has no need to and cannot stage such a farce. Those smear and rumor-mongering posts online have nothing to do with us."

During this time, He Huan was secretly observing Tang Ruo's expression.

Based on her years of experience as a journalist, Tang Ruo's reaction was very genuine and did not seem like she was lying.

—Unless Tang Ruo is a hidden "Best Actor," an exceptionally talented actor.

He Huan had investigated Tang Ruo's identity, so this possibility can be largely ruled out.

The interview ended there, or rather, it ended on a sour note.

Just as He Huan and the photographer were about to leave, Yang Muye suddenly called out to them.

She walked over carrying two cups of milk tea.

"Ms. He, you must be tired from the interview. Have a cup of milk tea to quench your thirst."

"Thank you."

He Huan took the milk tea and rummaged through her bag to find her wallet.

"How much? I'll pay you."

"No need, Young Master Ye will pay for everything today."

As if in response to Yang Muye's words, Ye Luming, who was sitting in the shop, even raised his glass to He Huan in a toast.

She was also holding the same milk tea.

"We cannot accept green without merit. If we do not accept money, then we can only disappoint Young Master Ye's kindness."

He Huan was about to return the milk tea when she said that.

Yang Muye shrugged and did not reach out to take it.

"If Ms. He feels bad about getting free milk tea, you can help promote the milk tea shop after it reopens next month after renovations. It would be even better if you could come to the site for an interview."

He Huan almost thought she had misheard.

A bubble tea shop opened and actually had the audacity to want to be featured on TV news?

The key reward was just two cups of milk tea.

Do you really think TV reporters are that free?

"Mr. Yang, now that you say that, we're even less willing to drink these two cups of milk tea."

Yang Muye smiled: "Miss He, when Bawang Chaji opened its store in Yanjing, it was already featured on local TV and newspapers several times. This time, the opening of its first store in Shanghai can also be considered a piece of news about people's livelihood, right?"

what?
Is BaWangChaJi opening a shop here?
He Huan's expression... was quite something.

BaWangChaJi, currently the most popular online celebrity milk tea brand in China, only has three stores in Yanjing.

If opening a new store in Shanghai now attracts long queues every day, just like in Beijing, and even scalpers rush to buy the goods, it would definitely be newsworthy.

Just as He Huan was in a daze, Yang Muye changed the subject.

"Of course, I don't expect to win over Ms. He and your colleagues with just two cups of milk tea. How about I provide you with a few more news leads?"

He Huan's eyes immediately became wary.

He had just had a falling out with Tang Ruo when Yang Muye turned around and cheerfully offered to provide him with news leads.

If there isn't something wrong here, then He Huan has really wasted his years as a reporter.

"What news tip?"

He Huan asked, feigning curiosity.

“A few days ago, when I was eating at the Dongda University cafeteria, I met a girl who worked there. I asked her and found out that she had been admitted to Dongda University’s business administration program last year, but she was a month late to the school and her admission was revoked.”

Yang Muyi had barely begun speaking when He Huan already guessed that there must be another reason why the girl was more than a month late in reporting for duty.

As He Huan had predicted, the girl's parents had outdated views and were extremely sexist, believing that going to university was a waste of money and that it would be better for her to go out and work, which would also help ease the burden on her family.

"If you had told me about this a year ago, I would definitely have helped find a way to report it. But now she has already accepted the outcome and is working in the cafeteria at Dongda University. There's no point in us reporting on this anymore, is there?"

As soon as He Huan finished speaking, Yang Muye shook his head and said:

“What happened last year is certainly not news now, but if this girl is preparing to retake the college entrance exam next year, and her goal is still the University of Tokyo, does Ms. He think this matter is worth reporting?”

"Yes." He Huan nodded.

"Then I met a girl whose family also favored boys over girls. She dropped out of school after finishing junior high. As soon as she came of age, her family forced her to get married for the sake of the bride price. So she ran away to Shanghai to stay with relatives. She didn't find her relatives, but she encountered a bag snatching on the street. She bravely fought the robber and did a good deed."

Before Yang Muyi could finish speaking, He Huan had already taken out a pen and a hardcover notebook from her bag and started taking notes.

When did she perform the act of bravery?

"More than half a month ago."

He Huan suddenly raised her head, looking surprised.

So much time has passed, what kind of news is this?
Yang Muye's voice continued.

"The girl got a job as a nanny because of her act of bravery. Her employer was the owner of the bag she helped retrieve. With her employer's support, she also decided to retake the college entrance exam."

Upon hearing this, He Huan was stunned.

Another one who has to retake the college entrance exam?

Is she also going to apply to the University of Tokyo?
Faced with He Huan's questioning gaze, Yang Muye smiled and shrugged.

"Would these two things combined be enough for Miss He to conduct a special interview with them?"

He Huan frowned and remained silent.

The story of two girls overcoming obstacles from their families of origin and changing their destiny through education is indeed inspiring and has sufficient news value.

However, He Huan always felt that the two girls' behavior of taking the college entrance exam seemed a bit deliberate.

"If Ms. He feels that the experiences of these two girls aren't enough to be on television, I have a third girl's true story here—"

Before Yang Muye could finish speaking, He Huan interrupted him directly.

"Another one who didn't go to university because of family preference for sons?"

Unexpectedly, Yang Muyi did not play by the rules this time:
"He got in, and he got into a prestigious university, East China Normal University, as a government-funded teacher trainee."

He Huan looked at Yang Muye with a puzzled expression.

What kind of news is this?
"Her college entrance exam score was high enough to get into Tsinghua University, and her family had Suzhou city residency, with both parents working. Her family background was completely different from the two girls I mentioned before."

He Huan immediately picked up on the key information in Yang Muye's words.

"Is it because her parents favored boys over girls, so they forced her to study at a free teacher training college?"

"To be precise, her mother changed her college application on her own initiative because her eldest brother needed money to study in the United States, and her second brother also needed money to study at a third-tier university. The family did not want to bear her college expenses anymore, and she was not eligible for poverty assistance or student loans."

Yang Muye explained.

He Huan nodded as she listened: "So she also has to retake the college entrance exam?"

As soon as He Huan said those words, he realized something was wrong.

The girl is enrolled in a government-funded teacher training program, and retaking the college entrance exam would be a breach of her contract.

“Her family situation is quite complicated. Her second brother is the child of her mother’s extramarital affair, but the whole family has been kept in the dark about this. She only found out the truth recently.”

really!

He Huan is now in a dilemma.

If she reports this incident, public opinion will definitely overwhelmingly sympathize with and support the girl.

While the girl's experience is indeed very pitiful, it cannot be used as a reason for her to manipulate public opinion and break her contract for a government-funded student visa.

"Ms. He, please don't misunderstand. This girl is not trying to retake the college entrance exam. Her father has already agreed to pay the penalty for breach of contract for her publicly funded teacher training program. The amount is in accordance with national regulations. We asked you to report this matter so that everyone can understand that she did not intend to occupy the publicly funded teacher training program spot."

That's more or less.

He Huan nodded.

She could help bring this up with the station and see if it can be reported.

But He Huan still had one question.

"Do you think this girl has any connection to the previous two girls?"

Yang Muye gave He Huan a brief overview:
"All three are victims of the patriarchal attitudes of their families of origin. Two of them want to retake the college entrance examination, one wants to terminate her contract as a publicly funded teacher trainee, and the latter is willing to help the two girls with their college entrance examination tutoring."

Three girls with similar backgrounds and experiences band together and cause trouble?
This kind of news is indeed worth reporting.

only--

"Mr. Yang, would you mind revealing the real reason why you asked me to report on these three girls?"

"I've decided to sponsor the three of them. I've done a good deed, so surely it's okay to let the media publicize my good deed?"

"..."

He Huan looked at Yang Muye speechlessly.

Do you think I will believe it?
“The experiences of each of them are verifiable. A gentleman judges by their actions, not their intentions. As long as I have genuinely helped them, why does Miss He insist on digging deeper and investigating the reasons behind it?”

This is blatant sophistry!
He Huan looked at Yang Muye with annoyance:
"The public has the right to know the full story of any news event. A qualified journalist should present the whole truth of the matter to the public in an objective and complete manner, rather than taking things out of context and only reporting a part of the facts. That is not news reporting, but misleading the public."

Yang Muye turned to look at Tang Ruo, who was staring in disbelief.

Did you hear that? I'm calling on you!

He shrugged and readily admitted:

"These three girls will be live streaming on Panda TV to prepare for the college entrance examination. We're also looking for media to report on their story, which will be a good way to advertise for Panda TV."

Tang Ruo snapped out of her daze and immediately began to speak in response:
"That's right. The posts online are spreading rumors and smearing Panda TV. If the media can report on the deeds of these three, it will help us clarify the rumors on the internet. We will never use fake methods to create internet celebrities or deceive people's attention through live streaming."

As he spoke, he cursed himself for being stupid.

Why didn't I think of using Fang Sijin, Liu Wenjing, and Su Mingyu's situation to distract He Huan?

He Huan ignored Tang Ruo's explanation and only gave Yang Muye a deep look.

She is now increasingly certain that the online posts smearing and spreading rumors about Panda TV were all posted by online trolls hired by Yang Muye.

Now, by revealing the tragic backstories of Fang Sijin, Liu Wenjing, and Su Mingyu, the loop is complete.

No wonder Tang Ruo didn't seem to be lying just now.

If He Huan wasn't mistaken, even Tang Ruo was still completely unaware of this matter.

Although He Huan guessed the truth, she did not reveal it.

Because it makes no sense.

Yang Muye laid out the matter openly and honestly in front of him, leaving no loopholes or flaws for him to expose.

Not only that, but he also had to "cooperate" in reporting the stories of Fang Sijin, Liu Wenjing, and Su Mingyu.

That's the charm of journalism!
(End of this chapter)