My Mr.Mermaid Chapter 14

Yun Duo felt that she was pretty much headed toward becoming a part-time mentoring tutor . Besides helping Tang Yi-Bai with his level 4 exam, she also had to help Lin Zi prepare for the written test and interview for his job application .

Lin Zi's resume was very interesting .

In order to avoid unnecessary concern from the interviewer with regards to his work experience, he simply left those out . For the column where he was supposed to list his work experience, he only put down 'freelancer' without providing any further explanation . This simple word exuded the information-laden aura of 'shameless youth with an overinflated sense of self unwilling to do lowbrow work living off the moonlight years of his elders' .

And then, in the column for self-evaluation, he even more shamelessly beautified himself according to the code of conduct set out by the newspaper agency for its reporters . He made it sound like he was born to be a reporter — that anyone who stood in his way of becoming one was just cruelly stifling talent .

Besides that, he wiped away his studies abroad in the section on academic background, only retaining information on his undergraduate degree . In the section where he was supposed to list any academic honours he had received, he went wild:

Runner-up of his primary school essay compet.i.tion;

Reader's choice writer for his junior high school paper;

Full marks for his college entrance exam;

. . .

He worked hard to dig up all of these glorious past achievements, using them as evidence that he was qualified for the job .

When Yun Duo saw it, she was rather surprised . "You scored full marks for your college entrance exam? Impressive . "

"In English . "

" . . . "

In the end, under the column for 'Expected Income', Lin Zi very pompously wrote down: As you see fit .

To be honest, Yun Duo believed that his resume had only pa.s.sed the initial screening due to those words .

And then there was the written test . The topic for the written test was decided on-the-spot by the few heads of the editing centre . The topic was not a professional one — primarily meant to test the respondents writing skills, critical thinking, and observational insight . It was relatively simple, and with some targeted preparation, Lin Zi pa.s.sed it easily .

The interviews were conducted by Director Liu himself . The door of the conference room was closed . The job applicants were seated neatly in rows outside like sheep — most of them were young people looking for their first job, and some were even still university students, so each and every one of them were more or less a little nervous . Sitting among these people, Lin Zi sat at ease with his legs crossed, ankle over knee, looking rather out of place .

Very soon, he had been called into the conference room .

And then, almost as soon as he stepped through the door, he was recognised . . .

As something had cropped up suddenly for one of the senior editors on the interviewing panel, Teacher Sun who had been in the office had been dragged in as an impromptu replacement . When Teacher Sun saw Lin Zi, his jaw dropped . "Stock G.o.d, why are you here?"

Lin Zi's brows twitched . G.o.dd*mmit . He had so carefully crafted what he was going to say, even putting in the extra effort to practise his acting skills . . . and now, he was exposed even before he could use any of it!

The words 'stock G.o.d' were truly too rousing — the eyes of the other four interviewers moved back and forth between Lin Zi and Teacher Sun . In the end, they all stared at Teacher Sun and waited for him to explain .

Teacher Sun could only briefly introduce Lin Zi to them .

Everyone present was involved with the sports and entertainment circles; they had the awe and reverence laymen had for the financial circle . When they looked back at Lin Zi again, he looked endlessly suave and handsome from every angle . Lin Zi nodded at the group, and then pulled out a chair and sat down . "Indeed, I was previously working in finance, but it's not that dramatic . "

Director Liu looked at him dubiously . "Then why are you applying to be a reporter at our agency? With all due respect, the pressure of this position is very high, and you'll have to go through a long period of adjustment as a newbie . The returns of your investment will be very low . Furthermore, you're already considered a success in your own field, so I cannot understand why you would suddenly choose to switch fields and start from scratch . "

"That's because you do not understand the meaning of 'dreams' . "

Director Liu looked at him blankly . Shouldn't the word 'dreams' only appear in the moral cla.s.ses of primary school students or on television talent shows? We're all adults, so don't talk to me about such a childish topic, okay?

Lin Zi ignored Director Liu's reluctant expression . "I've liked sports ever since I was a kid . I buy every issue of your newspaper . "

"So you're saying that you're a loyal reader of 'Sports Weekly'?"

"No . "

Hey, hey, hey, hey — don't deny it so quickly! There's no harm if you admit it just a little, right?! Teacher Sun was frantically signalling Lin Zi with his eyes .

Director Liu sneered . "I would like to see what flowery words you have to say for yourself . "

Lin Zi's face was filled with pa.s.sion, and like he had arrived at a lectern for motivational speech, he said, "I've liked sports since I was a kid, dreaming of becoming an athlete . But later, due to physical unsuitability, I could only go to university and study . Now that I finally no longer have to run myself ragged for a living, why can't I reclaim my dreams?"

"So now you want to be an athlete? No offense, but if your body was unqualified then, your body will only be even more unqualified now . "

"I know . That's why I've decided to take an alternative path and become a reporter, so I can often interview athletes . Don't you think this is perfect?"

"Not at all . "

Director Liu was decisive in his denial, because he did not buy into the nonsense of the man before him at all . Many years of life experience tells him that: If things seem too simple, hidden plots must lie in wait . This man has more money than he can spend, and yet he ran all the way here to talk to him about dreams and ideals, like a complete mad man . What a lunatic!

Teacher Sun said to Director Liu, "It's true . His idol is Qi Rui-Feng . We've asked Qi Rui-Feng for his autograph together before . "

Lin Zi nodded emphatically . "Yes, I want to interview Qi Rui-Feng, so I hope that I'll be sent to the comprehensive sports section once I'm hired, and be given priority for swimming . "

You haven't even pa.s.sed the interview yet and you're already thinking of when you're hired? Who gave you this confidence?

Director Liu no longer had any strength to argue with him . He waved his hand and said, "We're a serious organisation, not a place where you can come and go as you please . I'm sorry, we cannot hire you . Please ask the next applicant to come in after you leave . "

What a direct dismissal! However, Lin Zi shamelessly stayed seated in his chair and pretended not to hear it . "So you're worried that I'm only applying for the job on a whim? Frankly speaking, I have naturally thought things through before making such a major decision . "

"Alright . Let's end things here . "

"Hold on . In fact, what you're really worried is that I will only stay for a very short time in your company after I get the job and waste your human resources, right? After all, it takes resources to train up a reporter . "

Director Liu was rather resigned . "Well, yes, you're right . I need to consider the consequences . "

"Hehehehehe," Lin Zi suddenly began laughing . His laughter was three parts contempt and seven parts glee — when he was done, he said, "Then, pray tell, every time you all hire a new reporter through recruitment interviews, how many manage to endure past the three month probation period?"

This question stabbed Director Liu right where it hurts .

The formal workings of a newspaper agency is limited, but the manpower they needed was still way more than the upper limits of the system . Therefore, they needed to recruit a large number of contractual workers every year . Contract workers were like second-cla.s.s citizens in the business — their benefits were far below that of permanent staff . The basic salary of reporters was already very low to begin with — the wages of a contract worker were even lower than that low . Just about a thousand per month, which was sometimes not even enough to pay the rent . The other part of their income was payment for articles published, but new reporters usually don't have that many ma.n.u.scripts published per month, so it was impossible to rely on this to supplement their income . Thus, it was common for a newly employed contract reporter to not even earn 3000 per month of net income .

A monthly salary of 3000 was considered the boundary of extreme poverty in City-B .

Humans needed to eat, to dress, to sleep, to take the subway . . . these were the most basic of human needs . If their monthly salary was not even enough to meet these basic needs, what else could they be expected to do? Were they supposed to just take this salary of 2000 or so, live in a palm-sized rented room, wear mail-ordered T-s.h.i.+rts worth 19 yuan, and then still smile and talk about dreams of the future with others? Not everyone can be so tenacious, and not everyone who lived in rental places could move up in the world . If they gave up halfway, no one could blame them .

At this thought, Director Liu sighed .

"Don't be sad," Lin Zi consoled, "Look, isn't there someone who doesn't care about salary sitting in front of you right now waiting to be hired? Why are you still hesitating? Do you think I won't last any longer than the others? Then you underestimate the power of dreams . "

His words made Director Liu start to waver .

Lin Zi added more fuel to the fire . "In fact, you don't have to even give me the basic salary," that bit of money is not even enough for me to buy snacks, he thought but did not say, "But I want payment for any articles of mine that get published . That's the direct rewards of my labour . "

Director Liu rolled his eyes . "Let's see if you actually manage to earn some . "

"Does this mean that I'm hired? I must admit that you have very good judgement . "

Director Liu waved a hand feebly . "Get out . "

After Lin Zi left, an interviewer sitting next to Director Liu asked him quietly, "Director Liu, you're really going to hire him? I think he's quite eccentric . "

"So what?" Director Liu was rather resigned . "It's fine as long as he isn't here to cause trouble . We're too short on base-level reporters . " Besides, there was still the great bonus of not having to pay him a salary . . .

As Director Liu had relegated Lin Zi into the category of 'someone making up the numbers', it was impossible that he would take the effort to cultivate Lin Zi's skills . He was unwilling to waste resources on Lin Zi . Hence, Lin Zi was released into Yun Duo's group, with Yun Duo to be his mentor .

Yun Duo was speechless . She was still a newbie too, okay? How was she supposed to guide another newbie?!

In contrast, Lin Zi was very pleased, because one of the main focuses of Yun Duo's group was swimming .

Teacher Sun told Yun Duo about what had happened during the interview . After listening to all of it, Yun Duo cast a narrowed glance at Lin Zi . "And you told me you're not here for Qi Rui-Feng . You're obviously here for him!"

Lin Zi was indignant . "How was I supposed to answer when you asked me so directly? Yes, I've come all because I want to stalk Qi Rui-Feng, interview Qi Rui-Feng, I want to marry Qi Rui-Feng?"

"Stuff it . Qi Rui-Feng will never marry you . "

Just like that, Lin Zi became Yun Duo's subordinate . She brought Lin Zi along on several interview runs and let him try his hand writing two articles . In the end, she came to the conclusion: Even Director Liu had decided to let Lin Zi range free, so she should not worry too much about cultivating his talent — Lin Zi can just do whatever he wants to do .

And so, she had a pretty easy life as his 'master' .

December 5th . The national swimming team held a press conference on the national winter swimming champions.h.i.+ps that would begin tomorrow . Here, it is necessary for us to briefly introduce the national swimming compet.i.tions .

Aside from the quadrennial National Games of China, there are four professional compet.i.tions for swimming at the national level which are held every year . In chronological order, they are: the Spring National Swimming Champions.h.i.+ps, the National Champions Tournament, the National Swimming Champions.h.i.+ps, and the Winter National Swimming Champions.h.i.+ps . The National Champions Tournament is generally a draft compet.i.tion for major events, so it is by nature different from the other three compet.i.tions .

Of the three events, the National Swimming Champions.h.i.+ps was the one with the highest standards, followed by the Spring and Winter National Swimming Champions.h.i.+ps . Some candidates would train up their secondary specializations during the Spring and Winter Champions.h.i.+ps . Many of the swimmers had secondary specializations . For example, Qi Rui-Feng's main specialization was long-distance freestyle, while his secondary specialization was short-distance freestyle . As for Tang Yi-Bai, his main specialization used to be the b.u.t.terfly with freestyle as his secondary specialization, but now that had been flipped around .

Therefore, the Winter Champions.h.i.+ps did not garner as much attention as the National Champions.h.i.+ps Yun Duo had attended previously . For the press conference this time, the agency had only sent the two newbies Yun Duo and Lin Zi to conduct interviews .

Pre-match press conferences typically involve star athletes and their coaches, such as Qi Rui-Feng and his coach Yuan Roon-Mei, and such as the big sister of the girl's team Xiang Yang-Yang and her coach, and such as Tang Yi-Bai and his . . . hey, why is Tang Yi-Bai here?

Yun Duo stared at him, wide-eyed, unable to comprehend this . Compared to those world champions, Tang Yi-Bai was practically an invisible small fry, not even enough to be a supporting condiment . . . why was he sitting here? And he also seemed to be on such good terms with Qi Rui-Feng and Xiang Yang-Yang — these big-name stars . . .

As if sensing her gaze, Tang Yi-Bai suddenly paused in his conversation with Xiang Yang-Yang and turned his hea to look over . He caught sight of Yun Duo among the crowd with just one glance, and he smiled gently at her . In the raucous venue, his smile was like a gardenia blooming among the noisy cries of cicadas — gentle and pure, refres.h.i.+ng to the senses .

Before Yun Duo could even react to it, two female reporters behind her had already lost control, exclaiming softly, "So handsome!"

It looked like l.u.s.t and appreciation for good looks was a glorious tradition of mankind .

Lin Zi whispered to Yun Duo, "Why did Tang Yi-Bai smile at me?"

"You're thinking too much . He was smiling at me . "

"Hehe, women . "

Yun Duo sweatdropped . "You dare to speak like this to your boss?! I'll crack your skull!"

Lin Zi hurriedly shut his mouth with a frightened expression .

At this moment, Tang Yi-Bai bent his head for some unknown reason . Very soon, Yun Duo felt her handphone vibrate, and when she pulled it out and glanced at it, she saw that Tang Yi-Bai had sent her a WeChat message .

Tang Yi-Bai: Don't go when the conference ends . I've something to tell you .

Yun Duo: Okay .

Yun Duo felt that she was pretty much headed toward becoming a part-time mentoring tutor . Besides helping Tang Yi-Bai with his level 4 exam, she also had to help Lin Zi prepare for the written test and interview for his job application . Lin Zi's resume was very interesting . In order to avoid unnecessary concern from the interviewer with regards to his work experience, he simply left those out . For the column where he was supposed to list his work experience, he only put down 'freelancer' without providing any further explanation . This simple word exuded the information-laden aura of 'shameless youth with an overinflated sense of self unwilling to do lowbrow work living off the moonlight years of his elders' . And then, in the column for self-evaluation, he even more shamelessly beautified himself according to the code of conduct set out by the newspaper agency for its reporters . He made it sound like he was born to be a reporter — that anyone who stood in his way of becoming one was just cruelly stifling talent . Besides that, he wiped away his studies abroad in the section on academic background, only retaining information on his undergraduate degree . In the section where he was supposed to list any academic honours he had received, he went wild: Runner-up of his primary school essay compet.i.tion; Reader's choice writer for his junior high school paper; Full marks for his college entrance exam; . He worked hard to dig up all of these glorious past achievements, using them as evidence that he was qualified for the job . When Yun Duo saw it, she was rather surprised . "You scored full marks for your college entrance exam? Impressive . " "In English . " " . " In the end, under the column for 'Expected Income', Lin Zi very pompously wrote down: As you see fit . To be honest, Yun Duo believed that his resume had only pa.s.sed the initial screening due to those words . And then there was the written test . The topic for the written test was decided on-the-spot by the few heads of the editing centre . The topic was not a professional one — primarily meant to test the respondents writing skills, critical thinking, and observational insight . It was relatively simple, and with some targeted preparation, Lin Zi pa.s.sed it easily . The interviews were conducted by Director Liu himself . The door of the conference room was closed . The job applicants were seated neatly in rows outside like sheep — most of them were young people looking for their first job, and some were even still university students, so each and every one of them were more or less a little nervous . Sitting among these people, Lin Zi sat at ease with his legs crossed, ankle over knee, looking rather out of place . Very soon, he had been called into the conference room . And then, almost as soon as he stepped through the door, he was recognised . As something had cropped up suddenly for one of the senior editors on the interviewing panel, Teacher Sun who had been in the office had been dragged in as an impromptu replacement . When Teacher Sun saw Lin Zi, his jaw dropped . "Stock G.o.d, why are you here?" Lin Zi's brows twitched . G.o.dd*mmit . He had so carefully crafted what he was going to say, even putting in the extra effort to practise his acting skills . and now, he was exposed even before he could use any of it! The words 'stock G.o.d' were truly too rousing — the eyes of the other four interviewers moved back and forth between Lin Zi and Teacher Sun . In the end, they all stared at Teacher Sun and waited for him to explain . Teacher Sun could only briefly introduce Lin Zi to them . Everyone present was involved with the sports and entertainment circles; they had the awe and reverence laymen had for the financial circle . When they looked back at Lin Zi again, he looked endlessly suave and handsome from every angle . Lin Zi nodded at the group, and then pulled out a chair and sat down . "Indeed, I was previously working in finance, but it's not that dramatic . " Director Liu looked at him dubiously . "Then why are you applying to be a reporter at our agency? With all due respect, the pressure of this position is very high, and you'll have to go through a long period of adjustment as a newbie . The returns of your investment will be very low . Furthermore, you're already considered a success in your own field, so I cannot understand why you would suddenly choose to switch fields and start from scratch . " "That's because you do not understand the meaning of 'dreams' . " Director Liu looked at him blankly . Shouldn't the word 'dreams' only appear in the moral cla.s.ses of primary school students or on television talent shows? We're all adults, so don't talk to me about such a childish topic, okay? Lin Zi ignored Director Liu's reluctant expression . "I've liked sports ever since I was a kid . I buy every issue of your newspaper . " "So you're saying that you're a loyal reader of 'Sports Weekly'?" "No . " Hey, hey, hey, hey — don't deny it so quickly! There's no harm if you admit it just a little, right?! Teacher Sun was frantically signalling Lin Zi with his eyes . Director Liu sneered . "I would like to see what flowery words you have to say for yourself . " Lin Zi's face was filled with pa.s.sion, and like he had arrived at a lectern for motivational speech, he said, "I've liked sports since I was a kid, dreaming of becoming an athlete . But later, due to physical unsuitability, I could only go to university and study . Now that I finally no longer have to run myself ragged for a living, why can't I reclaim my dreams?" "So now you want to be an athlete? No offense, but if your body was unqualified then, your body will only be even more unqualified now . " "I know . That's why I've decided to take an alternative path and become a reporter, so I can often interview athletes . Don't you think this is perfect?" "Not at all . " Director Liu was decisive in his denial, because he did not buy into the nonsense of the man before him at all . Many years of life experience tells him that: If things seem too simple, hidden plots must lie in wait . This man has more money than he can spend, and yet he ran all the way here to talk to him about dreams and ideals, like a complete mad man . What a lunatic! Teacher Sun said to Director Liu, "It's true . His idol is Qi Rui-Feng . We've asked Qi Rui-Feng for his autograph together before . " Lin Zi nodded emphatically . "Yes, I want to interview Qi Rui-Feng, so I hope that I'll be sent to the comprehensive sports section once I'm hired, and be given priority for swimming . " You haven't even pa.s.sed the interview yet and you're already thinking of when you're hired? Who gave you this confidence? Director Liu no longer had any strength to argue with him . He waved his hand and said, "We're a serious organisation, not a place where you can come and go as you please . I'm sorry, we cannot hire you . Please ask the next applicant to come in after you leave . " What a direct dismissal! However, Lin Zi shamelessly stayed seated in his chair and pretended not to hear it . "So you're worried that I'm only applying for the job on a whim? Frankly speaking, I have naturally thought things through before making such a major decision . " "Alright . Let's end things here . " "Hold on . In fact, what you're really worried is that I will only stay for a very short time in your company after I get the job and waste your human resources, right? After all, it takes resources to train up a reporter . " Director Liu was rather resigned . "Well, yes, you're right . I need to consider the consequences . " "Hehehehehe," Lin Zi suddenly began laughing . His laughter was three parts contempt and seven parts glee — when he was done, he said, "Then, pray tell, every time you all hire a new reporter through recruitment interviews, how many manage to endure past the three month probation period?" This question stabbed Director Liu right where it hurts . The formal workings of a newspaper agency is limited, but the manpower they needed was still way more than the upper limits of the system . Therefore, they needed to recruit a large number of contractual workers every year . Contract workers were like second-cla.s.s citizens in the business — their benefits were far below that of permanent staff . The basic salary of reporters was already very low to begin with — the wages of a contract worker were even lower than that low . Just about a thousand per month, which was sometimes not even enough to pay the rent . The other part of their income was payment for articles published, but new reporters usually don't have that many ma.n.u.scripts published per month, so it was impossible to rely on this to supplement their income . Thus, it was common for a newly employed contract reporter to not even earn 3000 per month of net income . A monthly salary of 3000 was considered the boundary of extreme poverty in City-B . Humans needed to eat, to dress, to sleep, to take the subway . these were the most basic of human needs . If their monthly salary was not even enough to meet these basic needs, what else could they be expected to do? Were they supposed to just take this salary of 2000 or so, live in a palm-sized rented room, wear mail-ordered T-s.h.i.+rts worth 19 yuan, and then still smile and talk about dreams of the future with others? Not everyone can be so tenacious, and not everyone who lived in rental places could move up in the world . If they gave up halfway, no one could blame them . At this thought, Director Liu sighed . "Don't be sad," Lin Zi consoled, "Look, isn't there someone who doesn't care about salary sitting in front of you right now waiting to be hired? Why are you still hesitating? Do you think I won't last any longer than the others? Then you underestimate the power of dreams . " His words made Director Liu start to waver . Lin Zi added more fuel to the fire . "In fact, you don't have to even give me the basic salary," that bit of money is not even enough for me to buy snacks, he thought but did not say, "But I want payment for any articles of mine that get published . That's the direct rewards of my labour . " Director Liu rolled his eyes . "Let's see if you actually manage to earn some . " "Does this mean that I'm hired? I must admit that you have very good judgement . " Director Liu waved a hand feebly . "Get out . " After Lin Zi left, an interviewer sitting next to Director Liu asked him quietly, "Director Liu, you're really going to hire him? I think he's quite eccentric . " "So what?" Director Liu was rather resigned . "It's fine as long as he isn't here to cause trouble . We're too short on base-level reporters . " Besides, there was still the great bonus of not having to pay him a salary . As Director Liu had relegated Lin Zi into the category of 'someone making up the numbers', it was impossible that he would take the effort to cultivate Lin Zi's skills . He was unwilling to waste resources on Lin Zi . Hence, Lin Zi was released into Yun Duo's group, with Yun Duo to be his mentor . Yun Duo was speechless . She was still a newbie too, okay? How was she supposed to guide another newbie?! In contrast, Lin Zi was very pleased, because one of the main focuses of Yun Duo's group was swimming . Teacher Sun told Yun Duo about what had happened during the interview . After listening to all of it, Yun Duo cast a narrowed glance at Lin Zi . "And you told me you're not here for Qi Rui-Feng . You're obviously here for him!" Lin Zi was indignant . "How was I supposed to answer when you asked me so directly? Yes, I've come all because I want to stalk Qi Rui-Feng, interview Qi Rui-Feng, I want to marry Qi Rui-Feng?" "Stuff it . Qi Rui-Feng will never marry you . " Just like that, Lin Zi became Yun Duo's subordinate . She brought Lin Zi along on several interview runs and let him try his hand writing two articles . In the end, she came to the conclusion: Even Director Liu had decided to let Lin Zi range free, so she should not worry too much about cultivating his talent — Lin Zi can just do whatever he wants to do . And so, she had a pretty easy life as his 'master' . December 5th . The national swimming team held a press conference on the national winter swimming champions.h.i.+ps that would begin tomorrow . Here, it is necessary for us to briefly introduce the national swimming compet.i.tions . Aside from the quadrennial National Games of China, there are four professional compet.i.tions for swimming at the national level which are held every year . In chronological order, they are: the Spring National Swimming Champions.h.i.+ps, the National Champions Tournament, the National Swimming Champions.h.i.+ps, and the Winter National Swimming Champions.h.i.+ps . The National Champions Tournament is generally a draft compet.i.tion for major events, so it is by nature different from the other three compet.i.tions . Of the three events, the National Swimming Champions.h.i.+ps was the one with the highest standards, followed by the Spring and Winter National Swimming Champions.h.i.+ps . Some candidates would train up their secondary specializations during the Spring and Winter Champions.h.i.+ps . Many of the swimmers had secondary specializations . For example, Qi Rui-Feng's main specialization was long-distance freestyle, while his secondary specialization was short-distance freestyle . As for Tang Yi-Bai, his main specialization used to be the b.u.t.terfly with freestyle as his secondary specialization, but now that had been flipped around . Therefore, the Winter Champions.h.i.+ps did not garner as much attention as the National Champions.h.i.+ps Yun Duo had attended previously . For the press conference this time, the agency had only sent the two newbies Yun Duo and Lin Zi to conduct interviews . Pre-match press conferences typically involve star athletes and their coaches, such as Qi Rui-Feng and his coach Yuan Roon-Mei, and such as the big sister of the girl's team Xiang Yang-Yang and her coach, and such as Tang Yi-Bai and his . hey, why is Tang Yi-Bai here? Yun Duo stared at him, wide-eyed, unable to comprehend this . Compared to those world champions, Tang Yi-Bai was practically an invisible small fry, not even enough to be a supporting condiment . why was he sitting here? And he also seemed to be on such good terms with Qi Rui-Feng and Xiang Yang-Yang — these big-name stars . As if sensing her gaze, Tang Yi-Bai suddenly paused in his conversation with Xiang Yang-Yang and turned his hea to look over . He caught sight of Yun Duo among the crowd with just one glance, and he smiled gently at her . In the raucous venue, his smile was like a gardenia blooming among the noisy cries of cicadas — gentle and pure, refres.h.i.+ng to the senses . Before Yun Duo could even react to it, two female reporters behind her had already lost control, exclaiming softly, "So handsome!" It looked like l.u.s.t and appreciation for good looks was a glorious tradition of mankind . Lin Zi whispered to Yun Duo, "Why did Tang Yi-Bai smile at me?" "You're thinking too much . He was smiling at me . " "Hehe, women . " Yun Duo sweatdropped . "You dare to speak like this to your boss?! I'll crack your skull!" Lin Zi hurriedly shut his mouth with a frightened expression . At this moment, Tang Yi-Bai bent his head for some unknown reason . Very soon, Yun Duo felt her handphone vibrate, and when she pulled it out and glanced at it, she saw that Tang Yi-Bai had sent her a WeChat message . Tang Yi-Bai: Don't go when the conference ends . I've something to tell you . Yun Duo: Okay