Jason's dinner was the kind that was both sumptuous and light, a combination that Emma usually didn't indulge in much at night. As she picked at her food with her chopsticks, taking occasional bites, the person across from her looked up and asked in a low voice, "Is it not to your taste?"
Ah??
Emma looked down to realize that the rice in her bowl was poked with holes, indeed not very appealing. She then glanced at the rice in front of him, which was still glistening and full, with not a single drop of sauce on it, despite being slightly less than before.
Her gaze then fell on his hands resting on the black coffee table. Jason's hands were truly beautiful, especially at this moment, as his fair palms lay against the black coffee table, the back of his hands with prominent knuckles and particularly long fingers. The coffee table's surface, which had a very technological look to it, like a black mirror, made the visual impact even stronger.
The contrast between black and white was so stark.
"Xingxing?" Jason called her name again, noticing her distraction.
Emma snapped back to reality and looked up, blinking her eyes, which were filled with confusion, clearly not having heard what Jason had said earlier.
Seeing her staring at his hands, Jason thought she was looking at his bowl and asked softly, "Do you want to eat my rice?"
His question caught Emma off guard again.
She swallowed and tightened her grip on the chopsticks. She couldn't very well say that she was drooling over his fingers, could she?
Jason: "Next time you come, give me a call in advance."
That way, he could have Tang Mian prepare her favorite dishes for her.
Emma looked at him and chuckled softly before saying, "I wanted to surprise you."
"Are you surprised?" Emma tilted her head slightly and looked at him, "Hubby."
Her voice, which usually had a cold texture and was calm and steady, deliberately softened as she called him "hubby."
This was intentionally tantalizing.
Jason gazed at her slowly, his dark eyes deep, and after a while, he said in a very husky voice, "I already have Jing Xi."
Jing Xi, surprise.
His Jing Xi was his greatest surprise.
Jason left the country the next day, and Emma felt a sense of emptiness in her heart all day. It wasn't that their relationship was indifferent before; it was just that sometimes they didn't know how to express their longing for each other.
Not only was Jason reserved and deep, but even Emma was different from most girls.
However, this time when he left, Emma would send him a message whenever she thought of him. He might not reply promptly, but he would definitely respond.
It wasn't until Emma submitted her latest article to Old Zhang that things took a turn.
Old Zhang had just glanced at it when he immediately called her into his office. At that moment, the document on the computer screen was Emma's manuscript.
He took a deep breath and said, "This is from your own interviews?"
The article directly targeted the Dadi Kang health product company, detailing how it grew from a small workshop into a commercial empire worth billions.
The thoroughness of the content and the clarity of the accusations made it clear that a lot of time had been spent in preparation.
Emma nodded, "I want this article to be published."
Old Zhang glanced at the large office area outside. Everyone seemed busy, but there were quite a few who were slacking off. It's likely that what was open on their computers at the moment had nothing to do with work.
But even so, Old Zhang didn't scold them.
After all, it's work; who hasn't slacked off at some point?
Jason had always sensed that Emma was different, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what made her stand out. He initially attributed it to her dedication and her ability to endure hardship without complaint. Now, he saw clearly that while 80 percent of people, including himself, treated their jobs as just that—jobs—Emma viewed her profession as a journalist with a sense of idealism. Ideals have a luminescence, a radiance that sets them apart, and at this moment, Old Zhang felt the glow of Emma's conviction.
"Jing Xi, do you understand what you'll face once this article is published?" Old Zhang looked at her solemnly. A corporation of such a billion-dollar scale, with its deep and vast web of interests, could be a formidable adversary. If the report sparked public interest, Emma would be under immense scrutiny, not just from the newspaper but from all directions. Could a young woman, fresh out of college and new to the field, withstand such pressure?
Emma looked at him straight in the eye, "Chief, I know what you're worried about. A large health product company like this does have many people relying on it, and I will face a lot of pressure. But compared to the pressure, what I want more is to reveal the truth."
"I've interviewed many victims this time, mostly elderly people over sixty. They were convinced by the company's own staff to believe in the exaggerated effects of their products. They even claimed that their health products could cure diseases and prevent them if there were none. Many elderly people have spent most of their life savings on these utterly useless products."
"So I want to expose these scams. Even if it leads to my own downfall, I don't care."
Old Zhang sighed and after a while, he said, "Young people..." But he didn't continue. Instead, he asked her to go back and said he would discuss the matter with the editor-in-chief.
Later that evening, the editor-in-chief called Emma into his office. On his desk lay a printed copy of Emma's manuscript.
After letting her in, Editor-in-Chief Yao continued to look down at the manuscript. Finally, he looked up, scrutinizing Emma for a moment before saying, "I agree to publish this article."
A look of surprise appeared on Emma's face, and she immediately said, "Thank you, Editor-in-Chief."
"But..." Editor-in-Chief Yao interrupted her, "Don't publish this article in the newspaper for now."
Emma was taken aback. Editor-in-Chief Yao continued in a low voice, "Publish it first on the newspaper's public account and Weibo account. The internet's influence spreads faster than that of newspapers. If we want this report to quickly ferment and attract public attention, I think it's more appropriate to release it online first."
Although in his forties, Editor-in-Chief Yao was not a stubborn person. He knew that the spread of new media was indeed faster than that of traditional print media. He had read Emma's manuscript, which not only contained numerous field interviews but also featured her incisive and pointed writing. He truly had high hopes for it.
"Thank you," Emma bowed deeply to the editor-in-chief.
Editor-in-Chief Yao smiled faintly, "No need to thank me, the conscience of journalists isn't something only you young people possess."
On Monday morning at ten, the article titled "The Rising Health Empire Dadi Kang and the Elderly Who Lost Their Life Savings" was officially published on the WeChat public account and Weibo simultaneously.
*
Jason's plane had just landed at Hong Kong International Airport. He slightly opened his eyes and looked out the window. Instead of flying directly back to Shanghai, he had come to Hong Kong to handle an important matter. The rest of the Hengyia Group's entourage had flown directly back to Shanghai, leaving only Tang Mian and two bodyguards with him.
Since six years ago, he had always been accompanied by two bodyguards. A car from Hengyia's Hong Kong office had been sent to pick them up, with Tang Mian sitting in the passenger seat, giving the driver their destination. As they approached their location, Tang Mian's phone rang.
After answering, his expression became slightly grave. He turned to Jason and said, "President Jason, I think you should take a look at this article."
Tang Mian handed over the opened tablet.
Jason glanced down and saw the headline of the article, along with the byline "Emma." He then spent a few minutes reading the entire piece from beginning to end. His expression remained calm, not revealing any particular emotions. It was only after that he took out his phone and made a call.
At that moment, Emma was dealing with a barrage of calls since her article was published, causing the newspaper office's phone to ring off the hook. It took her a while to notice the call on her own phone. She stood up and walked to a quiet corner before asking, "Are you back in Shanghai?"
Her voice was filled with anticipation. They hadn't seen each other for almost a week, and she genuinely missed him.
"Not yet, but I'll be there by evening," Jason replied in a deep voice.
Emma smiled and asked, "Do you need me to pick you up at the airport?"
Jason chuckled and said, "No, I'll come pick you up."
After a brief silence, Jason spoke softly, "I saw your article."
Emma was taken aback, feeling an indescribable awkwardness, much like a schoolchild whose parents have suddenly discovered a just-completed exam paper. Although she felt she hadn't done poorly, she was still tense and had an inexplicable sense of anticipation.
It wasn't until he said in a very deep voice, "I'm proud of you, Xingxing," that the tension was broken.
After they ended the call, Jason arrived at his destination. Tang Mian followed him inside, where a man in a suit greeted them. The man in the suit took out a black velvet box and opened it with a flourish, saying, "Jason, I can assure you that this is the most brilliant blue diamond you can find in the world."
Inside the box lay a blue diamond ring, resting quietly on the black velvet. It was like the most dazzling star in the dark firmament.
"The blue diamond currently doesn't have a name. As its owner, Jason, you can name it," the man said.
Jason gazed at the blue diamond quietly for a long time before whispering, "Palm Star."
He named it Palm Star because its future owner was his very own palm star.
In just a morning, the article had garnered explosive attention. The new media editor managing the WeChat work account was nearly overwhelmed because she had never seen an article from their publication reach over 100,000 reads so quickly after being posted. The number of comments and likes also quickly surpassed 10,000 and continued to rise.
The article analyzed the Dadi Kang company from an objective and rational perspective. Founded in 2007, the company's sales had reached tens of billions in just over a decade, with most of their customers being middle-aged and elderly people, especially the elderly who were not familiar with the internet and lacked clear discernment.
The article mentioned an octogenarian named Su Hongmei, who had a pension sufficient to ensure a comfortable old age and was frugal. However, under the recommendation of a relative, she began taking Dadi Kang products. Unexpectedly, when the elderly woman was hospitalized due to a serious illness, her family discovered that her salary card had only a few dollars left.
She had been taking an oral solution claimed by Dadi Kang to improve and prevent anemia, but even after being hospitalized, she was still diagnosed with severe anemia.
At the end of the article, there was even a price list for some of Dadi Kang's products, the exorbitant prices of which were staggering.
"In today's China, there is not just one company like Dadi Kang. They use the loudest slogans to promote their products and persuasive tongues to tempt elderly people who want to be healthy. Some even go so far as to let newborns take their products to prove the effectiveness of their products."
"These companies are big, and there are many of them. But their existence is not rational. It's time for us to turn our attention to these so-called health product companies that have grown rich by exploiting the elderly."
At this moment, Hu Zhen, holding her phone, kept saying, "Emma, your article has completely blown up. Even my dad came to ask me if I know you."
Because of Hu Zhen's connection, her father had been following the newspaper's public account, and when he saw this article today, he felt deeply resonant, as if every word was speaking to his heart.
The comments under the article were clearly of the same opinion, with the top-liked comments continuing to rise in number.
"Mom's into Dadi Kang now, and she's already invested hundreds of thousands. She keeps telling me that she's about to make it big and we'll be living the good life soon. But look at us now—I can only describe our home as being as bare as four walls. The whole family's been at each other's throats over this, and my dad even threatened to divorce her."
"Stop, it's the same world, same mom, brainwashed by Dadi Kang beyond salvation. My words as her own daughter don't even compare to what her partners say. Living on buns and pickles, yet dreaming of driving a BMW."
"Finally, someone in the media is reporting on this company, finally, you've arrived."
"Damn it, seeing these elderly people getting scammed is just unbearable. If anyone tried to scam my grandparents, I'd probably go to the ends of the earth to fight them."
Comments kept pouring in, with netizens attacking the long-overdue exposure of this health product company, those who shout loud slogans and those so-called superiors with the gift of gab. It seemed like everyone had found a long-awaited outlet for their frustration, and once a small opening was created, a stream could gather into a raging torrent.
Emma scrolled through the comments on her phone, sitting quietly in her chair, reading each one carefully.
Perhaps these comments were the reason she had been working so hard all along, to show everyone the truth and to speak out for society.
As Emma was still focused on her phone, a hand suddenly slapped down on her desk.
"I'm saying, what's going on here? Why didn't you inform our advertising department before writing this article?" The advertising manager stood beside Emma's desk.
Many people were drawn to the commotion and looked up.
Especially not far away, Wen Tang, with her arms crossed over her chest, stood next to a girl from the lifestyle team, "Manager Wang seems quite angry, what's the matter?"
"Someone's just trying to grab the spotlight, writing sensationalist articles," Wen Tang sneered.
The public account article had gone viral in their circle of friends. Many of her colleagues from the newspaper, not to mention friends in other media, were sharing it.
This article was visibly going to stir up public opinion, and how could Wen Tang feel comfortable with that.
She was the undisputed top reporter at the Shanghai Daily. Not just in the economics team, but in the entire newspaper, she felt like she had no competition.
But here was Emma, quietly causing such a big stir.
Previously, when she had offended advertisers and gotten into a fight, Wen Tang thought she would surely mess up.
But the editor-in-chief not only didn't punish her but also called her a model for other journalists in the newspaper. Wen Tang was planning to interview a big shot in the business world to outshine her.
But before Wen Tang could make a move, Emma's article had completely exploded in the circle of friends.
At this moment, Manager Wang was genuinely angry because their advertising department hadn't planned on Dadi Kang. But today, this article suddenly appeared on the public account, and Jin Haiyang was so angry that he not only scolded him over the phone but also threatened to sue their company.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble your article could cause?" Manager Wang angrily slapped Emma's desk several more times.
Emma looked at him coldly.
Seeing that she wasn't saying anything, Manager Wang simply said, "They're threatening to sue you for defamation. Don't think that just because you're a reporter, you can write whatever you want."
To be honest, Manager Wang hadn't taken a small cut from Dadi Kang; it was an unspoken rule.
Now, a rookie in the newspaper office had offended people for him, clean and clear. How could he not be angry?
Now Emma stood up. Manager Wang was short, and as she stood up, she even had to lift her eyes slightly.
Emma stared at him coldly, speaking very slowly but with great seriousness, "I can vouch for every word in my article. So..."
"Let them sue!"
At this moment, everyone in the office area looked at this girl, who, though slender and seemingly quiet, spoke each word with such force and presence.
By the afternoon, the article had surprisingly made it to the top trending topics on Weibo, and it was still climbing.
It eventually broke into the top five with momentum.
Sure enough, Dadi Kang headquarters couldn't stand such an impact and published a formal lawyer's letter on its official Weibo account, demanding not only an apology from the Hu Min Daily but also a personal apology from Emma.
The heat of the article was originally all on Dadi Kang, but the other party wasn't willing to give up and counterattacked, even dragging Emma into it.
Soon, Emma's name was also on the trending search, and somehow, some meddler had found Emma's photo.
The photo was a standard ID photo, the one Emma had on her press card.
The young girl had thick, long hair tied back in a ponytail, her face was a standard oval shape, revealing a smooth and plump forehead, even her hairline was beautifully drawn as if painted.
Her bright eyes were pleasant to look at, especially her pair of black eyes, crystal clear like colored glaze—although it was just a photo, it made people feel like she was looking at you.
"Which bastard fleshed out this journalist sister's photo, it's too heartless. Even if this girl is really beautiful, I don't want to know what she looks like, I'm afraid she'll be targeted."
"I hope they protect the safety of the young lady, and I really have to say, she is really beautiful."
"This reporter is really great. My family is also a victim of Dadi Kang. My brother and sister-in-law lost a lot of money in this. I always hoped someone would expose this unscrupulous company, and I didn't expect someone would really pay attention."
Netizens didn't expect such a sharp and to-the-point article to come from such a young and beautiful girl. Although most people called for the protection of Emma's privacy.
However, some people couldn't resist the temptation to dig more, especially some marketing accounts, which even dug out Emma's Weibo.
Emma did have a Weibo, but it was the kind that wouldn't be updated for a month.
But occasionally, she would update her status. Previously, when she was traveling in Saipan with Jason, she posted a travel photo. Since she never thought she would become popular one day, she didn't care about her Weibo at all.
"Although it's a bit off-topic, I want to say that this young lady is the most beautiful female journalist I've ever seen."
"Wait, are the requirements for journalists so high now? Not only beautiful but also has such a great figure."
"From today on, I am Emma's die-hard fan."
In just a few hours, Emma's Weibo followers skyrocketed from a few hundred to 100,000, and there was a trend of continuing to grow.
When she got home in the evening, Emma received a call from Jason.
"Can't make it back today?" She was taken aback, her tone a little disappointed.
Jason naturally heard the meaning in her words and couldn't help but chuckle and ask, "Are you very disappointed?"
Emma nodded without hesitation: "Disappointed."
It was only after he left that she realized how big their bed was. Emma woke up this morning to find herself sleeping from one side of the bed to the other.
In fact, she is usually a very quiet sleeper and doesn't toss and turn like this.
But without him, it seems a little difficult to fall asleep.
At this moment, Emma was not stingy about expressing her miss to him. Her usually cold voice was soft and said, "I miss you."
Jason was sitting behind the desk, staying in the Jason family's mansion in Hong Kong tonight. He was temporarily staying in Hong Kong because there was a problem with Hengyia's communication project in the Middle East.
Due to international relations, Hengyia supports these projects through third-party companies.
Now that the situation in the Middle East has changed again, he needs to stay in Hong Kong to deal with these issues.
So he had to be delayed for a few days.
Jason's ear was her soft voice, and he couldn't help but feel a little warm in his heart. He looked up at the black ring box on the table, and his voice was suppressed as if he was talking to her ear: "Be good, I'll be back soon."
He had already imagined in his mind how her beautiful fingers would look with this ring on.
The following day, the article's impact not only persisted but actually intensified after the lawyer's letter from Dadi Kang was published, prompting relevant departments to take notice and begin investigating the company.
There was a sense of an impending storm.
The newspaper office has been inundated with messages on their public account, and Emma's personal Weibo messages were nearly exploding as well. Some people were asking for her contact information, hoping she could champion their cause, while others were confessing their admiration for her. Of course, there were also many who were there to hurl insults at her.
Just as there were those who were skeptical of Dadi Kang's products, there were also many who firmly believed in the company, not only in its ability to heal their bodies but also in its potential to bring them wealth. The vulgar language in the private messages was simply unbearable to read.
Eventually, Emma just stopped checking her Weibo altogether.
The receptionist at the front desk has also been going crazy these past few days because the office phone has been ringing non-stop, with the majority of the calls being for Emma.
Even when Tang Mi came to have lunch with Emma at noon, she jokingly said, "You're famous now, but at least we can still eat together."
"No worries, in a few days, you'll have to wait in line to have lunch with me," Emma replied nonchalantly.
Tang Mi: "…"
After finishing lunch, Tang Mi still admonished, "Be careful these days."
"Why?" Emma looked up at her.
Tang Mi sighed, frowning helplessly, "You've disrupted the livelihoods of so many people this time. People will go to great lengths for money, and who knows how many eyes are on you right now."
Tang Mi's concern was not baseless. After all, there have been instances where journalists who dared to confront the darkness and report bravely faced retaliation.
Tang Mi was genuinely worried that Emma had touched such a vast web of interests, a web with countless individuals entangled within it.
Emma didn't ridicule her for worrying unnecessarily, nodding and saying, "I will be careful."
In the afternoon, she received a call from someone claiming to be a courier.
Emma frowned and whispered, "Courier?"
However, since the package was sent to her old house, she didn't think much of it and asked them to leave it with the neighbor, planning to pick it up later in the evening.
Emma usually used her home address when shopping online. Recently, since she moved to a villa, she kept forgetting to change her address, and this had happened a few times.
She also had some things left at her old house, so after working late and leaving the newspaper office around eight, she took a taxi directly back to her home.