Interview

As the New Year approached, the small town was far from quiet. Although there were fewer tourists due to the approaching holiday, more people were returning home. The winter sun was gentle and warm, not harsh enough to burn. Ye Mian dangled her feet, eating roasted sweet potatoes while basking in the sunlight, feeling the leisurely comfort that pervaded the residents of Bridge Town from the inside out.

By evening, after dinner, Grandma Ye and Father Ye went next door to visit neighbors and warm themselves by the fire. Ye Mian stayed behind, planning instead to visit a small shop to buy some daily necessities like toothbrushes.

Wrapped tightly in a thick scarf that hid her entire face, she strolled out slowly. Bridge Town, known as a water village, was mostly made up of bridges rather than roads, except for a few main stone streets. Ye Mian didn’t know exactly how many there were, but roughly every ten meters there was a bridge. With the Spring Festival nearing, red lanterns hung on each bridge, their reflections shimmering on the water—an impressive sight.

The southern winter wasn’t as dry as in the north; the cool air carried a hint of damp chill. Ye Mian looked around, searching for the small shop. She had to ask locals to find out. It turned out that the shops here were nestled within courtyards, each marked only by a small side sign outside the door, unobtrusive and free of commercial flashiness, preserving the charm of the ancient town.

“Go straight down this road, then to the right of the third small bridge…” Standing before a quaint courtyard gate, Ye Mian eyed the small sign that read “Shop” with some hesitation. The gate was small and wide open. Compared to other courtyards marked by signs of daily life, this place was surprisingly clean.

Uneasy, she knocked on the door before stepping inside. The courtyard was filled with shelves on wheels, resembling a small, half-sized supermarket.

She breathed a sigh of relief; it was unusual but at least she had found the right place.

The shop owner sat leisurely in a rocking chair under the corridor, watching TV. Seeing Ye Mian come in, she smiled politely and said, “Take whatever you need!”

Ye Mian nodded and went to the household goods section to choose. She bought two toothbrushes and four towels. Though the quality was certainly not as good as what she could find in Jiangcheng’s supermarkets, the prices were cheap and they would do for now.

While selecting snacks, a familiar name suddenly caught her attention from the television.

“Hello, Mr. Jiang Chen. For young entrepreneurial businesspeople, you are undoubtedly one of the most representative successes. Being the youngest participant invited to this forum, could you share your thoughts on the overall atmosphere and experience today?”

The female host’s clear and precise voice mentioned Jiang Chen’s name.

Ye Mian, holding a pack of seaweed snacks, paused and thought she might have misheard.

But then—Jiang Chen’s distinctive voice echoed from the TV under the corridor.

“The weather in Wencheng has been particularly good these past two days, and many people have gathered for this meeting. It’s a broad business conference with representatives from all sectors, sharing many ideas about corporate philosophy and cultural history.”

Ye Mian was stunned. Names could be coincidental, but Jiang Chen’s voice was unmistakable. Even with her ears covered, she could recognize it.

She abandoned her snack selection and, like a cat drawn by the scent of food, moved toward the TV. The moment her eyes met the figure on the screen, her pupils dilated reflexively.

Wow!

Her boyfriend was on television?

And she hadn’t known?

The shock and disbelief she felt were beyond words.

The broadcast was titled “Global Financial Report,” focusing on the risks and prospects of new industries and finance.

A female host, dressed in a form-fitting business skirt with her hair perfectly styled, sat elegantly conducting the interview.

Under the spotlight, the man wore a finely tailored, heavily embroidered black suit, seated in the center of a leather sofa. His posture was impeccable, his expression calm and composed, silently commanding everyone’s attention.

His wrists crossed in front of him, the sharp contours of his hands added to his already aloof and distant aura.

The surrounding air was quiet, and Ye Mian’s stunned silence was deafening.

Confirmed by her own eyes and ears.

The interviewee was indeed her boyfriend.

The female shop owner glanced several times at the young girl clutching her purchases.

Noticing Ye Mian standing there dumbfounded, staring fixedly at the TV without speaking or asking for prices, she chuckled.

“Hey, girl, did you see a handsome guy and freeze up?”

Finishing the last of her sunflower seeds, she kindly brought out a small stool from the house and offered it to Ye Mian. “Sit down and watch for a bit.”

Ye Mian came back to herself and smiled apologetically, “Sorry.”

But she couldn’t refuse the invitation.

Jiang Chen was especially well-dressed today—stunningly handsome to the point of breaking her heart.

For that face… no, for her boyfriend, she could only utter a grateful “Thank you,” then plopped down like someone from the eighties, cozying up to the TV.

Her expression was more vivid than ever before.

The shop owner, seeing this, glanced between Ye Mian and the television and exclaimed with admiration:

“Usually, these interviews are with middle-aged big bosses. I usually listen to this stuff to help me nap, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a good-looking young boss.”

“That young man must be a real big shot—good-looking and wealthy, with everything going for him. Hey! Maybe he’s a celebrity.”

Ye Mian was chilled by the cold wind on her face but felt no cold; instead, her cheeks flushed warmly. “He’s not a celebrity. I know him. He’s a businessman.”

The owner was surprised. “Such a young businessman? Then he must be a second-generation rich kid.”

Ye Mian smiled again.

As she always said, there was no way Jiang Chen was some spoiled heir.

For the next hour, the owner listened to the long, technical jargon with growing drowsiness. No matter how handsome the man on screen, she eventually fell silent, only occasionally opening her eyes to comment on Jiang Chen’s eloquence with Ye Mian.

Ye Mian, despite the cold wind, watched intently.

She realized the interview was live!

That explained why Jiang Chen had asked her if she was watching the TV today.

Had she known he would be on, she would have bought a TV immediately and recorded the whole thing beautifully with her phone.

After sitting in the chilly air for over an hour, her nose was red from the cold.

She was immensely thankful for dressing warmly today; otherwise, she might have turned into a human popsicle.

The interview was finally nearing its end.

The female host stood and shook hands with Jiang Chen, then the broadcast switched away.

Rubbing her reddened face, Ye Mian suddenly felt she had kept the shop owner waiting too long.

She apologized again and thanked her.

The owner was delighted to have someone watch the store while she napped and invited Ye Mian to come back anytime to watch TV together.

Ye Mian politely accepted, and to show her gratitude, she bought two large bags of snacks before hurrying back home.

(End of chapter)