Chapter 22: Reporting and Editing

The photograph Yao Anqi mentioned was taken during Yin Mengxi’s second semester of her freshman year when she participated in a production with A University’s drama club at Xiaohongding. However, before that semester began, she had endured an incredibly difficult winter break.

—And of course, it was all because of Xiao Zhi.

Before meeting Tang Fei, Yin Mengxi had thought there was some progress between her and Xiao Zhi. At the very least, he was aware of her existence and might even have a favorable impression of her. She had even impulsively considered confessing to him—the water bottle she held by the basketball court that day was evidence of her impulsive intentions. Fortunately, she hadn’t gone through with it, avoiding what would have been an excruciatingly awkward situation.

Tang Fei…

Yin Mengxi only later learned that this beautiful senior was a student from the Class of 2008 in the College of Literature and the daughter of Vice Secretary Hong Li of A University. Xiao Zhi’s mother was a professor in the university’s history department and had been classmates with Secretary Hong. The two families were close friends, and Xiao Zhi and Tang Fei had grown up together in the university’s family compound, making them genuine childhood sweethearts.

This relationship…

They were so familiar with each other that they could effortlessly enter each other's lives. After Tang Fei returned from her exchange program in Japan that semester, she was constantly by Xiao Zhi’s side—watching him play basketball at Nan Ti and handing him water, sitting openly beside him in Mr. Jia’s class, and even studying with him in the library. All the opportunities Yin Mengxi painstakingly worked for to see Xiao Zhi came naturally and effortlessly to Tang Fei.

…Thus, Yin Mengxi experienced regret and heartache for the first time in her life.

She had never encountered such a situation and didn’t understand its complexity. She naively compared romantic pursuits to academic competition, like ranking in exams. If she wanted to get into A University, she had to work hard and score higher than everyone else on the college entrance exam. Then, what she desired would rightfully belong to her—fair and simple.

But now, things were different. She had lost before the starting line. Before she even noticed and fell for him, another girl had known him for twenty years. They had grown up together, and their parents were close friends—perhaps even planning a childhood engagement.

—What could she possibly compete with?

She was just an ordinary person from a small, unknown southern city. Her parents’ education levels were only associate degrees and high school diplomas, far from the affluent, highly educated families of Xiao Zhi and Tang Fei. Worse still, she had no special connection with him—she had merely liked him secretly, while he remained completely unaware.

If this were an exam, before she even stepped into the testing room to begin answering questions, someone else had already confidently submitted their paper ahead of time.

…So, by the end of that semester, she stopped going to the library.

Not only did she avoid the library, but during Mr. Jia’s classes, she would keep her head down to avoid accidentally seeing the back of Xiao Zhi and Senior Tang sitting together, which would inevitably make her heart ache. This lasted less than half a month. As the final exam season officially began, all courses ended, leaving only exams and papers to be submitted.

Mr. Jia’s course required a paper, which she wrote and submitted to his mailbox. After completing all her exams, her first semester at university came to an end, and she could drag her suitcase back home for the winter break.

Home…all freshmen who leave home for the first time eagerly anticipate returning. Students tormented by the adjustment period at school long for home. However, once they return, they often feel a sense of disparity—their hometowns are too small. Leaving home, there’s nowhere to go; the tiny city feels as if it’s only as big as one district of A City, backward and closed off.

Yin Mengxi had to face this change as well.

Previously, she had never thought there was anything wrong with her hometown. But upon returning this time, she suddenly felt its smallness. While people living here might indeed lead comfortable lives, the opportunities for development were equally limited. Back in her familiar home, looking through the small window at the city outside—one where fireworks were still allowed—she couldn’t help but think of A City, the top university she had worked so hard to get into, the friends she had met from all over the country, and…him, who had suddenly entered her world and then quickly faded away.

How to put it?

It felt…quite powerless.

Just like that, their connection was severed.

His QQ updates never changed, and he certainly didn’t message her. During that time, their only link was when she checked her grades and found that she received an A in her Song Dynasty Literary Origins course—graded by him as a teaching assistant, since Professors like Mr. Jia no longer personally reviewed undergraduate papers.

…It provided her with some comfort, at least.

After the new semester began, they still didn’t reconnect. Aware of Tang Fei’s existence, Yin Mengxi consciously avoided him. She wouldn’t take any more courses from the College of Literature, avoided the library’s arts and literature section, and even disliked passing by the university hospital or Nan Ti, always keeping her head down.

—Yet, unexpectedly, she eventually ran into him again.

That semester, she was elected as the assistant minister of the Youth League’s Art Troupe. Her first major task after “promotion” was to cover the university anniversary series of events. Her supervisor, Minister Xu Jiayi, also a senior from the School of Journalism, was responsible for promoting activities organized by the Youth League’s affiliated clubs. After reviewing their options, they unanimously agreed that the original play presented by A University’s Drama Club was the most important.

A University’s Drama Club was a standout among college drama clubs nationwide, winning awards every year at the National Arts Exhibition. It held a prominent position among all campus clubs and received more funding from the Youth League than most others. Reportedly, this year they planned to create an original play entirely written, directed, and performed by students, narrating the history of A University’s founding. The script had already been completed and sent to the school for review.

“This is a big project!” Jiayi exclaimed enthusiastically. “I heard from a senior working in the president’s office that both the president and the secretary are very interested in the drama club’s play. When it premieres, the publicity department will invite external media for coverage. Being assigned to this project is a stroke of luck!”

Jiayi laid out an ambitious plan: a full documentary-style follow-up from casting actors, including rehearsals, makeup tests, front-of-house operations, and logistics. Several pre-promotions would be done along the way, culminating in a short documentary after the premiere—a high-end, sophisticated project that could earn their department excellent evaluations.

With such an inspiring speech, the group of first-year students were motivated and eager to contribute.

“Alright, Xixi, Yushan, and Stone, you first-years will handle the on-site work,” Jiayi began assigning tasks. “Xixi will take the lead since you’ll be promoted to minister next year. You’ll need to gain experience. Every two days, submit a communication report for basic updates, and weekly provide a formal report for the teachers.”

During her first semester, Yin Mengxi had participated in various projects but always as an assistant to upperclassmen. This was her first time truly taking charge of a specific task, which was challenging and stressful. However, since she was interested, she accepted without hesitation: “Alright, Jiayi.”

The drama club’s president was named Guo Yue, a graduate student from the College of Literature. Upon hearing this, Yin Mengxi’s heart skipped a beat. She realized this senior was Xiao Zhi’s classmate and likely knew him.

That day, their team of reporters from the Youth League went to meet with the drama club at Xiaohongding. Their rehearsals were grand enough to use the student theater daily, which came with significant rental costs covered by the Youth League.

Senior Guo Yue was friendly and greeted them warmly despite wearing only slippers in the chilly early March weather, his hair messy and somewhat unkempt.

“You’re from the Youth League’s Art Troupe, right?” he greeted them cheerfully. “Come in quickly—it’s too cold outside…”

As the person in charge of the on-site work, Yin Mengxi naturally took the initiative to introduce herself: “Hello, Senior Guo. We’re from the Youth League’s publicity team. My name is Yin Mengxi, a first-year from the School of Journalism. These are my classmates Chen Yushan and Tao Shi. The three of us will rotate daily to conduct follow-up interviews.”

“Good, good, good,” Guo Yue nodded agreeably. “Actually, you don’t need to come every day. Your Youth League is too meticulous. Daily rehearsals aren’t that exciting—they’re pretty much the same every day…”

Afterward, he repeated Yin Mengxi’s name, furrowing his brows with a puzzled expression: “Have we met before? I feel like I’ve heard your name somewhere…”

Yin Mengxi was surprised but couldn’t recall any interaction with this senior. He didn’t dwell on it either, leading them toward the student theater’s door while explaining: “Feel free to film. However, our cast hasn’t been finalized yet. We’re mainly doing physical training these days. You can interview the screenwriter—he’s here today…”

As the theater doors opened, only the stage lights were on, leaving the audience seats dim. Members of the drama club formed a circle on the large stage, following a male teacher in his thirties in physical exercises. It looked amusing, prompting Stone to snap several photos.

Guo Yue paid no attention, standing on the stage in his slippers, scanning around. After searching for a while in the dark audience seats, he finally spotted someone and waved, shouting: “Teacher Xiao, come up here! The Youth League has arrived to conduct an interview. As the screenwriter, you’ll have to take the lead…”

…“Teacher Xiao”?

Just the surname was enough to stir her heartbeat. No one could describe what Yin Mengxi felt at that moment. When she turned toward the audience seats with disbelief, following Guo Yue’s gaze, and saw the person she hadn’t seen for two months slowly standing up and walking toward her, the suppressed flutter in her heart reignited stubbornly and painfully.

…What a fateful entanglement.

Yin Mengxi thought despairingly.