Ni Jingxi nodded slightly: "Hello."
It's one thing for her not to like Wen Tang, but since they've met again, although she can't call this accident fate, at least she won't deliberately target her.
Wen Tang looked at her and slightly raised her chin: "Let's talk."
Her gaze swept over Ni Jingxi without any restraint. Although she knew she couldn't overpower Ni Jingxi at the moment, she was still unwilling to put aside her so-called pride.
Beneath her smiling face, she maintained her condescending attitude as always.
After hearing this, Ni Jingxi couldn't help but chuckle. She looked at Wen Tang and said, "I don't think we have anything to talk about. Let's just continue being ordinary colleagues."
Wen Tang's face immediately showed a hint of annoyance. She glanced behind her and lowered her voice, saying, "Ordinary colleagues? But you took away my interview opportunity as soon as you arrived. Isn't that a bit unethical?"
Wen Tang had already heard about this economic forum beforehand, and she had been trying to persuade Xue Yujie to participate.
Although Xue Yujie wasn't very old, he was very meticulous in his actions, neither agreeing nor outright refusing her. At the time, Wen Tang thought it over and felt that she had the best chance of winning, since the only person who could compete with her was a male reporter, but she had the advantage of a good image.
For such large-scale events, the reporters sent out must be presentable in both appearance and ability.
Wen Tang felt that he had the best chance of winning.
Unexpectedly, Ni Jingxi suddenly came to report for duty today, and Xue Yujie didn't care that she had just started working and directly entrusted her with such an important task.
Indeed, Wen Tang was still burning with anger.
However, Wen Tang would never dare to treat his former boss, Lao Liu, the way he treated him at the Shanghai People's Daily again. Xue Yujie may seem amiable on the surface, but he is extremely skilled at managing his subordinates.
When Wen Tang first arrived, relying on his strong background and some fame, he still put on an arrogant attitude.
As it turned out, Xue Yujie didn't tolerate her bad habit and eventually managed to subdue her completely.
“Immoral…” Ni Jingxi repeated the words, then suddenly smiled and looked at Wen Tang: “So Team Leader Xue promised you before that you could do the interview?”
Wen Tang remained silent.
Of course not. If she had, she would have exploded on the spot in the conference room just now.
Ni Jingxi raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly: "Wen Tang, do you know what your biggest problem is?"
Wen Tang looked at Ni Jingxi, and the fake, sweet smile that she had been able to maintain just moments before vanished completely.
"You still don't learn your lesson, relying on your family background. You think this interview opportunity is yours for the taking, but have you ever thought that we are not your parents and can't spoil you?"
Ni Jingxi stared intently at Wen Tang. Leaving aside their past grievances, this interview alone had once again placed them on opposite sides.
Ni Jingxi certainly wouldn't give up the interview just because of Wen Tang's few words.
But she was too lazy to take the blame.
Wen Tang's face turned ashen; "What makes you say that?"
Ni Jingxi looked at her coldly: "Based on what you've done all this time."
Wen Tang relied on her family's connections and background in the news industry. Even though she had been involved in such a scandal at the Shanghai People's Daily, after resigning from the Shanghai People's Daily, she somehow managed to get promoted to the largest news organization.
Not only were they unaffected by the scandal, but they thrived even more.
It was this family background that gave Wen Tang a sense of entitlement, making her believe that everything was rightfully hers.
Ni Jingxi glanced at her and turned to leave.
Wen Tang's face was ashen. Why had she chosen to work at the Shanghai People's Daily instead of a major newspaper? Because she wanted to be promoted to team leader as soon as possible, and it would be easier to maneuver within a newspaper like the Shanghai People's Daily.
But unexpectedly, everything was ruined by Ni Jingxi.
If it weren't to overshadow Ni Jingxi, why would she have done that follow-up report on campus food?
Wen Tang stared at her retreating figure with resentment in her eyes.
Ni Jingxi returned to her seat and took a deep breath. She felt that her temper was indeed becoming more and more tolerant; she had actually been able to talk to Wen Tang for so long.
Although her reunion with Wen Tang fully proves the truth that life is often unsatisfactory.
But she was never the kind of pushover who would let someone mold her. She knew the importance of not offending petty people, but if they dared to do anything, she would make them understand this time.
In this world, not everyone is her father and has to give in to her.
At noon, when Ni Jingxi went to the cafeteria for lunch, she had just finished getting her food and put her tray on the table when Hua Zheng called.
After Ni Jingxi sat down, she answered the phone.
Hua Zheng, sitting opposite, spoke up anxiously, "Jingxi, do you know? I just heard today that Wen Tang is now working at Xinhua News Agency."
"I have already seen her."
Hua Zheng was about to ask her if she had seen Wen Tang when Ni Jingxi shut her up with a single sentence.
Hua Zheng let out a long sigh: "No wonder everyone says Wen Tang comes from a powerful family. If an ordinary person committed such a crime, they would be blacklisted by the media and definitely wouldn't be able to find a good job. Yet she was able to get a better newspaper."
This is absolutely outrageous!
Ni Jingxi chuckled: "You called just to tell me this?"
Hua Zheng nodded: "Yes."
Ni Jingxi knew that she was concerned about her, so she said thank you, chatted for a while longer, and then hung up the phone.
Fortunately, Ni Jingxi spent the afternoon preparing interview materials for the economic forum. There were indeed many important figures attending this event, as it was a grand gathering for the entire Asian region.
When she got home that evening, before she even entered the house, she found the lights were still on.
After she changed her shoes and entered the house, she discovered that Huo Shenyan had arrived home before her. Just as she was about to speak, the man suddenly took out a flower from behind his back and slowly walked towards her.
Ni Jingxi was momentarily stunned, her mind racing as she wondered if it was some kind of anniversary today.
His birthday? It's not here yet.
Her birthday? No, it wasn't.
Wedding anniversary? No, it's not.
Seeing that her eyes were slightly shifting, as if she was troubled by something, Huo Shenyan guessed what she was thinking and smiled, "Congratulations on your first day at work, my star."
He handed the flowers to her, and Ni Jingxi only realized what was happening when she reached out to hug them.
It was just to celebrate her going back to work.
Huo Shenyan glanced to the side, then almost immediately leaned down and kissed her lips. He then straightened up and called out to the kitchen, "Dad, Jingxi is back."
Ni Jingxi almost burst out laughing when she saw him sneakily kiss her.
He looked as if he was afraid of being caught by Ni Pingsen.
Just then, Ni Pingsen came out of the kitchen, wearing thick gloves and carrying a small clay pot, which looked like it contained soup.
Ni Jingxi walked over and looked at the table full of dishes that had been prepared. She asked in surprise, "Dad, did you make all of this yourself?"
It's just like a restaurant.
It has a perfect combination of color, aroma, and taste.
Ni Pingsen looked at her with a big smile: "Dad used to run a Chinese restaurant."
After all, he has been running a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown for so many years, and the business is so good, so his cooking skills are very trustworthy.
Ni Jingxi looked at the two of them and said, "It's only my first day at work, and you've made such a big fuss. I'm embarrassed."
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, it’s just a meal.” Ni Pingsen took off the gloves he was wearing.
Huo Shenyan took the initiative to go into the kitchen and bring out the bowls and chopsticks. Ni Jingxi watched him act so obedient and sensible in front of his father-in-law and couldn't help but smile to herself.
After the three of them sat down to eat, Ni Jingxi realized that they hadn't eaten together like this since they returned to China.
Ni Pingsen sat next to Ni Jingxi, constantly putting food on her plate, as if afraid she wouldn't eat.
Until Ni Jingxi said helplessly, "Dad, that's enough, let me finish eating first."
Ni Pingsen only stopped after Ni Jingxi said that.
A moment later, Huo Shenyan looked up and slowly said, "Dad, my parents know you're back in the country and have been wanting to see you. So, if you have time this weekend, perhaps..."
Ni Pingsen is, after all, Ni Jingxi's biological father, and has a legitimate marriage relationship with the Huo family.
As soon as he returned to China, Huo Shenyan told his parents. Zhong Lan was quite happy for Ni Jingxi, after all, there was finally someone in this world who was her blood relative.
The young girl's family home is no longer all alone.
Zhong Lan had also urged Huo Shenyan to arrange for their parents to meet as soon as possible, as this was an essential courtesy.
Previously, Huo Shenyan was concerned that Ni Pingsen had just returned to China and wanted him to rest for a while. Now that the time was almost ripe, he brought it up.
Ni Pingsen nodded slightly, "You should have met your parents a long time ago."
Seeing that he did not hesitate at all, Huo Shenyan smiled and said, "I'll make the arrangements."
After dinner, Ni Jingxi took the initiative to clear the dishes, and Huo Shenyan stayed to help. After she put the dishes in the dishwasher, she looked back at the living room and found that Ni Pingsen was not there.
So she took a few steps forward and found that the door was open.
When she reached the door, she saw Ni Pingsen standing outside smoking, something he rarely did.
Ni Jingxi walked over and asked with concern, "Dad, is something on your mind?"
Ni Pingsen turned around and saw her. He quickly stubbed out his cigarette and threw it in the trash can next to the garden. He shook his head and said, "It's nothing."
"You can tell me anything." Ni Jingxi stood there looking at him, still with a worried expression.
Ni Pingsen gave a wry smile, "Just hearing that I'll be meeting your in-laws makes me realize how fast time flies. Our Xingxing is already married."
Ni Jingxi breathed a sigh of relief; so that's what he was feeling sad about.
She smiled and took his arm, saying, "Even if I have a husband's family, I'm still my father's daughter, and I'll stay by his side for the rest of my life."
Ni Pingsen turned to look at her: "That won't do. Dad was planning to hold your hand and send you off at your wedding."
Men, they really are all incredibly hypocritical.
Ni Jingxi deliberately asked, "Are you really that willing to part with it?"
Ni Pingsen remained silent.
Ni Jingxi, still feeling it wasn't exciting enough, looked at him with a smile and said, "Anyway, I haven't had a wedding yet, so why don't we practice first?"
After saying that, she turned her head to look ahead, straightened her back and raised her chest.
Ni Pingsen was somewhat dumbfounded, but after a while he also looked up and said, "Okay, let's give it a try first."
So, under the cover of night, Ni Jingxi took Ni Pingsen's hand and walked forward very slowly, step by step.