"It's you, Auntie... oh no, Sister!" Su Yue also felt immense surprise.
Her eyes even turned red.
"You know each other?" Both men were a bit surprised.
"Yes, I mentioned her to you," Bai Li Qing linked her arm with Su Yue's and stood with her, continuing,
"I told you about a little girl. When I met her, she was just over ten years old, incredibly beautiful and cute."
Xin Mo Qing thought for a moment and suddenly realized, "It really is. What a coincidence! Please, sit down."
He led them to their seats.
Su Yue sat beside Bai Li Qing, feeling as if everything were unreal.
Bai Li Qing also sat next to Su Yue, her hands gripping hers, her voice trembling slightly,
"You actually got into Communications University and majored in Journalism?"
"Yes, I... I want to be a reporter too."
"That's wonderful. You've grown so much, so beautiful and accomplished. I'm happy for you."
She paused, then added with a hint of apology, "After I was transferred back, I was so incredibly busy, and I changed my phone number. Later, when I thought of you, I realized I didn't have your fixed contact information."
"But I've always, always thought of you."
Her eyes were bright as she looked at Su Yue.
"Me too, Sister."
Su Yue felt touched, her joy evident, and she squeezed Bai Li Qing's hand.
"Oh, the young lady is still hungry. Let her eat something," Xin Mo Qing said, interrupting their moment of shared emotion.
"Yes, let's eat first," Chen Zi Ming also chimed in.
Bai Li Qing kept serving Su Yue, constantly asking about her studies and life during their time apart.
She avoided mentioning anything Su Yue wouldn't want to hear.
"It seems Reporter Bai Li has forgotten the original purpose of this meal," Chen Zi Ming said leisurely as they chatted happily.
The two of them looked at him.
He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a faint, relaxed smile on his face as he watched them.
Su Yue was confused. The original purpose of this meal?
What was that?
"Oh, right." Bai Li Qing smiled and put down her chopsticks.
She then asked Su Yue, "Don't you have a thesis to write? I'll take you."
Thesis.
I'll.
Take.
You.
These words made Su Yue's head explode.
She looked at Chen Zi Ming. He raised an eyebrow slightly, his meaning clear:
It was me who said it.
This was too unexpected and delightful!!
She had mentioned it casually to him, and at the time, she was truly troubled about finding a topic to write about.
Simply searching online yielded only secondary sources.
Conducting mock investigations lacked convincing power.
But if she could follow Bai Li Qing, it would be entirely different.
She was currently a top-tier reporter in the country.
"You don't want to come with me?" Bai Li Qing placed a hand on her shoulder, as if to embrace her, and asked with a smile.
How could that be!
She hastily replied, "Of course, I do, Sister."
"But... I have very little experience. I've only been a campus reporter before, interviewing rather dull things."
"No one starts with experience," Bai Li Qing replied.
She added, "You don't need to feel self-conscious. I didn't know it was you before. I agreed to this condition because Officer Chen gave me a benefit."
Gave her a benefit?
Su Yue was a little surprised.
"It's not much of a benefit. Do you remember why I went to your school to give a lecture?" Seeing her look at him again, the man asked.
This time, she felt genuinely a bit guilty.
After all... from the moment she entered, sat down, and looked up at him...
She hadn't taken in a single word he said.
He caught her embarrassed expression and chuckled, reminding her, "Because of a serial murder case."
Su Yue admitted she remembered a little.
But what did that have to do with tonight's events?
At this moment, Bai Li Qing spoke, "That murderer is currently detained in prison, awaiting sentencing. It's highly likely he'll receive the death penalty."
"This case caused a huge stir and is still gaining traction. Many reporters have wanted to interview this murderer, to delve into his psychology."
"Including CCTV."
"But the police were unwilling, fearing it would cause further social panic. However... they've now relented."
"And they've given me this opportunity."