Chapter 193: Reporter Lin Yan

"Wow."

Chen Ling expressed shock cooperatively, "Who? Who would do such a thing?"

Wen Shilin thought seriously for a moment and replied: "Most likely the victim's family? I've encountered this situation before. After a child in the family is murdered, the parents, fearing the authority of the abuser, only dare to use this method to ask me for help, hoping I can give them justice... It's also possible that someone found the corpse but didn't want to get involved in this matter."

"So that's how it is." Chen Ling nodded.

Chen Ling had originally thought about whether to find some reason to muddle through and distance the corpse from himself. Now it seemed he had overthought it.

"I took a rough look, and the condition of the corpse is very similar to what you described before. It's very likely related to the organ trade." Wen Shilin said solemnly.

Chen Ling's expression turned serious immediately, "You mean, that group took action in Aurora City?"

"Most likely."

"There are too many suspicious points on that corpse; it needs a systematic examination first... I'll go find a friend, he's an expert in forensics." Wen Shilin checked the time and continued, "You take the documents to the newspaper office first and pick up your things. I'll come find you when I'm done here."

Wen Shilin's expression was very hurried. After saying a few words to Chen Ling, he turned and left.

Chen Ling looked at Wen Shilin's departing back and secretly said he was professional. If it were any other reporter, waking up early in the morning to find a hollowed-out corpse at their door, they would probably be scared to death at first, and then start thinking about whether they had offended anyone...

In contrast, Wen Shilin's reaction after seeing the corpse wasn't fear, but like a hunter who had smelled the scent of prey, immediately starting to act with shocking efficiency.

Chen Ling closed the gate, went back to tidy up his things simply, and didn't set off until it was time for work at the newspaper office.

This was his first day on the job. Although he only wanted to use the identity of a "reporter" to stir up trouble, he still had to do the surface work... He picked an elegant and steady shirt and vest from Chu Muyun, tied his tie, put on a brown coat, and combined with those half-rimmed glasses, he really looked the part from a distance.

Chu Muyun, who was also preparing to go to work, walked out of the room in a white coat. Seeing Chen Ling's attire in the courtyard, his brows raised slightly.

"Nice outfit, Reporter Lin." Chu Muyun's tone was a bit subtle, "I hope the 'big news' related to you in the 'Aurora Daily' in the next few days will be less."

Chen Ling pushed the bridge of his glasses and smiled:

"Don't worry, I've always been very well-behaved."

After speaking, he pushed the door and went out under Chu Muyun's eye-roll.

Chen Ling walked to the side of the road, hailed a rickshaw, and headed straight for the newspaper office.

The Aurora Newspaper office wasn't far from Chen Ling's residence, though it would be more accurate to say that Chu Muyun's mansion was in such a prime location—right in the heart of Aurora City's most bustling district—that nowhere was really too far away.

But to Chen Ling's surprise, the newspaper office wasn't as large as he had imagined. A four-story Western-style building sitting by the street was the entirety of the office's premises. The dark brown brick surface was covered in the scars of wind and snow, and above the narrow entrance, the words "Aurora Newspaper" were written in worn, faded characters, exuding a deep sense of history.

Chen Ling stood at the entrance alone for a moment before pushing the door open and walking in.

"Who are you?"

As soon as he stepped inside, the elderly security guard at the door eyed Chen Ling warily, silently gripping the baton behind his back.

"My name is Lin Yan, the new reporter." Chen Ling took out his press pass. "Today is my first day on the job."

The security guard scrutinized the press pass suspiciously for a long time before relaxing slightly. "Wait here."

With that, he turned and walked to the end of the hallway. After speaking a few words to someone, a figure quickly walked out from within.

It was a woman in a beige professional suit, wearing high heels and sporting a sharp, short haircut. She looked very poised. She examined Chen Ling carefully for a moment.

"You're Lin Yan?"

"Yes."

"Apologies. Because people often come to the newspaper office to cause trouble, our security measures are a bit strict."

"I'm Feng Man, the editor-in-chief." As she spoke, she walked toward the interior of the office. "Wen Shilin has already told me about your situation. Come with me; I'll show you around."

Seeing this, Chen Ling immediately followed closely behind her, his eyes curiously scanning his surroundings.

Although Feng Man was wearing high heels, her walking speed was by no means slow. She wove through the many workstations and spoke slowly:

"The history of the Aurora Newspaper can be traced back over three hundred years to the founding of Aurora City. We were born with the responsibility of monitoring and guarding the truth. Having weathered hundreds of years of wind and snow to reach this day... even now, we remain the most authoritative media outlet in Aurora City."

As soon as Feng Man started speaking, Chen Ling felt a familiar sense of hearing a boss preach corporate culture in his past life.

After hearing this, Chen Ling felt a bit awkward. He pushed up his glasses and asked as if casually: "Born with the responsibility of monitoring and guarding the truth... then what about now? What are we born for now?"

Feng Man's footsteps faltered slightly.

She gave Chen Ling a deep look, unreadable, before replying indifferently:

"I know what you want to say. Since Wen Shilin would rather gamble his own career to recommend you, it means you two must have something in common... I can only answer you this: our duty has never changed over all these years; it is the people who have changed."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling felt a bit surprised. On one hand, it seemed not everyone in the office had been corrupted; on the other, Wen Shilin had actually gambled his career just to get him a job as a reporter... No wonder the paperwork had gone through so quickly.

Chen Ling caught the subtext in Feng Man's words and nodded slightly. "I understand."

"The first floor is the reception area and the editorial department. This side is the studio area..."

Feng Man didn't give the earlier interlude another thought and continued to introduce the office to Chen Ling. Others in the office noticed the new face and cast curious glances his way.

And among the busy crowd, Chen Ling took a casual glance and actually spotted a familiar face.

Behind a desk not far away, Zhu Shuqing, who still had an ice pack pressed to his mouth, seemed to have finished his work. He lazily put down his pen and let out a yawn, revealing the few broken teeth in his mouth... but halfway through the yawn, his gaze landed on the approaching Chen Ling.

His wide-open mouth froze instantly, his eyes bulging—he looked like he had seen a ghost!

"You... why are you here?!"