Chapter 222: Big News?

"Yes, and a very big shot... Compared to his seniority, I'm just a newcomer who hasn't been in the society for long."

Chen Ling nodded, lost in thought.

"I have to go back quickly, otherwise this unlucky guy will stop breathing." Chu Muyun felt the weakening life aura of the lump of mud on his back and pushed his glasses up. "This kid seems to have something incredible on him; I can't let him die just like that."

"Okay."

"What about you? How do you plan to explain things to Wen Shilin?"

Chen Ling's expression was somewhat helpless. He almost forgot that Wen Shilin was still waiting for him in agony. He had just been grabbed by people from the Star Chamber of Commerce, and then the Chamber of Commerce was destroyed, and he had returned safe and sound... This was not easy to explain.

Chen Ling thought for a moment, as if remembering something, and turned back to walk into the Chamber of Commerce.

"Where are you going?"

"To get something. You go back first."

Seeing this, Chu Muyun didn't wait for Chen Ling anymore and turned to vanish at the end of the street.

Chen Ling walked through the devastated estate, heading straight for the dungeon. He followed his memory through several empty corridors and finally found a utility room in the corner of the dungeon. After pushing the door open, rows of shelves appeared before his eyes.

What was placed here were the personal belongings of those who had been locked in the dungeon before. Most of them were money and jewelry, but by now, they had all become ownerless items... Chen Ling casually collected a stack of silver notes and gold coins, scanned the shelves, and finally stopped in front of an item.

"Sure enough, it's here..." Chen Ling's mouth curled up slightly.

On the shelf, a "Leica" camera that belonged to Wen Shilin was lying quietly in the corner.

……

Early morning.

Aurora Newspaper Office.

Zhuo Shuqing was wearing a coffee-colored jacket, carrying an expensive LU crossbody bag, and humming a tune as he walked toward the newspaper office gate.

Not seeing Chen Ling at his workstation for several days in a row, Zhuo Shuqing was in a very good mood. It seemed the other party had retreated in the face of difficulties... Also, high-end and delicate work like writing articles wasn't something everyone could handle. What could that brute with nothing but brute force know about writing?

Thinking that he wouldn't see Chen Ling again, Zhuo Shuqing felt refreshed. Life had returned to its previous leisurely and affluent state. He arrived at his workstation right at the start of work, planning to go to the coffee shop next door for a cappuccino before starting his work for the morning.

However, the moment he walked into the office, the smile on his face froze instantly.

Beside his workstation, a figure was burying his head and writing furiously. The desk lamp at the corner of the table was even turned on.

"Old Ma, when did he arrive?" Zhuo Shuqing turned his head stiffly and asked the security guard at the door.

"Him? He came over in the middle of the night, knocking for ages to get me to open the door... He said he had some big news and needed to work overtime immediately." The security guard yawned and muttered under his breath, "He's really sick in the head..."

"Big news?"

Zhuo Shuqing’s brows furrowed involuntarily. After a moment of hesitation, he walked over to his workstation, his eyes sneaking a glance toward Chen Ling’s desk...

Just then, Chen Ling stood up abruptly.

Zhuo Shuqing was so startled he plopped back down into his chair. He scrambled to place his messenger bag on the desk, feigning nonchalance, while his heart hammered wildly in his chest. He was terrified that the brute would backhand him across the face, sparking a full-blown workplace bullying incident.

But Chen Ling acted as if he hadn't even noticed him. He tucked a few handwritten drafts into his jacket, grabbed his camera, and walked quickly toward the film processing room, looking as if he were going to print photos.

He was actually writing a draft seriously??

Zhuo Shuqing was shocked. He felt restless at his desk for a moment... until his gaze fell upon the draft he had finished just last night, and his expression settled slightly.

The title of that draft was: "Winners Never Speak" — An In-Depth Interview with Yan Xishou, Vice President of the Star Chamber of Commerce.

This article was the result of Zhuo Shuqing’s work over the past week. The Star Chamber of Commerce had offered generous terms for him to write a dedicated piece about the young master Yan Xishou for publication in the *Aurora Daily*... To write this article well, he had listened to the eight-hour personal interview recording of Yan Xishou no fewer than eight times. He had weighed every word, pouring almost his entire life’s literary talent into it.

Zhuo Shuqing was quite confident in the weight of this article. After all, everyone knew Yan Xishou was likely the next president of the Star Chamber of Commerce; not everyone got the chance to interview him... Chen Ling was just a newcomer, what kind of "big news" could he possibly have to compare with his heavyweight guest?

Zhuo Shuqing comforted himself while preparing to get up with his article. After a moment of hesitation, he picked up his pen and changed the article to a more eye-catching title:

"Winners Never Speak" — Yan Xishou, Vice President of the Star Chamber of Commerce, Teaches You the Way to Wealth.

Perfect!

Zhuo Shuqing confidently took the article and knocked on the door of Editor-in-Chief Feng Man’s office.

He had to get this article onto the editor's desk before Chen Ling, to let that newcomer know what a real journalist was.

"Come in."

Zhuo Shuqing pushed the door open to see the sharp, short-haired Feng Man sitting behind her desk, busily flipping through several articles. She glanced up at the visitor, then lowered her head to continue working.

"Zhuo Shuqing, what is it?"

"Editor-in-Chief, this is the article I’ve been preparing for the last two days. Please take a look."

Zhuo Shuqing handed over the article. Feng Man scanned the title and began to flip through it casually. "Hmm... it's alright. Put it in tomorrow's finance section."

Zhuo Shuqing felt a surge of joy. His thoughts raced; he planned to take this opportunity to badmouth Chen Ling.

"Editor Feng, regarding that new reporter, Lin Yan, I don't think he's very suitable..."

Knock, knock, knock—

A knock at the door interrupted Zhuo Shuqing.

As Feng Man answered, "Come in," Chen Ling walked in holding several pages of text and photos. His gaze swept over Zhuo Shuqing, who was also in the office, and his eyebrows arched slightly.

"Lin Yan, what is it?" Feng Man asked.

"Yes, I have a bombshell exclusive report here. I hope to get it into print as soon as possible." Chen Ling handed the article and photos to Feng Man.

Zhuo Shuqing, standing to the side, rolled his eyes and couldn't help but interject,

"Lin Yan, the word 'bombshell' isn't something you can just slap on any news. If you use it so casually, people will only think the *Aurora Daily* is a sensationalist, frivolous media outlet..."

Chen Ling glanced at him. "Then, Mr. Zhuo, what kind of news would qualify as a bombshell?"

Zhuo Shuqing thought seriously for a moment. "In Aurora City this year, the only news that could qualify as a bombshell is that train that smashed through the city gates, and that heretic Chen Ling who self-immolated on the front of it... Nothing else has the credentials."

As the two were talking, Feng Man took the article and photos. The moment her eyes scanned the title, her pupils shrank violently!

Bang—!

She practically bounced out of her seat.

At the same time, Chen Ling spoke unhurriedly,

"Then, I wonder if the Star Chamber of Commerce being razed to the ground, with no survivors inside... would count as a bombshell?"