I’m Really Scared - Chapter 7: Blame

“Hangcheng Evening News” was a not-so-famous local newspaper.

In other words, the paper media has been on the decline in recent years, and most of them have no reputation except for the more famous newspapers. The newspaper office has a small office space, and there are not that many departments.

In addition to the News department where ordinary reporters like Guan Shan are located, there was also the Editorial department, typesetting room, Newspaper storage room, Editor-in-chief’s office, and independent offices of several leaders, as well as a temporary dormitory that was not usually used.

Guan Shan stepped out of the elevator that runs through the center of the building and turned right from the reception desk.

Passing by the toilet, on the left was the large office belonging to the news department.

As soon as Guan Shan walked through the door, he heard the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Jiang Siyan’s loud voice: ” Someone explain to me, the scene of the fire was obviously less than a hundred meters away from our newspaper office. Yet for some reason, our source of materials was the citizen hotline and other media sources. There’s no first-hand material, all we have are leftovers from others, are you embarrassed? Well?”

The title of the deputy editor-in-chief sounds intimidating, but there was three deputy editor-in-chief in the “Hangcheng Evening News”, and Jiang Siyan was only one of them.

There was also an editor-in-chief who also serves as the president, which makes up the entire upper management of the office.

Under normal circumstances, the three deputy editors take turns in the office, around once a week.

It was Jiang Siyan’s turn this week.

Although Guan Shan had only worked in the newspaper for half a year, he had roughly grasped the tempers of the three deputy editors.

In general, the other two don’t usually do anything. Only when they encounter something big, would they come over and talk.

Jiang Siyan, however, only likes to do two things, one was to complain, the other was to point out the obvious.

“So, he has already started to preach to everyone… I’m afraid it’s going to be the same as usual.”

Guan Shan noticed something was wrong in his heart and resignedly opened the door.

“Crunch—”

The sound of the metal frames of the frosted glass door rubbing against each other attracted the attention of everyone in the office.

Guan Shan, who opened the door and walked in, immediately attracted the attention of all the staff.

More than a dozen pairs of eyes looked back at once from every corner, and the pressure was no less than when the giant chef rushed at him.

Shen Dinghua was also among them.

The girl hid in the corner of the workstation, holding her head and looking sideways secretly, her eyes revealing a trace of concern.

Guan Shan smiled at her, then turned his head cheekily, and nodded slightly at Jiang Siyan casually: “Good morning Mr. Jiang.”

—The name “Mr. Jiang” was learned by Guan Shan from a few senior reporters. It was said that Jiang Siyan himself was particularly fond of being called that by others.

Jiang Siyan was in his 40s, wore a formal suit with leather shoes, gold glasses, and had meticulously combed back his gray hair.

His stare gave the same feeling as when the dean of the school caught you doing something bad during high school.

Guan Shan turned his head to Peng Fei, the director of the news department standing on the other side, and greeted him.

Peng Fei was a chubby middle-aged man with a very honest face. At that moment, he was winking at Guan Shan and trying to hint to him that “now was not a good time.”

In this atmosphere, even those that were blind would know that the situation was not good… He turned around silently and walked towards his position, praying that he could muddle through the situation.

Unfortunately, it was not to be.

“Hold it.”

Jiang Siyan spoke in a deep voice while knocking on the desk in front of him: “Guan Shan, I saw yesterday’s check-in record. Were you the last one to leave?”

Sure enough… it started!

Guan Shan cursed under his breath, feeling a little impatient because of his drowsiness.

He sighed inwardly, nodded, and said, “It’s me. I only left after correcting the two editions of the newsletter yesterday. Mr. Jiang, is there any problem?”

Jiang Siyan’s face sank and said, “What’s the problem? Do you know about the SX snack fire yesterday?”

Guan Shan nodded.

Before he could say anything, Jiang Siyan interrupted him: “The police notified that the fire broke out at about one o’clock. You left at 12:30. From what I remember on the path you go home; you walk that way. Yet, as a result, you couldn’t even provide a single clue. Where’s your ability as a reporter?”

That statement made no sense, it was just pure anger.

Guan Shan couldn’t stand it anymore, how dare he use that topic to question him!

In normal times, Guan Shan would just play along and just go through the motions.

But today was different.

The thrilling moment of life and death last night, the fear, anger, and tension caused by the scenario still lingered in Guan Shan’s mind.

Although everything was just simulated, it was almost the same as reality. No normal person could be calm after experiencing that.

What’s more, he almost stayed up all night, and still got up to go to work in the morning.

‘Once again, I am being blamed for no reason.’

Guan Shan’s emotions suddenly surged, but he still held in his anger and said: “Mr. Jiang, you can’t just ignore the facts, right? There’s a half an hour gap from 12:30 to 1:00. SX snacks are 500 meters away from the office. Even if I were to walk slowly, I wouldn’t be able to see the store for half an hour. How could I provide any clues?”

Jiang Siyan didn’t expect that the little reporter who had only been here for half a year would dare to refute him, but he was also worried about where he would be able to show off his majesty in front of these old geezers.

This kid was sending material right to the door!

Jiang Siyan sneered and said, “Oh? If you can’t see the store, you can always see the smoke? If you can’t see the smoke, you can always hear the sirens, right?”

“If something happens you should ignore everything else. I think you either have no journalist literacy, or you are just lazy!”

He lowered his face and pointed at Guan Shan: “I think, people like you don’t have any abilities when it comes to business, and even lacking in motivation. People like you do nothing to improve the newspaper at all. Why are we even keeping you?”

Making trouble! Reversing black and white!

Even if Guan Shan could bear it, Shen Dinghua couldn’t bear it. She stood up and said, “Deputy Editor Jiang, Guan Shan stayed so late last night because of the electronic layout. After finishing all the manuscripts, he was the last employee who left. In your eyes, is there no business ability and no motivation?”

Shen Dinghua said every word: “Are you going to deny the significance of the employees’ efforts?”

Jiang Siyan was noncommittal: “If the work is done, it doesn’t mean it’s done well-why not wait for you to send me the documents and let me see what you’ve done?”

He turned his head and looked at Guan Shan with a condescending and leisurely expression.

It was clear that he was the boss. Whether the manuscript was written well or not, does it not depend on him?

Act tough and I’ll show you my fist is harder!

Guan Shan was about to laugh with anger, took a deep breath, walked in front of Jiang Siyan, directly looked at him, and said: ” Mr. Jiang, since you believe that a reporter’s ability lies in their photos, so …… what if I can get it?

He stared at the other person: “If I can get a picture of the fire scene, what would you say?”

What would you say, why do I still need to listen to you?!

Regardless of whether you can get the photo, today you will either bow your head or be fired by me!

Jiang Siyan’s first reaction was to stop him, after all, he came to establish his authority, not really to ask for any photos.

But when the words reached the tip of his tongue, before he could say anything, suddenly felt something touch his back.

“Ah!”

Jiang Siyan screamed subconsciously, terrified.

Because he was now leaning against his desk, behind him… there was absolutely nobody!

He turned his head abruptly, only to see a desk in front of him.

But the touch behind him was so clear, icy cold, and even seemed to have left behind water stains…

Jiang Siyan stiffly touched his back with the back of his hand.

It really was wet!

Is it…no, no, no, there must be a leak in the ceiling!

Jiang Siyan’s eyelids twitched, and his hands trembled a little, but the others didn’t notice, and they looked blankly at him as if he had cramps.

Next to him, Peng Fei hesitantly said, “Is something the matter? How about…”

Jiang Siyan recovered. Although he was still shocked, he couldn’t lose his momentum. He slapped the table and glared at Guan Shan: “What would I say? …If you get it, then you have the ability!”

The people below who were secretly eavesdropping were stunned. Has this “Shrewd Jiang” changed his gender today?

Just now, you still looked like you were about to kill someone, so how come it changed to “Then you have the ability” now?

Knock-nock

Suddenly, there was a crisp knock at the door.

“What’s all this noise about?”

A soft but majestic voice sounded.

Everyone followed the sound, and a woman in a beige dress was standing by the door.

Her long dark hair was rolled up behind her head, and a clear and simple but graceful face was shining in the morning light. The calf under the skirt was slender and graceful.

Peng Fei hurriedly greeted her: “Hello, President.”

The person there was Li Zhiying, the editor-in-chief, and president of the “Hangcheng Evening News”.