051: Am I Like a God?

"Hello everyone, I am reporter Xia Jian, reporting live from the public water area next to Yanjiang Road."

"Right now, four children have been swept deep into the river by a strong undercurrent and are in grave danger."

"Many people are watching, but due to the strength of the current, no one dares to dive in to rescue them."

"Look! A young man has just entered the water. At such a critical moment, he's risking his life to save them! Let's all pray for him and hope that both the young man and the four children make it back safely."

Xia Jian's video played across the office, showing the dramatic rescue. She had edited the footage carefully, removing the part where she cried out for Qi Lin to return. Even with the edits, her voice in the video was trembling with emotion.

The video captured Qi Lin rescuing the four children, followed by the crowd's thunderous cheers. When Qi Lin lost strength and began to sink, the camera shook, revealing Xia Jian's desperation as she rushed to help him. The footage ended just as Qi Lin was pulled to safety.

The office was dead silent.

There was no doubt this was an A-level news story. One man, bravely rescuing four children, all caught on camera from start to finish. The cheering crowd, the intensity of the rescue, and the positive message of hope made it clear that this would dominate tomorrow's headlines.

"Wow!"

The silence broke as the office erupted into an excited buzz. Everyone turned their attention to Xia Jian, stunned by what she had captured.

Xia Jian calmly pulled the memory card from the projector. "Oops, sorry everyone, I must have played the wrong file."

She stood up, packing her belongings into a cardboard box. "Editor-in-Chief, I'll head to the HR department to collect my pay and leave."

Despite the drama of the moment, Xia Jian's tone remained professional. "Though my time here has only been three months, I've really enjoyed working with you all. I appreciate the help from my colleagues and wish everyone a bright future."

With that, she prepared to leave, box in hand.

Chen Yu, the editor-in-chief, stood frozen in shock. She hadn't expected Xia Jian to produce such a major news story in just one afternoon.

Firing her now would be impossible. If Xia Jian left after capturing this footage, word would spread fast. The higher-ups would hear about it, and Chen Yu would be seen as a leader who retaliates against her subordinates for personal reasons, effectively sabotaging her career.

"Xia Jian, did you really shoot this news footage yourself?" Chen Yu asked, forcing a smile as she stepped in front of Xia Jian.

"Yes, it was a lucky accident," Xia Jian replied innocently.

Chen Yu's smile widened, masking her panic. "This is A-level news. If you've captured such a significant story, why are you leaving the company?"

Xia Jian blinked, her expression still calm. "Editor-in-Chief, didn't you tell me to pack up and leave as soon as I walked in?"

Chen Yu's face flushed with embarrassment. "Oh, you must have misunderstood! I was saying you should leave early to rest because you worked so hard on your interview today."

Despite her awkwardness, Chen Yu quickly shifted gears, adopting a friendly, accommodating tone. "Now that you've captured this fantastic news, from this moment on, you're a full-time employee of Aoki Newspaper. I'll even assign you an assistant so you can focus on bringing in more great stories."

Xia Jian smirked slightly. "What about becoming a regular employee?"

Chen Yu's smile didn't falter. "Of course! You're officially a full-time reporter now. Also, about earlier—if my tone was too harsh, I sincerely apologize. It was only because I see so much potential in you. I care about your development and want to help you succeed. I hope my words didn't upset you."

Seeing Chen Yu's complete change in attitude, Xia Jian couldn't help but think of Qi Lin. His strategy had worked perfectly. Chen Yu, once cold and dismissive, was now apologizing and offering Xia Jian a permanent role. She knew Qi Lin had anticipated this outcome, and his advice had paid off.

"I wonder where Qi Lin gets all these clever ideas. If he's so smart, why didn't he study harder and make it to university like we planned? Instead, he's working as a security guard."

Although she hadn't seen Qi Lin in over ten minutes, Xia Jian couldn't stop thinking about his mischievous smile and witty plans.

Meanwhile, Qi Lin, now riding his motorcycle on the way to his next task, received a system update.

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Xia Jian

Protagonist Level: C (Luck Value: 20/100)

Lucky Value: 37 (Full Value: 100)

Love Value: 39 (Full Value: 100)

Power Value: 36 (Full Value: 100)

Wealth Value: 39 (Full Value: 100)

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Qi Lin's eyes lit up. "So, the protagonist levels can change, too?"

Xia Jian had just leveled up from D-level to C-level. It was clear that helping her secure this pivotal moment in her career had increased her protagonist status. She was now on the path to solidifying her role at Aoki Newspaper.

"This system just keeps getting more interesting," Qi Lin thought, a grin spreading across his face. "I can influence other people's fates. Doesn't that make me something like a god?"

With this realization, Qi Lin's curiosity about the system deepened. He wasn't just manipulating events—he was shaping destinies. And the more he learned, the more powerful he became.

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