Super Zoo

Nangong Yan was riddled with faults too numerous to count. She was pampered and spoiled, with shopping as her biggest hobby, often buying heaps of clothes and makeup only to leave them untouched in her closet for a year or even longer; she was full of the faults of a spoiled young lady, appearing hardworking and worldly in her day-to-day work, but deep down she harbored a severe case of "princess syndrome;" she, like all women, was prone to jealousy, coquetry, and unreasonable fussing, sometimes giving Suming a big headache; she appeared shrewd, but in reality, she could be incredibly careless, either forgetting her keys or scratching her car when leaving the house, and even after living in Yangchuan City for so many years, she could still get lost at times... But Nangong never let Suming down, this girl, riddled with flaws, knew clearly in her heart what was light and what was important. In significant matters, Nangong Yan was never confused, always showing a firm and resolute attitude, and sometimes even Suming felt that Nangong was going a bit too far. Yangchuan City TV Station was in an uproar! Yangchuan News was the most serious political program of the entire Yangchuan City TV Station, modeled after the central station's news broadcast, reporting major political events in Yangchuan City and nationwide. In the ten years since its inception, the program endured many trials, and due to its high profile, timely content, and the high caliber of its hosts, it exerted considerable influence among the middle and upper classes of Yangchuan City, with its viewership consistently ranked among the top three of the station's dozens of programs for many years. Whoever qualified to be a host for Yangchuan News was undoubtedly a pillar of the TV station. It was a position that bred talent and served as a golden stepping stone; hosts who moved on from Yangchuan News either stayed to take up leadership positions at the Yangchuan City TV Station or advanced to higher-tier stations at the provincial level, with even two making their way to the central station. Two months ago, Nangong Yan took over the position from a previous female host and became the new host of Yangchuan News. The previous female host, Nangong Yan's 'master' in the station, was promoted to deputy director. The program used pre-recording, with the recording for each evening's broadcast typically concluded by three o'clock in the afternoon after which the production team would conduct the final two reviews, ensuring that it aired promptly at eight o'clock every night. This morning at ten o'clock, just after the first segment of the program had been recorded, Nangong Yan was by the side drinking water and touching up her makeup when she suddenly received a phone call. Then, right afterward, she did something that left everyone stunned—she went to the director's office to ask for leave. "Absurd!" The director, engrossed in paperwork, slapped the desk upon hearing this, his face as ugly as if his wife had been spirited away. "Nonsense, Nangong Yan, what the hell are you talking about! What do you think this TV station is?! Who do you think you are!" The director seldom spoke to staff in such a harsh tone, especially core employees with a background and capabilities like Nangong Yan. He had never even uttered a harsh word before; if there was a mistake made by a staff member, at most he would provide 'kind criticism' or 'tactful reminders.' Never before had he thundered in anger with such a stern expression, and his outburst could be clearly heard even out in the corridor. Several employees passing the door were startled. What had Nangong done to provoke such fury from the leadership? Even if she planned to switch jobs, it didn't warrant anger of such magnitude, did it? Especially the director's last words were practically a personal attack. The merciless words didn't stop there, and the entire TV station bore witness to the director's towering rage. "Undisciplined, flouting organization! Treating the TV station like child's play! Treating your own political life and career prospects like child's play! Let me tell you, Nangong Yan, don't think that just because your family has a few officials and your boyfriend has some money that you can do whatever you please! This is a TV station, not a police station, let alone a zoo; stop putting on princess airs in front of me! Get back to work, and as long as you can still breathe, you can forget about taking leave! If you dare leave today, don't bother coming back tomorrow!" The station manager's roar could be heard halfway up the building, from several deputy managers to middle-level cadre, down to employees from various departments, all were carefully asking each other, what exactly had Nangong done to incur such wrath? It soon spread from the Yangchuan news recording team, Nangong hadn't finished recording her program, and she wanted to take a leave. It's like a soldier requesting a leave on the eve of a major battle, how could the superior not be irate? Especially since in this battle, Nangong Yan was a key force, with her departure, how could today's Yangchuan news be made? No wonder the station manager was angry, Nangong Yan was really being thoughtless and irresponsible this time! With this news, employees at the TV station each harbored their own thoughts. There were many who reveled in Nangong Yan's misfortune; since her fast rise after joining the station, many hosts had been upset, but they could only look on, unable to do anything due to Nangong's background and her capabilities. In the past, some popular female hosts had tried to deal with Nangong, only to shoot themselves in the foot. Since then, those who resented Nangong Yan could only envy, jealousy and hatred in secret. This time, by requesting a leave in front of the station manager, Nangong Yan had virtually cut off her future prospects. Even if the manager's anger subsided in the end, she would certainly have left a very bad impression; no leader likes an employee who might walk out at any time. A few female hosts with strong abilities and backgrounds saw an opportunity amidst this chaos, and they guessed that the position of the female host on the Yangchuan news would soon be vacated. There were also some, like Shen Ying, who had a good personal relationship with Nangong Yan. While they kept Nangong in their thoughts, they couldn't help but feel that she was acting too impulsively. Wasn't there anything so important it could wait? After today, couldn't she discuss it? The station manager's words were not a joke; if she really took a day off today, her future at the TV station would definitely be bleak. "Little Nangong, what are you thinking? It's just accompanying your boyfriend home. When couldn't you go, why must it be today?" Nangong's mentor when she joined the station, the former female host of Yangchuan News and the current deputy station manager Zhang Panpan, poked Nangong's head with a bit of frustration, scolding, "Hurry back to record the program, I'll go and persuade the station manager." "Zhang, I've made up my mind." Nangong took out a thick stack of scripts from her drawer and placed them on the desk, "All the news scripts are here, I proofread them twice last night, there won't be any problems. Just read them as they are. Please take the trouble today, and be the host again..." "It's not about me taking trouble, how can such a serious news program just casually switch hosts?" Zhang Panpan didn't even look at the scripts but fixed her gaze on Nangong, asking with confusion, "Little Nangong, tell your sister the truth, what are you really thinking? Based on my understanding of you, you are not the kind of irresponsible girl at all, why do you insist on going back with him today? Did he say something to you?" Zhang Panpan was a prime example of a successful woman, with no background to speak of. When she entered the TV station at 21, she was just a temporary reporter. It was purely through her own efforts that she had climbed to the position of deputy station manager over fifteen years. For her career, she had neglected her family too much, having almost no time to enjoy family happiness. When her child was sick, she had to rush her articles; when her child had a parent-teacher conference, she had to conduct interviews; when her child was off school on the weekend, she had to attend meetings and travel... In the first half of the year, her husband finally couldn't stand this kind of life and filed for divorce, and they were now in a cold war. Therefore, Zhang's first reaction was whether Suming had said something to Nangong, something that had upset her. This was not good. No matter how rich a man was, a woman must maintain independence to have her own status. Zhang Panpan decided she needed to have a good talk with Nangong Yan.