Chapter 76: Traitor.

What Qin Qianyu was thinking was true. PIT started an investigation into all the information she had handed them and soon they were able to uncover more corruption.

These involved crimes that the two Chen's had committed over a five year period that were covered up by the police and ultimately saw no further actions taken.

These ranged from assaults, destruction of property, coercion, a drunken hit and run that left a man and his grandmother lying on the road for hours before being found by another passing motorists.

Yet despite all the evidence they provided, no actions were taken against them.

That grandmother passed away soon after that incident.

Those crimes were also corroborated and substantiated by superintendent Chen.

This showed how these siblings used but also abused, their family's immense influence and connections to great effect.

Meanwhile, in a multi-storey building in the CBD a single floor was taken up by a flurry of people.

Most of them were from Mr Chi's contractors firm who had come in the day before to start renovation work on the floor that would be Véridique's online news media floor.

They worked tirelessly to have things done. But seeing as it was mostly cosmetic changes and fixes they were able to get the job done without much hassle.

Furnishings, equipment, even a kitchen and small cafeteria was setup. Luckily for them the infrastructure already existed and just needed filling.

A board and meeting room was setup, an office space for the workers, a three section studio that had a white room, a green room and a miniature studio all for conducting on-site interviews or when special guest appear.

Su Yin sat for a moment as she came in that morning to check all the progress. Qin Qianyu had given Su Yin full reign over Véridique as a whole.

Qin Qianyu wouldn't have the time to oversee everything there so she gave responsibility for that to Su Yin.

She had helped Zhu Yue setup what he needed the day before and sat there thinking about that stressful day.

While Zhu Yue was having his image improved, She went and hired a team of people to aid him.

These people were mostly new bloods, but eager to be working. There were a couple "old hands" that she had picked out, she was in urgent need so she didn't worry to much that they may bring some habits with them.

As long as they did the work diligently, then she had no qualms about them.

Although the new hires had no idea what they maybe walking into, they saw that it paid well and they also needed money.

There were a team of three that would create and maintain Véridique's news site. For now that was all they needed to do.

She hired an all rounder editor to take care of all the footage that came in. He would also take care of all the graphical elements for all of the news casts both live and prerecorded.

Next she got in a music designer. He would post his stuff online for anyone that wanted to use it all for free.

He would be responsible for creating the sound of Véridique's news show and related media.

Now that Zhu Yue was sorted he was handed authority over his team and they set out on a plan of attack.

Su Yin left them to it and started on the studio's branding.

The first thing she did was create the studio's logo. Qin Qianyu gave her an idea of what she was looking for, which was a simple but stylish VS for Véridique Studio.

While she was dealing with other issues such as keeping the division of both her identities, worrying about Mingyu and so on, she was also thinking about how to continue bringing in revenue for her family, and now the team of workers she has found herself with.

The idea she had was that Véridique would become an entertainment company.

She would grow it slowly but surely. It's focus at this moment would be on the news studio helmed by Zhu Yue and then music. She also planned to offer a scholarship in memory of Cheng Yifei for those that pursued a music path using traditional instruments.

The rationale Qin Qianyu came up with was that it held a double meaning.

On one side it was just the initials for Véridique Studio and what it stood for, and the other, it was the abbreviation for verses.

"Us verses you!"

Qin Qianyu wanted the design to reflect that and that was the brief Su Yin gave the artists and designers.

She hired a team of graphic designers and artists to create it on the fly.

"The logo needs to be sleek and stylish and something that would appeal locally and world wide alike."

The design team were excited and rearing to go, however, some time later,

"We aren't a video game developer!"

"We're not producing Manhua!"

"Ohh heeell no! . . Look here! Do you even understand the brief!?"

Anything too gaudy or ostentatious was binned immediately.

Su Yin rejected all the concept drawings that came her way.

Frustratingly, the artist's started to complain,

"It's only because of this tight timeframe that you've given us! You're pushing us too hard!"

"Really now!? I thought I was paying all of you guys the big bucks because you all made me believe that you could all take hold of, and smash the pressures of this tight deadline! . . . Have I been lied to?"

" . . . "

"I'm paying you far more than any well known branding agency would charge me otherwise for the same amount of billing hours and cost! I'm paying you that much to compensate You! Because of the tight timeframes! . . . And I'm pushing you because you're producing fluff when I need a damn blanket!"

Su Yin was soon brought back to her senses by a call from Qin Qianyu.

"Have you had any rest yet?"

"Mhm, I managed to get a couple of hours in after we finalised Véridique's identity. I believe it fits the brief fully."

"Hey don't push yourselves too hard over this,"

"I know, I just feel guilty being paid all this money and I've hardly done anything for you. But don't worry, I'll definitely rest when I'm tired."

"Well this'll be a nice pet project for you. It'll keep you busy while your not needed by my side. So don't push yourself there's plenty of time."

"As long as Zhu Yue completes this task with grandeur, and with the Cheng family and all of the other innocent parties involved vindicated then everything else will fall into place as the days progress."

Su Yin kept sending Qin Qianyu messages of how Zhu Yue and his team were going and also updating her on the progression of Véridique's branding which caused some concerns for Qin Qianyu thinking that she maybe pushing her P.A a bit too much.

As for Zhu Yue, he wanted to go big. He had his team collect every broadcast that was made to defame Cheng Yifei and her father and gathered evidence that contradicted reporters claims and witnesses accounts.

He wanted everyone to see and know that those reporters and the stations they worked for had zero integrity for their profession as journalists, for the story they were covering or themselves as human.

He wanted the public to see it all with their own eyes.

He sat in the board room working on a script, as Qin Qianyu had told him, the small voices needed to be heard, it was indeed truthful, he just needed to make it impactful.

Meanwhile, at a Xiu owned station, Zhu Yue's former workplace and the home of News Now, an announcement was made internally that Mo Lin would be replacing Liu Bing, as News Now's newest anchorwoman.

"Mo Lin, I have no idea how you pulled it off with the trash and fluff pieces you've been bringing into the station this past week. I don't even know if I should applaud you or be appalled by you, either or, it makes me sick!"

A young woman says as she packed her personal belongings into a box.

"Oh Liu Bing, don't be this way, it's just the natural progression of this business we're in. But, please shut your damn bitch mouth, move those flimsy arms of yours and pack your shit more quickly! . . I want to move into my new office immediately."

"How did you turn out like this?"

"Pfft! . . Hey, you're starting to sound like that no hoper Zhu Yue! By the way, when you apply for government assistance do say hello to him from me. If only he stood by me, he wouldn't be like you too."

"What!? . . What happened to Senior Zhu?"

"Pfft! Senior Zhu!? . . He's no senior! He's just a talentless nobody that didn't want to conform to News Now's thinking, much like you! So he was fired, much . . like . . you!"

"Whoa! You even shit on your close friends! I've truly seen it all now. If the word traitor ever needed a face, yours would definitely be sufficient."

" . . . "

Liu Bing said nothing more and walked out of her old office and out of the building. As Liu Bing was making her way out, all promotional material that had her face on it were being removed.

Staff and other workers pointed and gossiped as she walked by them.

She had been the face of News Now since she, graduated the year after Zhu Yue and Mo Lin.

Even though she held a senior position at the studio, she was still respectful to Zhu Yue and the other seniors that came before her.

She sat in her car and messaged Zhu Yue asking him if he was okay. She told him that she had just heard that he was fired just now while she was given her marching orders by Senior Mo.

Soon her phone rang

"Ah Bing! You were fired too?"

"Mhm, I'm no longer the face of News Now. I guess that's what I get for questioning the higher ups on the pieces they had me reading. I had no idea Mo Lin had such pull with them."

"What happened?"

"I questioned Mo Lin's integrity as a reporter. After I complained that the piece that aired yesterday evening was trash, I left it at that thinking they would see it too. I only just got in this morning to find that I've been replaced and subsequently fired for insubordination."

"What will you do now?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure yet, maybe get a cup of coffee first, then think about what I'll need to do with the time I've found myself having a lot of. Haha!"

" . . . "

The other side of the call went silent and Liu Bing started to feel a little awkward, to keep the flow of conversation flowing she simply uttered out,

"Hey! I have a bit of money saved, how about you and me start a small online news site? . . "

" . . Hahaha! Ah Bing! . . I was just going to say the same thing. Listen since you want a coffee head over to Highland central I'll meet you in the lobby's cafe."

"Ah . . Okay Senior Zhu, I'll meet you there soon then."

"Alright see you soon."

Liu Bing started her car happily and didn't even look back after leaving the buildings car park.

Highland Central hotel was only a few minutes walk from Véridique's location. Zhu Yue got up and headed out to meet with Liu Bing and to see if she were serious about joining hands together.

If he could reel her in, then his first task given to him by Qin Qianyu would be even easier.

Liu Bing sat at a table, she then ordered two coffees and waited for Zhu Yue to arrive.

As she did, some of the guests and others inside the cafe noticed her with some going up to her and asking for her sign and or to take a photo with her.

She explained to them that she's no longer working at News Now, but she was happy to sign and take photographs with them if the still wanted to.

Then another man came up and she told him the same thing thinking that he also wanted to have a picture taken with her.

"Actually I'm here for you,"

He says and takes a seat. He looks at the second coffee and reached out for it.

"Stop! . . That's for my friend, you're also in his seat. Please leave now!"

She said angrily at the man in front of her.

"Ah Bing, it's me, Zhu Yue."

" . . . "

Liu Bing looked at the man in front of her. She started to see the resemblance of the senior she knew.

She reached out and started pinching and pulling on his cheeks and chin,

"It's real! . . It's not a mask!"

"I guess I really do look different if I tidy myself up a bit!"

"Mhm!"

Liu Bing groaned as she nodded in agreement.

She was still use to seeing his unkempt, free willed style and messy hair, now he looked like a presenter for CNT.

"Did you take your final pay to the casino and win big or something!? You can even do one day plastic surgery?"

" . . . "

"I haven't changed anything except the clothes I'm wearing and a had proper haircut okay!"

"Mhm!"

She says still staring unblinkingly at him in total disbelief.

"Senior! This new look suits you much better. You would have definitely had my spot if you were like this in the beginning!"

"Haha, when I started there, my only thought was to help Mo Lin as much as I could."

"Tsk! Look where that's gotten you! How were you two ever friends? . . And how did she get so much authority!? Could . . Could she have accepted the unspoken rules?"

"Maybe, I'm not too sure, I'm just glad I know her true colours now otherwise, anyway forget about her, let's talk shop."

Liu Bing nodded and smiled. She too wanted to forget all about Mo Lin.

He explained to Liu Bing that although he didn't go to any casino, he did have a run of good fortune being hired the same day he was fired and that he wanted to extent the same offering to her.

"Haha, can a camera op even afford me?"

"Hmm I can't, but my boss probably can. We already have a base set up and a few staff, we're currently working on something big at the moment and I can sure use your help. Even if it's just for this one project I'll be able to pay you handsomely."

"So you have a small team of people in your apartment right now all leeching off your single wifi router trying to push out some huge story that you haven't told me about yet?"

" . . . "

"I wasn't joking when I said I have some spare money, we can rent an office space and between the two of us we can start off small and slowly work our way up."

"Actually, I already have an office, it's close by which was why I asked to meet here. I can't tell you about our first story yet because you'll need to sign a contract and all of the related confidentiality documents. But, seeing that you seem serious, I can take you now and we can sign you up and we can get to work right away."

"Senior, you seem abnormally zealous all of a sudden, . . You wouldn't be leading me to some kind of cult now would you?"

"Pfft, have you forgotten about my sister? If she knew, then I'd become a permanent fixture in one of her cells."

"Just because you have an officer as a sister doesn't mean you'd tell her everything!"

"Actually she already knows, she's also one of my sources, but that's all I'll say for now."

Liu Bing nodded and soon the pair walked a few minutes and Zhu Yue came up to a tall building.

Outside, Su Yin was helping a group of men place a large sign at the entrance of the building.

"Miss Su, it looks good! . . Miss Su let me introduce you to my Junior. This is Liu Bing, a former colleague and former employee from the station I was fired from."

"Hello, I am Liu Bing, it's good to meet you."

"Same here, so if you were fired that means you're unemployed?"

"Ah for now yes,"

Su Yin nodded and looked to Zhu Yue,

"You're planning on hiring Miss Liu?"

"She's experienced and I could use the help, so yes that's the plan."

"Mhm, alright, you can . . "

Su Yin didn't get to finish, she dodged out of the way of a falling wrench, this then caused Liu Bing to stumble backwards.

However, as she was falling, she was caught by someone, and helped up.

"There you go! Haha, that was lucky!"

Liu Bing looked up at her saviour and nodded gingerly as she took in his smile. Her thoughts wandered off a little bit, she was quickly pulled back to the present by a loud shout,

"Apologies Miss Su,"

"No, It's fine. It was my fault for standing close to your working space in the first place."

"Oh good, Ma Chen, you're here! Please let go of Miss Liu and let's all head inside for now."

Ma Chen nodded and all four walked in, Liu Bing whispered to Zhu Yue,

"Senior, who is this woman? Is she our boss?"

"No, she's our bosses personal assistant."

"Oh, and . . him?"

"No idea, it's the first time I've seen him."