Chapter 85: Focus Only on Today

"The BBC is also joining the joint interview?!"

In the guesthouse beside Pingyang Television, Wang Huikang, a television executive sent by the provincial station, heard the news and couldn’t help exclaiming in surprise.

After news spread that Li Dongling was willing to grant an exclusive interview, both the provincial and Pingyang television stations began bustling with preparations for tomorrow’s interview with Li Dongling.

Right now, countless television stations, newspapers, and other media outlets across the country are eager to conduct an exclusive interview with Li Dongling—any interview with him is guaranteed to draw a massive ratings surge.

Many media outlets that heard the news approached the provincial station, hoping to join the joint interview, but Wang Huikang never expected the BBC of Britain would also want to join.

Zheng Zutai, who was in charge of Pingyang Television and had previously brought the satellite dish project to the station, now serving as its deputy director, couldn’t help asking Wang Huikang, "So are we forming a joint interview with the BBC?!"

"Absolutely."

Wang Huikang replied without hesitation—opportunities to form joint interviews with overseas media are rare, and foreign media are hard to turn down.

Although nominally the joint interview is between Pingyang Television and the provincial station, it will clearly be led by the provincial side, not to mention that this interview opportunity was secured by the provincial station’s own reporter.

Zheng Zutai’s gaze shifted toward Wei Changyuan, the director of Pingyang Television, watching him whisper quietly with the provincial reporter; Zheng Zutai even sensed Wei Changyuan’s tone toward the reporter was unusually respectful, prompting him to speculate about An Ruxue’s identity—today, it was he who had informed An Ruxue of Li Dongling’s current residence.

"Old leader, how is your health now?!" Wei Changyuan poured a cup of tea for An Ruxue.

"Fine. When I came, my father asked me to send his regards to Uncle Wei," An Ruxue said.

Hearing this, Wei Changyuan smiled. "It’s rare the old leader still remembers me. I’ve always wanted to pay him a visit, but I feared Director An was too busy. When you return, please convey my regards to him—I’ll come call in person."

All television and propaganda personnel under Wei Changyuan in Hanxi fall under An Yueguo’s jurisdiction; many of them had once served under An Yueguo, and Wei Changyuan was one of them—though his tenure was brief, there was still a connection.

Seeing An Ruxue seemed downcast, Wei Changyuan cautiously asked, "Did something go wrong today when you met Director Li?"

An Ruxue said nothing, then looked up at Wei Changyuan and asked, "Uncle Wei, have you heard of Yao Luoying?"

"Of course I have. She’s currently assistant general manager of Dongling High-Tech and also holds positions like head of HR—she’s a well-known female executive from Pingyang..."

As he spoke, Wei Changyuan suddenly fell silent, staring at An Ruxue with a look of stunned suspicion. "Ruxue, are you trying to ask..."

"Yao Luoying is the daughter of Deputy Mayor Yao, who oversees commerce and industry in Pingyang!"

After whispering this, Wei Changyuan fell silent. He didn’t know why An Ruxue had suddenly brought up Yao Luoying, but as an old hand, he sensed something was off and dared not say more—when it came to Li Dongling, An Ruxue, Yao Luoying, and their respective families, An and Yao, he felt his head was already throbbing.

"Thank you, Uncle Wei. I understand."

An Ruxue told Wei Changyuan, then stood up and picked up tomorrow’s interview script, but her mind couldn’t help drifting to Li Dongling’s figure today—her gaze hardened.

"Luoying, want some more? I saved you some soup!" Yao family home—Han Liuping spoke as Yao Luoying returned.

"No thanks, I already ate."

Yao Zhengru, who had been reading a book on overseas urban transformations, noticed Yao Luoying seemed in good spirits. "Something happen?"

"No," Yao Luoying replied, puzzled by his question.

Closing his book, Yao Zhengru looked at his daughter. "Did someone come from the provincial capital?"

"How did you know?!" Yao Luoying asked in surprise. "The provincial station sent people—they’re doing an exclusive interview with Dongling High-Tech."

"Pingyang’s this small—any little stir spreads fast."

Yao Zhengru said, then looked at his daughter with slightly more seriousness. "That reporter from the provincial capital? She’s the daughter of Director An from the provincial propaganda committee."

Yao Luoying, who had just picked up an apple and was about to take a bite, paused, her surprise quickly replaced by indifference. "Old Comrade Yao, you’ve got some impressive connections."

"Your old man has his own contacts in the provincial capital," Yao Zhengru chuckled, looking at Yao Luoying. "Your mother and I have only one daughter—our hearts are on you, nowhere else."

Glancing at Han Liuping bustling in the kitchen, he added, "Your relationship with Li Dongling—you young people decide it yourselves. Just don’t regret it later."

"Got it, Old Comrade Yao. When did you start sounding like Aunt Han?"

"What’s that? You little brat, what are you making fun of me for now?!" Han Liuping rushed out from the kitchen and poked Yao Luoying’s head with her finger.

Watching Yao Luoying and Han Liuping, Yao Zhengru smiled faintly, then reopened his urban planning book—but his mind drifted to An Yueguo, whom he’d met a few times, and finally shook his head, returning to his reading.

"Director Li, long time no see!"

Zheng Zutai greeted Li Dongling at the television station entrance.

"I should congratulate you, Director Zheng!"

After shaking hands with Zheng Zutai, Li Dongling said to him—they’d dealt with each other several times, and Dongling High-Tech now advertised on Pingyang Television; Zheng Zutai was essentially Dongling High-Tech’s “insider” in the media industry.

Though Pingyang Television wasn’t a major platform, it was still part of the media landscape—and having an insider benefited Dongling High-Tech.

"Director Wei!"

"Director Wang!"

After entering the station, Li Dongling exchanged pleasantries with Wei Changyuan, Wang Huikang, and others.

"Have some water first!"

An Ruxue poured Li Dongling a glass of water, then smoothed out the wrinkles in his collar. "Review the interview script first. Besides the questions listed, there will be some spontaneous ones—during the interview, BBC reporters may ask questions too. You can choose not to answer, and we can edit them out later."

Watching the easy familiarity between Li Dongling and An Ruxue, Wei Changyuan, Wang Huikang, and Zheng Zutai exchanged glances, then silently withdrew.

Just before entering the interview studio, Li Dongling saw the BBC reporter named Pan En—but he showed no intention to speak with Li Dongling, instead chatting with another BBC crew member, occasionally glancing toward Li Dongling.

"Welcome to today’s joint exclusive interview, presented by the Hanxi Provincial Television Station, Pingyang Television, and the BBC!"

"We are honored to have with us today Mr. Li Dongling, founder of Dongling High-Tech!"

As the host of this interview, An Ruxue faced the camera, finished speaking, took a deep breath, and looked at Li Dongling.

"Director Li, I’m sure everyone wants to know—why did you establish Dongling High-Tech?!" An Ruxue asked the first question.

"Perhaps it was an accident. While working at the Yuanqi Factory in Shangguan Town, I bought a batch of computers—the mouse experience was terrible. Dongling High-Tech was founded to develop the best mouse possible. I’m not sure if we’ve succeeded yet, but we’ve given users one more choice."

Hearing Li Dongling’s answer, An Ruxue looked at him—he spoke vaguely, but she knew that the Silver Mink mouse had already become one of the household names for mice.

"Director Li, what do you think distinguishes the provincial capital from Pingyang—or other cities?!" An Ruxue suddenly set down her teleprompter and asked Li Dongling.

The director overseeing the interview couldn’t help whispering to Wei Changyuan and others seated nearby: "That question isn’t on the script..."

"During interviews, hosts have room for improvisation. Keep recording," Wei Changyuan coughed and said.

Li Dongling looked at An Ruxue. "The past cannot be undone, the future is unknown. For me, I only look to today."

An Ruxue studied Li Dongling deeply, then asked several more questions—mostly standard ones—when suddenly a voice rang out: "Excuse me, may I ask Mr. Li Dongling a question?"

The speaker was the BBC reporter Pan En. After receiving permission, he asked Li Dongling: "Congratulations to Dongling High-Tech—you’ve developed a product beloved worldwide. The electronic pet is now one of Europe’s most sought-after gadgets!"

Pan En clearly hadn’t been in China long—he first praised Dongling High-Tech, then shifted tone: "Mr. Li seems strongly supportive of Chinese domestic brands, yet aside from Dongling High-Tech, no other domestic tech brand has emerged to offer outstanding products."

"I don’t mean to belittle your tech industry, but the gap between your products and foreign brands remains enormous—in aircraft, automobiles, computers, and more. There’s no sign of catching up in the next twenty years."

"Mr. Li, is it still worthwhile to persist with domestic brands? Will Dongling High-Tech consider distributing foreign brands? I’ve heard American tech companies are interested in partnering with Dongling High-Tech to have you distribute their products!"

(End of Chapter)