"Hello, Secretary Zhou. I'm Tian Tian, a reporter with the Liaodong Daily. As the former lead investigator in the arson case, what are your thoughts on the findings Director Chen Bin just announced?"
Tian Tian's lovely, almond-shaped eyes were intent, and sincerity filled her fair, delicate face. Her soft, pleasant voice, meanwhile, was entirely professional.
She went straight to the point, but still left him some room to maneuver.
He was one of her own, after all. She ought to go easy on him.
Otherwise, "what are your thoughts" would have become "do you agree?"
"Director Chen is right. The investigation into the arson case is indeed nearing its conclusion," Zhou Yi said, nodding expressionlessly.
Chen Bin's account of the case had run to several hundred words. Apart from "the investigation into the arson case is nearing its conclusion," every word of it had been bullshit.
That was his opinion.
Tian Tian instantly understood his unspoken meaning. She knew this man far too well.
So she made only a token follow-up. "Anything else?"
"No!" Zhou Yi replied, shaking his head.
Most of those admitted to the press conference that day represented established media outlets from Capital City and various provinces and cities, with official media making up the bulk of them.
The local Jiangnan media's assignment was to ask gentle questions and produce clarifying reports favorable to the Changtian City Public Security Bureau, steering and calming the raging public outcry as much as possible.
Before coming, media outlets from some friendly provinces and cities had also received instructions from their superiors to exercise discretion and avoid pointed questions.
What Changtian City's officials had not expected, however, was the sheer number of media outlets applying to attend. Even after more than half had been screened out, over thirty remained, packing the