Part 1

Tong Lan snapped back to her senses, lowered her head and took a bite of rice. “It’s nothing. I was just checking what was going on outside.”

Qi Kai pulled the corner of his lips into a smile. “Did you see what was going on? Gu Hong is pretty handsome, right?”

Tong Lan was stunned for a moment. She looked up and glared at him, repeatedly denying it. “What are you talking about? I didn’t see anything.”

Seeing Gu Hong walk into the shop, Qi Kai quickly put away his expression, pulled out a chair for him, and said, “Tired? If you’re tired… Tong Lan, why don’t you crack a few walnuts for him to eat?”

As he spoke, he shot a look at Tong Lan.

This was clearly playing matchmaker. Tong Lan naturally understood.

But she just focused on eating, pretending not to hear anything else.

A moment later, seeing Lin You get up to wash the dishes, she quickly snatched them away and said, “You cooked, I’ll clean up.”

As she passed by Gu Hong, her heart suddenly beat faster. She took large steps and hurried to the back kitchen sink.

Only then did Gu Hong remove his leather gloves, take off the sunglasses on his face, and sit down.

Lowering his head for a sniff, he felt all the fatigue from delivering milk vanish. “So working for Boss Lin comes with so many perks.”

Just as he started eating, a car pulled up outside.

A reporter with shoulder-length hair jumped down from the car. Her eyes were big and bright, and her small pointed face was clearly very photogenic.

Behind her followed a male cameraman carrying a camera on his shoulder. When he saw Gu Hong, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The cameraman whispered something into the female reporter’s ear. She glanced at Qi Kai and Gu Hong, nodded, and said, “Perfect. I’ll grab a shot right here first.”

Hearing this, Gu Hong immediately stood up, intending to make space for them.

Unexpectedly, the female reporter refused. “No need to move. We’ll just casually film a few shots of that eating scene from earlier.”

Gu Hong swallowed a piece of potato. “Huh? Film us eating?”

The female reporter firmly said, “That’s right. You’ll get a close-up.”

Gu Hong was stunned. “I just rushed back. Still covered in dust and dirt…”

The female reporter gave him a look. “Trust me. You’ll look good on camera. Even though dusty, we still need to film you.”

Gu Hong nearly choked on his saliva. “You’re this determined? You’re mainly here to interview Lin You. Boss Lin looks great and could totally pass for a celebrity…”

The female reporter suddenly changed the subject and asked, “You’re with Fifth Division, right?”

Gu Hong was a bit confused. “Yeah.”

The female reporter told him, “Then that’s perfect. Director Shang asked me to come. Aside from filming the breakfast shop, I also need to shoot people from the Fifth Division. Weren’t you originally a civilian organization? Now that the government’s involved, you’re at least semi-official. But I know your team members are all very unique.”

Gu Hong was a retired soldier. He nodded while listening to the female reporter.

She continued, “The public still doesn’t know much about you. Director Shang wants the members of the Fifth Division to make more public appearances. That way, people can feel reassured knowing the ones protecting Ancheng are working hard. Then they can regain confidence in daily life and production. Once life and the economy are back to normal in Ancheng, the higher-ups can start the next stage.”

Gu Hong understood. “Alright. What do you need us to do?”

The female reporter replied, “Just like earlier. Eat as usual. Now that most restaurants in the city have shut down, it’s rare to see a scene like that. It really brings back the old warmth of Ancheng.”

Gu Hong followed up. “So it’s mainly to help people feel reassured, right?”

The female reporter said, “Exactly.”

Gu Hong sat back down and had just picked up his chopsticks when the cameraman finished setting up the camera.

Because the lighting in the shop was a bit dim, they added some natural light.

Qi Kai, seeing all this, immediately picked up his bowl of rice and started eating on camera, looking quite natural.

But with it being so formal, Gu Hong suddenly froze.

He originally wanted to pick up a piece of chicken, but no matter how he tried, it felt off and a bit awkward.

He sighed. “I rarely take photos, let alone videos. I probably have camera fright. I really can’t do this.”

The female reporter was about to try persuading him again.

After all, this face was really handsome.

If he became the face of the Fifth Division, it would greatly increase the public’s sense of security…

Tong Lan had been quietly listening for a long time. Now she suddenly spoke up:

“Anyone would be nervous facing the camera for the first time. I’ll help him out.”

The female reporter waved her over. “Yes, yes, sit here and just talk to him normally.”

Tong Lan sat at the table, picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of chicken from the plate, and looked up at Gu Hong, saying:

“No worries. Just pretend the camera’s not there. If you’re too nervous, just focus on the chicken.”

She kept chatting with Gu Hong. Qi Kai, sitting beside them, acted as if no one else was there and kept eating happily.

Influenced by the two of them, Gu Hong followed along, picked up a piece of chicken, and suddenly felt much more at ease.

The cameraman carried the camera over, walking steadily, then slowly moved sideways.

After capturing shots from different angles, the female reporter leaned over to the camera to take a look and said, “Alright, these will mainly be used for background footage. After editing, they’ll be added appropriately to the news depending on the interview content.”

She then looked toward Lin You, who was standing nearby, and said, “You’re Lin You, right? It’s your turn now. Do you want to take off the apron?”

Lin You thought for a moment and said, “Better not. I’m making breakfast after all, wearing it looks more authentic.”

The female reporter nodded, “Alright.”

The two of them walked out of the breakfast shop. Tong Lan followed and stood at a corner outside the camera’s view, watching Lin You.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous. The moment the camera turned on and the reporter’s pleasant broadcasting voice started, Lin You’s fingertips began to tremble.

Tong Lan saw her tension and couldn’t help feeling anxious too.

Some of the lines were ones Lin You had prepared in advance, like how to explain the current food storage situation at the breakfast shop, what citizens should pay attention to when making purchases, and informing the public of the healing properties of the “special cultivation” vegetables.

All of this was memorized, but once the reporter began asking questions and handed her the microphone, Lin You could usually respond quite well, though she often forgot a few lines.

After several takes, Lin You felt discouraged.

“This kind of news interview is actually pretty hard…” She leaned against the wall outside the breakfast shop and said with a sigh.

The female reporter encouraged her, “You’re already doing quite well. I’ve met all kinds of interviewees. Most people are fine normally, but once the camera is on, there are plenty who can’t say a single complete sentence.”

Lin You looked up, “Really?”

The reporter nodded, “Of course. Wasn’t that the case with Gu Hong earlier?”

“Relax. You have a lot of things to say. Take your time and don’t put too much pressure on yourself.” Qi Kai’s voice came from the side.

Lin You glanced toward the corner. Tong Lan, Qi Kai, Qu Fei, and Gu Hong were all there.

The four of them were watching her intently, which made her even more nervous.

“No, no, no, you guys better head back. With you here, I’m even more likely to forget what I’m supposed to say.” Lin You said.

Tong Lan turned around and pushed the others back inside. “Go, go, let’s not cause her more trouble or waste the reporter’s time.”

Before leaving, Qi Kai still didn’t forget to cheer her on, “Good luck! If it really doesn’t work, I’ll go buy a giant cue card, make sure you can see it no matter how far away you are!”

Lin You turned her head and looked at him, “It’s not that hard. A cue card wouldn’t be worth it. Plus, the moment I see the words, my eyes will get stuck, and the interview won’t feel natural.”

Just as she finished speaking, the reporter’s eyes lit up. “How about we change the interview format?”

Lin You asked curiously, “What format?”

The reporter suggested, “Why don’t we interview you while you’re making breakfast? Just now, you kept staring at the camera, and your posture was a bit stiff. How about you totally relax and just act like you normally do while making breakfast, and I’ll just casually ask a few questions. Say whatever comes to mind. That way, you might remember all the points you need to mention.”

That was actually a good idea.

Lin You’s eyes were already sore from focusing. Now she finally relaxed and stretched her slightly stiff back.

·

The two of them returned to the breakfast shop.

Lin You stood by the stove, turned on the gas, and brought out the leftover pancake batter from that morning. She also placed eggs, chopped scallions, sauces, and other condiments from under the counter onto the table.

Even before the camera started rolling, Lin You had already skillfully poured the batter onto the heated stove.

This was something she did every morning, so her movements were practiced and natural.

The female reporter and the cameraman exchanged a look and nodded.

The cameraman removed the lens cap and aimed the camera at Lin You.

The reporter began asking questions.

But this time, she didn’t use the microphone.

She spoke just like any regular customer asking the shop owner questions, her tone less formal and much softer.

After all, with this scene and angle, the footage couldn’t be used as a standard news interview. It would be edited more like a documentary, so this interview style was actually more appropriate.

While cracking an egg on the bowl’s edge, Lin You spoke the lines she had prepared.

But this time, she barely needed to think. Everything she wanted to say came out smoothly, as if she had practiced it countless times.

Maybe because she wasn’t nervous anymore, it was easier not to forget what she wanted to say.

Tong Lan, Qi Kai, and the others stood nearby, holding their breath as they listened. They finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin You was in good form, and she answered all of the reporter’s questions fluently.

After the interview, they had gathered enough footage.

Just in time, Lin You also finished making the pancake.

She packed it into a paper bag and handed it to the reporter, saying, “This one’s for you. You can give it a try.”

The reporter took the pancake and, after a bite, was surprised by how good it tasted. She couldn’t help but praise it from the heart.