One by one, the contestants continued to walk into the audition room, and without exception, they all became cannon fodder. Fortunately, their professional skills weren’t impressive; one girl who stood out too much came off as overly theatrical, which made it easier for Evelyn to hit the elimination button without feeling guilty.

Then, contestant number 3888 stepped into the studio, and Evelyn felt a spark of excitement. He was a tall, sunny boy with striking features that exuded a hint of toughness. When he spoke, his deep, resonant baritone filled the room, and his clear enunciation showed he had real talent.

His performance completely exceeded Evelyn's expectations, and she clicked the pass button.

According to Director Logan's plan, the last spot for advancement would go to Jenny, so regardless of how talented the subsequent contestants were, they were destined for elimination.

Several contestants after him performed mediocrity until a girl named Sophie Kyle appeared, finally stirring Evelyn’s interest.

Sophie had a delicate and charming face, the kind that was perfect for the camera. Standing a bit taller than Evelyn's 165 cm, she radiated youthful energy. Even more impressive was her articulate and smooth delivery, with impeccable pauses and rhythm.

This girl was a gem; both inside and out, she could easily overshadow Jenny.

Curious, Evelyn flipped through Sophie’s profile: sixteen years old, with her father deceased and her mother working as a sanitation worker.

Evelyn glanced at her two colleagues—one shook his head lightly while the other pretended to offer a serious critique of Sophie.

From Evelyn’s perspective, Sophie's skills were excellent, and the colleague's comments were just nitpicking. Given her family background, this girl must have high hopes in entering the competition. If selected, with her talent, she was bound to achieve great things in time.

Evelyn didn't want to see such a promising candidate go to waste; without hesitation, her finger pressed the advancement button.

Her colleagues let out discontented coughs beside her.

Sophie advanced smoothly, and the auditions approached their conclusion.

After the live broadcast, Director Logan summoned Evelyn into an empty office next door, his face darkened as he laid down the law: Jenny's elimination had caused a five-million-dollar loss for the station, and Evelyn would have to bear that cost.

On top of the existing twenty million in advertising performance, Evelyn needed to secure an additional five million in advertising contracts for the station by the end of March. Otherwise, she would lose her positions as a financial anchor and interview host, and be relegated to the role of an on-location reporter.

Compared to the glamorous life of an anchor, being an on-location reporter meant enduring harsh conditions with little time off throughout the year.

No matter what Director Logan said, Evelyn agreed without rebuttal.

For a twenty-five million advertising contract, she couldn't think of anyone who could help her other than Jason.

On the drive back to 9Bliss Garden, Evelyn decided to call Jason.

No answer.

Finally, she couldn’t sit still any longer and booked a flight to Capital City, landing at ten-thirty that night.

Jason had two properties in Capital City, with the larger flat in the third ring often serving as his base. She had been there with him twice before and knew the door code.

On the way, she kept sending Jason WhatsApp messages and calling, but there was still no response.

Upon arriving, her disappointment deepened.

Jason wasn’t home, and the room had a musty smell from being unoccupied for a while. The toothbrush and towels in the bathroom were just as she had left them last time.

She opened the living room window and, feeling defeated, dialed Tyler's number.

Tyler was surprised to hear she was in Capital City. “There’s been a situation at the company; VP Stark left for Riverton two hours ago and is currently in a high-level meeting.”

“Maybe he hasn’t had a chance to check his phone,” she said, trying to save face.

After checking their schedules, she rubbed her chest, trying to comfort herself and suppress her anger, while inwardly cursing Jason.

Before boarding her flight, she had left a message for Jason on WhatsApp saying she was coming to Capital City to be with him, yet now he hadn’t even bothered to reply.

Now she felt like she had wasted her evening making a trip to Capital City for nothing!

Sophie’s advancement had left the higher-ups at the station displeased with her, so she needed to keep a low profile for the time being and avoid taking any leave if possible.

To avoid delaying her normal work schedule tomorrow, she booked a flight to Riverton that departed at one in the morning. After going through security, she stepped into the waiting area and unexpectedly ran into William.

William was wearing a navy blue suit with a light blue shirt and no tie, carrying a twenty-inch suitcase. With his good looks and tall stature, combined with his warm demeanor, he stood out in the crowd.

Just as she was about to greet him, William approached her with a smile.

“Miss Joy.”

“Mr. Leighton.”

William extended his hand first, and after a moment of hesitation, she offered her right hand.

The instant their palms touched, a word came to her mind: warmth.

Jason’s hands brought her memories of strength—either pulling or pushing her around; the gentlest moments were in bed. Those hands sparked passion and led her to ecstasy but never provided her with a sense of security.

She couldn't understand why every time she saw William, she felt the need to compare him to Jason.

She quickly shook off this ridiculous thought and smiled at William. “What a coincidence, Mr. Leighton, you're also flying to Riverton at this hour.”

“That’s exactly what I was about to say. Miss Joy, you’re catching a flight at this time? It seems like being an anchor is busier than I imagined,” William replied, gesturing for her to take a seat.

They settled in a quiet corner.

“I’m in Capital City for personal matters,” Evelyn said, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction. She casually glanced at her watch. “Mr. Leighton, it’s already 12:01 AM; it’s a new day, and I’m bothering you again.”

William’s eyes sparkled with an indescribable gleam. “I’ve mentioned that being bothered by Miss Joy is a form of acknowledgment. I have nothing but gratitude for that.”

“Think about it some more; our team sincerely invites you to be a guest on the show.”

“Please, Miss Joy, don’t make it harder for me. Every time I turn you down, I feel a deep sense of guilt,” William said with a gentle smile, his tone and demeanor embodying a true gentleman.

“Let’s not discuss it today; I’ll continue to bother you tomorrow,” Evelyn said, feeling it was best to drop the subject for now.

William narrowed his eyes slightly. “Miss Joy, are you single?”

Evelyn froze.

If she said she was married, and William asked who her husband was, should she mention Jason's name?

Not saying anything would seem pretentious, but saying it would only lead to mockery about Jason's reputation.

She gave a vague “mm” in response.

William fixed his gaze on her, the smile on his handsome face deepening. “I’m a big fan of Finance Today, but I’ve only watched a few episodes of Business Talks. The Miss Joy on screen seems much more mature than in real life.”

“I think so too,” she agreed, slightly flattered.

William stood up, scanned the vending machine across from them, and retrieved two bottles of water, handing one to Evelyn.

“I have a niece in her second year of high school. She’s loved broadcasting since she was little and plans to take the professional exam for Capital Media University in two years. Could you spare some time to give her some pointers?”