NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24 Successfully Concluded the Interview
```
Cao Wendan concentrated on post-production below the stage, boldly removing all those inappropriate comments.
However, Lu Zhiyu on stage was completely oblivious, already feeling utterly defenseless against the seamless back-and-forth between Yan Yu and Chen Lingyun.
Heaven help me! When has Host Lu ever encountered such a situation in her decades-long career?
She had always effortlessly controlled the conversation, playing guests who were in an awkward position like they were within the palm of her hand. Unexpectedly, she stumbled this time, repeatedly embarrassed by two young people!
To avoid letting the guests continue to freestyle, Lu Zhiyu had no choice but to pick out the simpler, more predictable questions from the ones she had prepared in advance to ask.
"So, Captain Yan, what are your expectations for the future of this team?" she asked with a poised and intellectual demeanor, smiling, "Or rather, what is the team's long-term goal?"
The sacred duty of a soldier is to protect one's country and family; you should know how to answer this, right? Give me the standard response!
"Of course it's to be the strongest in this world," Yan Yu replied, also maintaining a composed posture, and answered with a smile, "Soldiers pursue victory and honor, and only the strong can achieve victory. Therefore, 'the strongest in this world' is the ultimate honor our team strives for. I believe there will be no other answer to this question."
Lu Zhiyu:......
Are you some modern-day king of soldiers?!
Of course, if she continued to push blindly, it would only lead to more shocking and sensational statements. Therefore, Lu Zhiyu wisely switched to another question:
"Recently, there has been a surge of formidable cultivators abroad. In the event of a geopolitical conflict or international competition, Captain Yan, are you confident of achieving victory and bringing glory to our country?"
I'm asking if you have the confidence to win, surely there can't be another answer to this, right?
"Abroad? Which country?" Yan Yu countered with disdainful indifference, "If it's not the Onmyoji nation, other countries' Transcendents aren't worth our Zhendong Army's attention. Miti has that so-called Superhero Legion, but it's essentially a foreign legion and I'm guessing they haven't even figured out what they're doing yet. As for the Onmyoji nation, they definitely can't beat us now.
Do you know where their national Onmyoji dojo is hidden? No idea, right? So why do you think it's kept secret? No need for me to explain further, right?"
Lu Zhiyu:......
Can you not go into so much detail? Is it that hard to say "we will do our best"?
Offstage, another signal came through, indicating that the interview time was nearly up. Lu Zhiyu was immediately relieved and brought out her prepared final question:
"Alright, in the end of the program, Captain Yan, what would you like to say to the cultivators of our Lu Country?"
Yan Yu pondered for a moment, turned his head to face the live camera, and seriously said:
"Although I am destined to be the strongest in this world, you all can vie for the position of the second strongest. The way of heaven is rewarding to those who strive, and gentlemen should never cease to be self-improving. Keep fighting, everyone. The era of great changes is upon us; even carps have the chance to leap over the Dragon Gate now!"
Captain Yan's final speech was full of passion and conviction, making a resonant impact. Downstairs, Cao Wendan swiftly pressed the delete key, removing the first part "I am destined... you all can vie..." with a snap, leaving only the latter "The way of heaven" part. After reading it several times, she couldn't help but praise loudly:
"Well said!"
"See?" Yan Yu turned to Chen Lingyun and said, "Even the production crew agrees, this interview went smoothly, didn't it? I don't know what Coach Qi was so worried about."
"Indeed," Chen Lingyun smiled, not feigned but genuinely satisfied, as if a person reveling in joy just had their fill of fun.
Having held back for so long, Lu Zhiyu finally managed to suppress the eloquent and dramatic words in her heart and said, with a polite, forced smile:
"It has been an honor to interview Captain Yan and Vice-Captain Chen this time. I hope we will have the opportunity to cooperate again."
Let the deputy editor handle the next interview; anyone who wants to come, let them come. I really wouldn't dare come back.
"You see?" Yan Yu continued, speaking to Chen Lingyun, "What did I tell you before?"
"You were right." Chen Lingyun's smile was full of charm—she certainly remembered Yan Yu saying before that "being interviewed by me is already their honor."
"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Lu," Yan Yu stood up and politely nodded to Lu Zhiyu.
Indeed, it was too much for me... Lu Zhiyu's sense of agitation somewhat subsided, only to hear Yan Yu continue:
"There might be some sensitive content in this interview, so feel free to cut anything you need to. Just prioritize the publicity goals."
If you knew it was sensitive content, why say it at all!
```
Lu Zhiyu could barely maintain his composure and had to pretend "someone was calling him from outside" as he quickly left the studio.
Yan Yu had just stretched when suddenly his phone rang.
["Liu Junior" has started a voice chat with you]
"Hello?" Yan Yu answered the call.
"Old Yan, I heard someone's been talking smack about me?" Liu Longtao asked directly on the other end, "I mean, that's a bit underhanded, isn't it?"
"You planted a spy on my side?" Yan Yu was astonished.
"Come on, do I need a spy?" Liu Longtao chuckled, "They were planning to interview me first, guess why?"
There are people from the Liu Family inside today's media company, aren't there? What's so hard to guess about that?
Chen Lingyun had mentioned before that "they were originally going to interview the Dingbei Army first, but it was changed to the Zhendong Army at the last minute" — it was obvious that their senior leadership was clashing, with the backing of the elders from both Liu Longtao's and Chen Lingyun's families.
Although the Chen Family won in the end, the Liu Family was not likely to cooperate willingly. Those controversial questions the host started with, would she dare to ask them without the nod from someone in authority above?
What a joke, thinking they could get the better of me, the strongest in this world!
"Badmouth you? Am I that kind of person?" Yan Yu replied nonchalantly with a smile, "What I said verbatim was, 'You are the main man of the Dingbei Army, you're number two and no one dares to claim number one.' If you don't believe me, ask your spy."
"Forget it." Liu Longtao expressed indifferently, "Old Yan, just enjoy your moment right now."
"What's wrong, have you prepared some secret weapon?" Yan Yu asked, grinning.
"No." Liu Longtao replied calmly, "To deal with your harem team, all fluttery and flirty, where's the need for any secret weapons?"
"Hey, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say anything." Yan Yu's tone suddenly became hostile, "Are you suggesting women can only join the team through underhanded means? Just wait, I'll record this conversation and post it online, let the ladies tear you a new one."
"Go right ahead." Liu Longtao laughed upon hearing this and asked, "Anyway, can Princess Jiang Hai tolerate you like this, without getting jealous or making a fuss?"
"Whether she can tolerate it or not, what can she do?" Yan Yu dismissed, "Don't forget, I am the captain!"
"Ha, just don't regret it." Liu Longtao said meaningfully, "With her temper, even her dad can't handle her."
"Lord Master." Chen Lingyun's sweet voice chimed in nearby, "Talking behind someone's back, who exactly is the one being underhanded?"
"Hahahaha, caught red-handed, I really need to slip away now." Liu Longtao laughed, "See you, Old Yan! I hope next time we meet, you can still smile as brightly and lively."
The voice chat was ended.
Chen Lingyun's fake smile was dazzling, and one couldn't see through what was on her mind. Yan Yu, on the other hand, was frowning, seemingly pondering some serious matter.
"Yan Yu." Chen Lingyun narrowed her eyes, "Don't think about unpleasant things~ Even I would get angry~"
"Don't be silly. I have no mood for your family's trivial matters." Yan Yu was silent for a while before speaking, "Have you been keeping up with the news from Lord Master recently?"
"No." Chen Lingyun replied, "We'll see when we confirm the fight with them. Why do you ask?"
She revealed a mocking smile and asked:
"It couldn't be that he really prepared some 'secret weapon' to deal with you, could it?"
Chen Lingyun's emphasis on the words "secret weapon" made her meaning more than clear:
Darling, you have the memories of a past life! What sort of secret weapon could possibly be a secret to you?
"No." Yan Yu shook his head and said, "I just realized, if we have to face off against Lord Master in the next match, our recent training intensity isn't quite sufficient."
Chen Lingyun's smile quickly faded from her face.