Chapter 1: Selected as a Host

Evening, Su City.

Inside the conference room of the Television Station.

"I've transmigrated?"

Jiang Zhe sat in the conference room, looking at the interviewees in their suits and leather shoes with a dazed expression.

He had clearly just been lecturing students on the Grandfather Paradox in a university public class; who would have thought he'd transmigrate right after class!

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over him.

He steadied his forehead, and soon, the fusion of memories was complete.

From these memories, he learned—

This world was largely the same as his previous one.

This was a world where scientific theories were underdeveloped, yet scientific paradoxes were experiencing a sudden surge.

Paradoxes like the Grandfather Paradox, Zhuang Zhou Dreams of a Butterfly, and the Ship of Theseus had actually only been proposed in the last few years of the 21st century.

René Barjavel, the French novelist from the last century who proposed the 'Grandfather Paradox', was actually a young, bestselling science fiction author in modern-day France!

Professor Zhuangzi, who proposed 'Zhuang Zhou Dreams of a Butterfly', was not a man from the Warring States period either, but a living, gold-medal professor in the Philosophy Department of Kyoto's Tsinghua University!

The one who proposed the 'Ship of Theseus' wasn't an ancient Greek philosopher either, but a modern Greek philosopher with the same name: Plutarch!

These paradoxes, which shattered traditional understanding, quickly sparked a nationwide craze for learning.

Universities had even established a new 'Paradox Discipline', attracting a massive number of high school seniors to apply.

For Jiang Zhe, whose predecessor held dual positions as a philosophy and science professor, this was practically heaven!

"In my past life, I was someone who played with scientific and philosophical paradoxes in the palm of my hand."

"In this world, paradoxes have only just started becoming popular..."

"My foresight will allow me to stand above everyone else in this world."

After a second of excitement, he looked at his failed exam paper, and a trace of loneliness flashed across his face.

In recent years, due to the explosive growth of science popularization programs nationwide.

This resulted in poor viewership ratings for a heavily industrialized city like Su City. After a busy day at work, who would want to watch science popularization without any excitement?

While the paradox niche was emerging globally, Old Zhao, the head of the Su City General Television Station, took a different approach: he switched to a new niche: [Deciphering Paradoxes].

Since they couldn't beat other cities head-on, it was better to change tracks and shine on their own.

Like the classic time-travel paradox of the Grandfather Paradox—

The core paradoxical point:

Did I really travel back to the past and kill my grandfather?

For everyone in this world, this was an unsolvable puzzle.

But for Jiang Zhe, it was a piece of cake!

Previously, Old Zhao, the station head, had spent a fortune to recruit five people from Kyoto, including professors of physics, philosophy, and psychology. At first, the public tuned in for the novelty, and the ratings were decent.

Who would have thought that after two or three episodes, those professors would run out of steam.

Under the gimmick of deciphering paradoxes, viewers clicked in only to see those five elderly men chatting about trivial matters.

In the end, they happily took their salaries while just making small talk.

Because of this, Su City General Television Station learned its lesson and started hiring qualified graduates.

But who would have thought that Jiang Zhe's predecessor would be rejected during the written exam stage?

Jiang Zhe looked around and then helplessly at the [Rejected] exam paper.

His heart was weary, so weary!

He wanted to be a host, but he lacked the means; he had even failed the written exam.

Just as he was about to get up and leave.

A cold system notification sounded in Jiang Zhe's mind.

[Ding! The Science Popularization Comes True System has been unlocked!]

"Science Popularization Comes True System?"

Jiang Zhe was stunned, his gaze burning, and his heart began to throb rapidly.

"What does this mean?"

[As the name suggests: When you successfully decipher a paradox and reach an 80% approval rating from the viewers watching the program, progress points will accumulate!]

[When your deciphering progress reaches 100%, the paradox you deciphered will become a reality instance for selected challengers worldwide to conquer, thereby verifying whether your decipherment is feasible!]

As a series of light blue notifications appeared.

Jiang Zhe couldn't help but gulp.

The power of the Science Popularization Comes True System was actually this formidable!

As long as he kept deciphering and accumulating progress, he would change the entire world in the future.

Living a second life, perhaps in this world, he could take a new path, just like that Television Station head.

He calmed his emotions and scrolled through the system panel.

[Current Progress: 0%]

[Current Profession: None]

[Personal Panel: Jiang Zhe, 24 years old...]

[Master, please quickly become a science popularization program host to harvest emotional points from others. Emotional points can be used to exchange for various items in the mall!]

"I want to, but I've already been rejected!"

After being rejected by this city's Television Station, he could only move to another city and interview again, but that would mean waiting another year.

He couldn't afford to waste a year!

Just as he was at his wits' end, the conference room door was suddenly pushed open.

A middle-aged man in his 40s wearing a suit ran in, constantly checking his watch and speaking with an anxious expression.

"The program is about to start. Today's theme for our station is: The Grandfather Paradox."

"The previous young host got stage fright and is currently nowhere to be found. We urgently need a substitute."

"I don't care whether you passed the written or oral exams; we're running out of time."

"Anyone will do. As long as you think you can handle it and are willing to bear any potential damage to your reputation."

"Hurry up!"

The speaker was Wang Guosheng, the head of the Broadcasting Department.

These words clearly showed that Wang Guosheng didn't think highly of anyone present.

The people there were just trainee hosts, lacking both experience and skill.

But an emergency had occurred, and someone had to step up!

All the interviewees looked surprised, their hearts racing.

"Holy crap, the Grandfather Paradox. Who can solve that? Even physicists all over the world can't solve it."

"Damn, this paradox is too difficult. Once the logic loops, no one knows who killed the grandfather. I can't seize this opportunity at all!"

"I can't afford the loss of reputation. I can't do it; I've never hosted a program independently."

"..."

A cacophony of discussion broke out.

Could they really get hired directly from their first interview?

A few were eager to try, but after looking around and seeing the tense situation, they lost their nerve.

They didn't think a rookie host could handle such a major situation.

No one was willing to gamble their future on their reputation. If they failed this time, they would be barred from the hosting industry forever.

Unconsciously, all the trainee hosts who had passed their interviews turned their eyes toward Jiang Zhe.

He was the only one here who had failed the written exam!

"Brother, since you failed the written exam anyway, you won't have another chance later."

"Yeah, seize the opportunity. Soaring to success could be just around the corner."

"..."

Although they said this, their faces were full of mockery.

Someone who could even fail a written exam...

Even though they had passed the exam, none of them dared to step up, let alone someone who had failed the paper.

Seeing this, a slight smile curved on Jiang Zhe's lips. He wasn't going to lower himself to the level of these "children." His strength simply wouldn't allow him to embarrass himself.

"What's your name?"

"Jiang Zhe."

Noticing everyone's eyes were on Jiang Zhe, Old Wang asked impatiently, "Young man, are you willing to give it a try?"

Without a second thought, Jiang Zhe stood up and said solemnly, "Just leave it to me."