Chapter 17: A Little Bit More

The program entered a commercial break.

The customer service department was hit with a massive bombardment of phone calls.

Many people were curious about the unsolvable nature of the Bootstrap Paradox.

If it were possible, the audience would have wanted Jiang Zhe to continue speaking for ten days and nine nights.

The young operator answered a call, but before she could say anything, a rapid-fire barrage of words came from the other side.

"Bring him back! Don't let him end the broadcast! If you don't let Jiang Zhe continue the program tonight, I won't watch any of your future shows."

The operator was dazed; she knew the show was popular, but she hadn't expected it to be this popular.

"Um, if you have any questions, you can ask me. I'm also a graduate of a science and engineering university."

"Alright then, who exactly wrote the 'hamlet' in the Bootstrap Paradox?"

"It was definitely written by William Shakespeare! Who else could it be, me?"

"Hmph, I knew you didn't watch the show. Clearly, Xiao Ming brought the book back from 2024 to the Renaissance and gave it to William Shakespeare. So who do you say wrote it?"

"This..."

The operator was dumbfounded.

She quickly switched her phone to the online livestream room.

A single glance was enough to see the screen filled with bullet comments asking: [Who was the original author of William Shakespeare's work!]

She scrolled back and finally saw the paradox Jiang Zhe had proposed.

"This... how could I possibly know? hamlet just appeared out of thin air. This substitute host's original thinking is absolutely ridiculous!"

Scenes like this played out across the entire customer service department.

Almost everyone looked at each other, shaking their heads helplessly.

Usually, everyone was quite idle and lived a comfortable life.

Until Jiang Zhe arrived.

...

Inside the studio hall.

Having finished his first live broadcast, Jiang Zhe took a deep breath.

This broadcast went well; there were no accidents, and many situations requiring quick thinking were skillfully resolved.

The scene was silent for a moment, followed by thunderous applause.

"Teacher Jiang, beautiful job!"

"Teacher, I'm a fan of yours from now on!"

"As a colleague, no one is better at turning the tide than you!"

"..."

This time, Jiang Zhe's debut left the on-site photographers, the director, the staff, and even the interviewees completely convinced of his talent.

Jiang Zhe stood up and gave an amiable smile to the audience below.

"If it weren't for everyone's hard work, tonight's program wouldn't have gone so smoothly!"

At this moment, a middle-aged director wearing a military-green vest and a white hat asked curiously, "Little Teacher Jiang, this Bootstrap Paradox... can you really solve it? The internet is currently in a heated debate over it!"

Jiang Zhe nodded slightly. "Naturally. Since I proposed it, I can solve it."

The chief director smiled and said, "Then our ratings for the next episode are guaranteed at the very least. Little Teacher Jiang, go to the leadership conference room now. There are two pieces of good news that Station Manager Zhao will tell you shortly."

"Oh, no rush. I'll go rest for a bit first."

He needed to take this time to check the system rewards.

Led by the assistant, Make-up Artist, Jiang Zhe returned to the backstage lounge.

"Make-up Artist, you can go home first. I'll remove the makeup myself."

Seeing Make-up Artist yawning repeatedly while removing his makeup, Jiang Zhe spoke to her tired reflection in the mirror.

The young assistant was somewhat moved. Jiang Zhe didn't have the arrogance of other hosts; he was a truly capable and cultured person.

Since the production team had assigned her to follow Teacher Jiang, she naturally couldn't just abandon her post!

"It's no trouble. I'll leave after I finish removing your makeup."

"No need. You head back first."

The two went back and forth for a moment, but ultimately unable to overcome Jiang Zhe's persistence, Make-up Artist could only bow and leave the lounge.

"Teacher Jiang, goodbye. You should also go back and rest early."

"Mm-hmm."

A moment later, the sound of interviewees knocking came from outside the door.

"Wait for me a moment."

The priority was to check the system's settlement notification.

He closed his eyes and immersed himself in his mind.

[Ding! Debut finished. You have gained +1.24 million audience emotion points this time.]

[Congratulations, you have received 80% audience approval.]

[Current progress: 5%!]

[We are very sorry, the Bootstrap Paradox has not received approval from others!]

[Congratulations, the Newbie Gift Pack has been issued!]

Jiang Zhe scanned the light blue panel carefully.

"I've finally completed the first task. The second one, the Bootstrap Paradox, was only introduced and not explained, so it's impossible to reach 80% approval from others."

"What's in the Newbie Gift Pack?"

He raised his hand, then opened his eyes to check the lounge; fortunately, there were no surveillance cameras.

He felt at ease as he lightly tapped the red gift box in the air.

[Newbie Gift Pack opened!]

[Congratulations, you have obtained a potion: Stamina Potion +1]

[Stamina Potion: Increases all attributes by 5 points, making you healthier and more powerful, and enhancing that damn temperament!]

The Stamina Potion was in a blue bottle, a very ordinary-looking potion.

He didn't rush to drink it, instead quickly clicking into the [Mall].

The mall's layout was simple, mostly consisting of practical items and abilities.

His attention focused on daily life abilities.

[Special Effects Technology...]

[Graphic Design Technology...]

[Hacking Technology...]

[Eloquence of a Failed Art Student: 1 Million!]

"Is it what I think it is?"

He focused his attention, and the details of the ability appeared.

[Eloquence of a Failed Art Student: What you narrate will have a greater sense of immersion and presence; others will easily fall into fantasies!]

"You're the one."

Without a second thought, he clicked to exchange.

[Congratulations, you have obtained the speech ability: Eloquence of a Failed Art Student +1]

This energy was like a flood, striking every one of Jiang Zhe's nerves.

A moment later, a smile appeared on Jiang Zhe's face as he lightly touched the ability again.

"Quite interesting!"

This ability had almost no physical sensation, but he felt that his speech would become extremely provocative.

He cleared his throat, his eyes suddenly focusing on the mirror, and a magnetic and high-pitched voice came from his mouth.

"Have you been to the market?"

"Do you know how much a loaf of bread costs now?"

"500,000 marks!"

"500,000 marks—that's more money than a wheelbarrow can hold!"

"..."

"As long as one person of Xia remains alive, the war shall continue!"

After saying this, even Jiang Zhe himself was stunned.

He felt his own blood boiling as he listened; it was inspiring and somehow carried a certain 'flavor'!

If he were to travel to a feudal era, he could truly use the Eloquence of a Failed Art Student and his knowledge to win over a large number of talented individuals.

In a short time, overthrowing a feudal dynasty would be no problem at all.

He withdrew from his fantasy, the smile on his face growing wider.

Then he took out the light blue potion and downed it in one gulp.

...

At this time, the interviewees and the leaders who had rushed over to congratulate him were outside the door.

Station Manager Zhao, Wang Guosheng, and the others had just arrived when they heard Jiang Zhe's passionate speech from inside the lounge.

Old Zhao couldn't help his Adam's apple from bobbing. "What on earth is he doing in there? Why do I feel like I want to travel back to ancient times and rebel against a feudal dynasty?"

Wang Guosheng had a cold expression, his fists clenched tight. "I feel like I've already led my subordinates to the top of the world!"

The older men might have been fine, but Xiao Shiyi, Wang Lin, and the successful interviewees were even more fanatical.

"Very interesting, he's actually roleplaying That Man!"

"It makes me want to... do that thing."

"Don't say it out loud, or we'll be labeled as rebels!"

"But the next episode isn't about roleplaying a failed art student!"

"Who knows? It's understandable for everyone to have their own little quirks!"

"..."

Just as everyone was confused and shocked, the door opened.

Old Zhao and Wang Guosheng were about to say something when they were stunned by Jiang Zhe's appearance.

The moment everyone there saw Jiang Zhe, their eyes were drawn to his ethereal temperament, their faces full of disbelief.

"Did he get more handsome?"

"It's not that he got more handsome; it's more like his temperament has improved!"

"Holy crap, I'm having a physical reaction, and I'm a guy!"

"Such an incredible temperament!"

"..."

If the previous Jiang Zhe was just a handsome guy who could debut in a talent show, the current Jiang Zhe was fair-skinned while also exuding an air of elegance and masculine vitality.

Every move he made revealed a sense of composure and maturity.

A slight smile was enough to captivate anyone!

If there were a phrase for it, it would be a 'mature man's' soul and temperament within a young body.

Combined with his men's cologne, it sent many women—and even a few men—into a strange fantasy.

The young and middle-aged women at the door had glowing eyes, swallowing their saliva.

"Everyone, sorry for the wait. Please come in!"

Jiang Zhe sensed something was slightly off, so he gave a polite smile, pushed the door fully open, and welcomed everyone in.