Chapter 20: The University Student Who Learned by Analogy

As soon as Jiang Zhe's first Weibo post was sent, it immediately attracted a massive crowd of night owls.

"Congratulations to the great host Jiang for joining Weibo! Your first livestream was even noticed and liked by a gold-medal writer from Jingdu!"

"A true talent, definitely a talented host!"

"After watching your livestream today, I feel like paradoxes aren't that unsolvable after all."

"That Writer Qian has a very sharp eye. None of the movies he's produced have earned less than 800 million at the box office. Now that the two of them are collaborating, they're probably going to make a fortune."

"..."

Jiang Zhe browsed through the comments and replied to them one by one:

"Thank you, everyone!"

The first few replies were fine, but as the comments and messages increased, he began to feel his scalp tingle.

"Jiang Zhe, tell me about the Bootstrap Paradox. I can't sleep."

"Jiang Zhe, are you single? What do you think of me?"

"Jiang Zhe, I'm also in Su City. Let's meet up when you're free; I'm a model."

"..."

He frowned and quickly clicked the close button.

It turned out that the feeling of becoming an overnight sensation was quite unpleasant!

Just then, Wang Lin cried out in surprise, "Holy crap, Teacher Jiang! Your video has already broken out of its niche and entered the top ten on Weibo, and it's still rising!"

This statement immediately surprised everyone present.

Everyone quickly opened their phones and clicked on Weibo.

Among the top ten on the Weibo night rankings, news about Jiang Zhe occupied three spots.

Grandfather Paradox? Just a mere paradox; with me here, it's nothing!》

《Who Says the Grandfather Paradox is Unsolvable?》

《Shocking! A Peak Debut—An Original Paradox That Will Blow Your Mind!》

At everyone's urging, Jiang Zhe also saw the three news items related to himself on the Weibo rankings.

The popularity of each one was dozens of times higher than Jiang Zhe's initial Weibo post.

"Impressive! After watching this guy's video, I actually think what he says makes some sense!"

"It's just fakery. He's just a 24-year-old substitute host. I'll admit his debut is a peak, but next time he'll probably be a flash in the pan."

"To the person above, if you're so good, why don't you try? I am Old Sun, the chief director of Yangcheng TV Station. I've watched his video; it's simple and easy to understand. Being able to explain complex things in a popular way is a real skill."

"His paradox analysis is entirely based on modern microscopy, Quantum Mechanics, and biology. I'm a science graduate who switched to media, and even I approve. Why don't you show your diploma and work ID? I, Old Sun, will give you an opportunity right now. If you're so good, why don't you try?"

"This... why should I believe you?"

"ID card... credential photo... selfie. If you're so good, why don't you try?"

"Diu lei lo mo! I didn't expect such a big director to browse Weibo too. I'm out."

"..."

Seeing that they had kicked a steel plate, the salty commenters immediately vanished without a trace.

"Hahaha, this is killing me! Anyone can talk big, but when the director gives you a chance, you're useless!"

"He can't do it, but I can! Hahaha!"

"I'm so looking forward to his next episode on the 'Bootstrap Paradox.' Who the hell actually wrote hamlet originally!"

"It could still be William Shakespeare; but of course, it's fucking me!"

"..."

Even though it was late at night, the discussion continued.

The leaders and hosts in the meeting room also began to leave one after another.

The interviewees were also temporarily arranged by the staff into a dormitory building a kilometer away from the Television Station.

In the end, only Station Manager Zhao, Wang Guosheng, and Wang Lin remained.

Jiang Zhe also found it hard to sleep. He drank a few bottles of beer with the leaders and colleagues in the lounge and spoke freely.

"Today's events feel like a dream, it's just too unbelievable. If it weren't for Old Wang, we really would have missed out on you today."

Station Manager Zhao calmed his emotions and looked at Jiang Zhe with appreciation.

Wang Guosheng was somewhat quiet after the alcohol. He suddenly asked, "Xiao Jiang, don't talk about other paradoxes in the next episode. Just talk about the Bootstrap Paradox and its solution first. Time is limited; we need to play the long game to catch the big fish."

Wang Lin chimed in with a flushed face, "Yeah, Teacher Jiang, the audience's standards are very high now. If your performance ever falls below today's level, they'll say you've exhausted your talent. Then, people all over the internet will slander you and bleed you dry."

Although Jiang Zhe wasn't a host in his previous life, he knew that these things truly existed in society.

He smiled slightly and didn't say anything.

Others might be like that, but he was a transmigrator. His experiences and memories from his previous life completely outclassed this entire world!

Jiang Zhe looked at Station Manager Zhao, "Leader, when is my next hosting session?"

Station Manager Zhao replied, "Originally, it was every day, but considering your strength and skill level, I'll set your time for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Let's test the waters first. If you can maintain this many viewers next time, we'll move your evening program to prime time. The SARFT will definitely agree; after all, with such a big cake, the advertising revenue alone will take off!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Lin looked shocked; this had never happened in the history of Suzhou TV Station.

The prime time that so many hosts dreamed of was incredibly difficult to obtain.

To think Teacher Jiang had only spent two hours.

As expected, comparisons are odious.

"Thank you!"

This wasn't necessarily good news for Jiang Zhe.

The 80% approval rating for each mission was based on the number of viewers.

The more people there were, the harder it was to complete!

But since things had come to this, let's just drink beer first!

After saying that, he took a sip of the canned beer.

He couldn't drink it at all; he simply didn't know how to drink!!!

This four-hour-long conversation allowed Jiang Zhe to learn a bit more about Station Manager Zhao and Old Wang.

...

The next day.

At Su City University of Science and Technology.

Wu Liao, a poor freshman who loved sci-fi and fantasy movies, was listening intently to the philosophy Professor's lecture on stage.

Normally, he almost never attended philosophy classes.

But after witnessing Jiang Zhe's livestream last night, he felt a sudden impulse to attend a philosophy class today.

The middle-aged Professor in a suit was explaining the significance of paradoxes.

"The significance of paradoxes lies in stimulating people's thirst for knowledge and raising their level of cognition."

"When understanding a thing, we always explore: what exactly is it?"

"The foundation of understanding a paradox is also clarifying what the paradox actually is!"

"For example, the Grandfather Paradox."

"Who exactly gave birth to the grandson? How did the grandson return to the past to kill the grandfather? Can he even complete the act and behavior of this killing?"

"This is unsolvable, but we can recognize that—the process of thinking about a paradox and trying to explain it will ultimately result in nothing. This is why we learn paradoxical thinking: to explore the world and stimulate our own desire for knowledge!"

Just as the Professor continued to speak.

Wu Liao had a sudden inspiration. Wasn't this the paradox that host Jiang Zhe had decoded last night?

Holy crap, what a coincidence!

So Wu Liao quickly raised his hand.

Professor Li asked kindly, "What is your question?"

Wu Liao stood up. "Professor Li, is it possible that within a single timeline, the 'past' the grandson goes to is actually his own future? It has nothing to do with whether the grandfather dies. So, the grandson went to a future 'past' rather than returning to the past where the grandfather lived. What do you think?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole class looked at Wu Liao in astonishment.

"Isn't that too bold?"

"He dares to contradict Professor Li!?"

"Holy crap, why is this slacker's answer so sharp today?"

"..."

Professor Li wanted to say something but hesitated.

His face was filled with shock and horror.

Within a single timeline—the grandson lived in a future "past," rather than returning to the era where the grandfather was in the past.

Professor Li was completely overwhelmed.

"This... is simply impossible to refute!"

Yes, Wu Liao's answer left him with no way to argue, or even where to begin to refute it.

He was over fifty years old and was being challenged by a young fellow.

Did Wu Liao really come up with this himself?

Why was he so sharp today?

Just as Professor Li was about to speak, Wu Liao confidently stated a second answer:

"If Professor Li doesn't agree, there is another answer that considers the conservation of mass and energy."

"Since the grandson wants to return to the past, then the energy in the past and future worlds must be conserved."

"It must fulfill Albert Einstein's Law of Conservation!"

"Then there is only one possibility!"

"The grandson returned to the past, killed the grandfather, married the grandmother himself, gave birth to the father, and the father gave birth to him."

"So, the answer to the Grandfather Paradox is that the grandson became the grandfather in the past."

"Only in this way does it conform to the conservation of energy, and it is the only answer!"

As Wu Liao finished his string of plagiarized answers, Professor Li's face turned pale, his legs gave way, and he stumbled to the ground.