Chapter 22: Re-launching and Reaching Peak

Back at the Television Station, it was almost 9:59 PM.

Wang Lin, Xiao Shiyi, and Jiang Zhe went their separate ways.

Since it wasn't time for their programs yet, the two of them stayed in the leadership conference room with Old Zhao and Wang Guosheng to watch the show.

Old Wang, on the other hand, continued to stay in the monitoring room to report the data at any time.

An excited smile appeared on Old Zhao's face: "It's coming, it's coming! I've finally waited for Little Teacher Jiang. I've missed him during the few days he was away."

Wang Guosheng's lips twitched as he teased, "Station Manager Zhao, where did you learn that tone? Even my neighbor Auntie Mary's twelve-year-old grandson doesn't talk like that."

Old Zhao gave a "hmpf," turned his head, and continued watching the big screen.

Xiao Shiyi, Wang Lin, and the other hosts and leaders couldn't help but chuckle.

They also knew that Jiang Zhe's appearance had suddenly made the Television Station's budget much more flexible.

The usually serious Station Manager Zhao used to save money at every turn, but who knew that once the budget was sufficient, Station Manager Zhao would get so carried away!

They really had to thank Jiang Zhe for appearing and revitalizing this stagnant pool!

The interviewees also had their own tasks; while Jiang Zhe was off, two interviewees per program would provide supplements to the content Jiang Zhe had broadcasted.

Although the ratings weren't even a twentieth of Jiang Zhe's, they had still secured their jobs.

These interviewees started at the peak; when Jiang Zhe was resting and not at work, they were immensely grateful to him in their hearts.

In the Backstage Lounge.

Smiles appeared on the faces of the dozen or so interviewees dressed in suits.

"If not for him, how many of us would have been maliciously fired!"

"Yeah, before signing the contracts, we were like fish on a chopping block. Luckily, he set a great precedent, turning us from the prey into the predators."

"..."

Under everyone's gaze,

on the big screen in the lounge,

Jiang Zhe walked from the backstage into the studio and sat down.

Jiang Zhe nodded to the director and stage crew below the stage. "I'm ready here."

Once confirmed, everyone on site began working busily and methodically.

Checking signal sources, subtitles, animations—everything was ready.

The Chief Director raised his hand and gave an "OK!"

As a burst of evening instrumental music played,

Jiang Zhe's handsome and refined face appeared on both the big screen and the television sets.

Facing the camera, Jiang Zhe gave a warm smile: "Good evening, viewers. I am your old friend, Jiang Zhe."

"Thanks to all of you, I have successfully become a regular and am now the host of the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening programs."

"Today, we will continue the topic we didn't finish last time: the 'Bootstrap Paradox'!"

Meanwhile, in households across Su City,

after about a week of promotion, Jiang Zhe's fame had spread among those eager to learn.

It's worth noting that those eager to learn aren't just young people; there are also many middle-aged and elderly people.

Usually, those middle-aged and elderly people look down on studying, but unable to refuse their children's requests, they could only accompany them in front of the TV and computer.

After tuning into Suzhou TV Station on time, everyone had different expressions.

"This is it... he looks so unique; an aura that makes it impossible to look away hits you right in the face." A father stared intently at Jiang Zhe, his eyes shining, then turned to his daughter: "This is the show you mentioned? From now on, I promise not to miss a single second!"

The straight-A student girl with glasses looked at her father strangely. Could her father have awakened some special fetish?

He's handsome, sure, but Dad, hey, your eyes are already sparkling with infatuation!

In fact, there were other parents in different families just like this father.

"My daughter's recommendation was great; I love fair-skinned, masculine, and charismatic handsome guys like this."

"Holy crap, Host Jiang, did you go to a beauty salon these past few days? How did a beauty treatment even enhance your charisma?"

"..."

In every household,

because of Jiang Zhe's ethereal temperament and uniquely handsome looks, men, women, young, and old alike were immediately transfixed.

...

Meanwhile, at the Shanghai University of Science and Technology.

Previously, the college student Wu Liao had used Jiang Zhe's words in class, causing Professor Li to slink away in disgrace.

This evening, Professor Li invited a group of professors to his home for an evening party.

This wasn't some kind of lewd party, but a proper one!

A dozen or so professors in suits—serious-looking philosophy and physics professors—abandoned their professional personas, each holding a bottle of Blue Bird Beer while waiting in front of the home projector.

"It's starting, it's starting! I asked my son, who works in the Military Region, to get me a military phone. Any call made from it will have priority. This time, I'm going to see exactly what Jiang Zhe talks about. If he says anything wrong, don't blame me for getting my revenge!"

Professor Li was full of confidence now, with no trace of his previous embarrassment.

The other professors all smiled.

"It's not that I don't believe him, it's just that aside from being handsome, he's only 'relatively' excellent in my eyes."

"Yes, I've watched his videos too. He explains things well, but the content is a bit shallow and extreme. Although there are errors, they can be overlooked."

"The Bootstrap Paradox, huh? The question he raised last time about who wrote 'hamlet' was very good. I heard he's going to talk about Example 2 today; I'm looking forward to it."

"..."

There were professors who praised him, and naturally, there were those who looked for faults.

Similar to them, there were others at other universities in Su City, as well as retired professors.

...

Meanwhile, at the Television Station's monitoring department.

Old Wang and his male assistant stared intently at the graph in front of them.

A few days ago, Jiang Zhe had created a viewership miracle for a niche program.

These past few days, Old Wang also knew that his son, Wang Lin, had been "fooling around" with Jiang Zhe all day—playing badminton or basketball, running or lifting weights, eating barbecue or making seafood feasts at home.

In Old Wang's eyes, Jiang Zhe hadn't spent a single moment studying.

Thinking about Jiang Zhe's actions over the last few days, Old Wang was a bit worried that something might go wrong with Jiang Zhe's hosting today.

Suddenly!

The male assistant cried out, "Holy crap!"

Old Wang quickly snapped out of it and stared straight at the red line on the black screen.

The red line, which had been steady, suddenly surged at an 89-degree angle after Jiang Zhe's self-introduction appeared.

Surging, surging, continuing to surge!

It suddenly broke through to one million!

"Holy crap!"

Old Wang's Adam's apple bobbed as he quickly took out his walkie-talkie, pressed the button, and relayed the good news to Station Manager Zhao.

"Station Manager Zhao, the broadcast has immediately neared Teacher Jiang's previous peak."

Station Manager Zhao's voice could be heard gasping on the other end. "This level of attraction is simply exaggerated. I never expected that 30 seconds into the broadcast, the numbers would already be close to the level at the end of the last one. Keep monitoring!"

All the leaders on site gasped, staring intently at the big screen. They were more curious than anyone about the content Jiang Zhe would present today!

...