Fate-Altering System/C10 Hey the Musician Who Gave Him Salt?
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Fate-Altering System/C10 Hey the Musician Who Gave Him Salt?
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C10 Hey the Musician Who Gave Him Salt?

Lin Haoyu paused for a moment, glancing around. There was no sign of a loli heroine making an entrance or a villain stirring up trouble, leaving him to turn to Jian Yang with a hint of disappointment.

Jian Yang let out a light chuckle, then picked up a nearby phone. After a brief, quiet conversation, he beamed and said, "Lin Haoyu, head over to Studio Three later. Our professional staff will assist you with the sound check. Once you've finished recording the first episode, make sure to let me have the first look!"

With that, Jian Yang dismissively waved at Zuo Qiushu and pointed to the schedule. "Your slot is set. You're on air from 1 PM to 3 PM daily. Whatever content you choose is up to you."

Zuo Qiushu's grin widened as he laughed, "Thanks, Uncle Jian. Sister Kang will be thrilled when she hears about this."

Two hours of airtime each day was a treasure trove; every minute at the radio station was as valuable as cash. Even seasoned staff like the deputy director didn't have that much scheduled time.

"There are only twenty-four hours in a day, and yet the competition for airtime is fierce," Jian Yang remarked with a snort. "If it weren't for Kang Biqin, I wouldn't bother with this mess."

He gave Zuo Qiushu a cold look, clearly unimpressed by his thuggish demeanor. Unfazed, Zuo Qiushu kept up his cheeky facade, grinning, "Hehe, indeed. I've got my program ready. It's a comedy sketch—care to check it out?"

"That's enough. You can go now; I need to advise Mr. Huangfu on his segment," Jian Yang cut him off.

Zuo Qiushu frowned, turning back to Lin Haoyu with a challenging gaze. "Oh? So this is Lin Haoyu, the standout from the interviews? He does have a certain monkey-like cleverness."

"Skill isn't just about talk; it's measured by the ratings," Lin Haoyu retorted. "Mr. Jian, I'm off to record my show."

After observing Zuo Qiushu's performance with a detached gaze, Lin Haoyu left the dismal place with a frosty remark and proceeded to record his program.

Jian Yang offered a smile and a nod before his face darkened as he turned his attention to Zuo Qiushu. "You do realize your act is a prime-time comedy show, while Lin Haoyu's is a midnight novel broadcast. Don't you feel a twinge of guilt when you compare yourself to him?"

Jian Yang and Kang Biqin were archenemies, and their protégés, Lin Haoyu and Zuo Qiushu, were also at loggerheads. How could Lin Haoyu, with his niche midnight show, ever hope to outshine Zuo Qiushu's prime-time hit?

"Don't assume that Kang Biqin's backing gives you free rein! If Lin Haoyu's show just hits one milestone, it'll smash the late-night listening records!" Jian Yang's resentment grew as he pondered the situation. If only he could secure a prime-time slot for Lin Haoyu, but for now, he was relegated to playing second fiddle to Zuo Qiushu.

Feigning puzzlement, Zuo Qiushu touched the area over his heart and smacked his lips, "It doesn't hurt. Moreover, who says I have a conscience?"

...

"Sure, it all depends on what flavor of pork heart you're after—roasted, spicy, or braised?"

In the third teletorium, Lin Haoyu stroked his chin, contemplating the three enticing boxes of food and the two professional sound engineers Jian Yang had brought in.

Tang Guan, at the tender age of twenty-one and in the bloom of youth, balanced her university studies with a part-time job at the city TV station, which also served as research material for her broadcasting and hosting thesis.

"Sugar, how about you have the braised pork heart, I'll take the fried, and Yu can have the spicy one. I'll take care of the fried—it's a bit too fiery," Wang Shijie suggested with a grin, grabbing a box of the fried pork heart for himself and distributing the other two to his companions.

Indeed, Tang Guan was affectionately known as Sugar, a nickname that perfectly matched her sweet, youthful demeanor.

"Come on, I know you just love the stir-fried pork heart. All those excuses were for nothing."

Sugar mercilessly called out Wang Shijie's bluff and rolled her eyes, but she still took the box of braised pork heart.

Lin Haoyu was immediately displeased. He opened the remaining spicy pork heart with great reluctance. But his favorite was the braised one!

"Are you two here to help me, or to make my life harder?"

He had expected two helpers to run errands and buy food, but instead, he ended up with two foodies fighting over the meals.

After the meal, the first episode of After Midnight finally began shooting.

Once Lin Haoyu settled into his seat, he transformed. His energy and spirit were instantly revitalized.

"Yu, what are we shooting first?"

Wang Shijie was buzzing with excitement, rubbing his hands together. Last time, he was fired for snatching the boss's lunchbox, having used the excuse of stepping into the office with his left foot first. He couldn't believe he hadn't been fired today; it was nothing short of a miracle.

"The opening advertisement."

Lin Haoyu chuckled with a sly confidence, knowing the system had already briefed him on the entire program's sequence.

"Three, two, one!"

Sugar counted down, and the recording equipment sprang to life.

"Welcome to the world's premier revenge program, After Midnight. As the saying goes, listen to a good novel at night, and you'll find Old Wang moving out early; listen to a horror story until you're old, and Old Wang will be fast asleep before the night is old. My name is Lin Haoyu, and I feed myself salt..."

At this point in the recording, Lin Haoyu used sand to mimic the sound of salt, followed by a bite of the spicy pork heart, capturing every chew.

"Ugh, that's salty!"

Lin Haoyu feigned disgust and coughed a few times.

"Cut!"

The recording stopped, leaving Sugar stunned by Lin Haoyu's rhyming spiel. Wang Shijie, standing beside her, was equally dumbfounded.

Initially, Wang Shijie's brow furrowed at the mention of the 'world's first revenge program.'

"It was supposed to be a late-night novel show. How did it turn into a revenge program?"

But a string of witty phrases soon enlightened him; it was all about getting back at Old Wang!

"I'm supposed to feed myself salt?"

Wang Shijie couldn't help but smile, impressed. Brilliant! Just brilliant!

Sugar, equally excited, gazed at Lin Haoyu and rushed over, her face brimming with admiration. "Lin Haoyu, I can assure you, once that line airs, it's going to make waves!"

The term 'Old Wang' didn't exist in this era, but with a little thought, one could grasp the gist of 'Neighbor Wang'.

Lin Haoyu chuckled and gestured with his hand, "Let's keep it low-key and move on to shooting the rest of the first episode."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shijie couldn't hide his astonishment and after a moment, he inquired, "Yu, don't you ever look at the script?"

Lin Haoyu paused, bemused. What was a script? Was it something edible?

After all, the system had uploaded the script directly into Lin Haoyu's brain. To read it, he'd have to write it out again, which seemed utterly redundant.

Throughout the shoot, Wang Shijie and Sugar watched Lin Haoyu as if he were a creature from another world, amazed that he could finish recording the first episode without a single pause.

"Yu, I'm starting to question whether you're even human."

Wang Shijie listened to the playback of the raw recording with a distant look in his eyes. This was the initial take, which would undergo several edits before becoming the final version.

He wouldn't have believed in such extraordinary memory if he hadn't witnessed it himself.

Meanwhile, Sugar was off reporting to Jian Yang, suggesting he listen to the first episode of the After Midnight show.

"Damn, that's a wrap. I never imagined recording a show could be so grueling."

Lin Haoyu left the TV station, his face etched with fatigue, and hurried home.

On his way, Lin Haoyu, who had advanced his first month's salary, seized the chance to buy a smartphone.

"System, why did you have me buy a phone?"

Once home, Lin Haoyu shut the door, strode into the living room, and solemnly prepared a bowl of instant noodles.

"Slurp, slurp."

The noodles were surprisingly tasty, especially since Lin Haoyu had added an egg and a sausage to the mix, making it a nutritious meal that was good for both bones and kidneys.

"Tsk tsk, these manufacturers are becoming more heartless by the day. A single pack of instant noodles isn't even filling anymore."

Lin Haoyu finished off the soup with a smack of his lips, still feeling hungry. He entertained the thought of playfully challenging the system.

Just then, the system chimed in with a timely reminder:

"Ding! Once the host has purchased a phone, they can download a music app. A side mission eagerly awaits the host's completion."

Lin Haoyu, still clueless about the system's intentions, nonetheless proceeded to download the hottest music app on the charts.

Upon opening it, he spotted a "Musician" button and had an epiphany.

The system was nudging him to become a musician who releases songs! That's no easy gig. While an average-looking singer might find a path forward with a brokerage firm's backing, it's a different ballgame for musicians—they need to be both talented and skilled.

Lin Haoyu wiped the cold sweat from his brow and scoffed internally:

"Wait a second, System, are you playing games with me? I can't even write lyrics, let alone compose a song."

No sooner had he spoken than the system's emotionless electronic tone sounded once more:

"Ding! As a host equipped with the Star Luck System, you must acquire all necessary skills. Hence, I am issuing a special side mission: Release your first song!"

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