C3 The Interview Was a Radio Host

Lin Haoyu's smile instantly solidified, and the room was enveloped in an awkward silence.

"System, are you implying that my luck is so terrible that I've managed to draw the 'Thank You for Participating' prize twice in a row?" Lin Haoyu questioned.

Drawing a 'Thank You for Participating' once could be chalked up to bad luck, but twice consecutively? It was as if the system was trying to infuriate him to death. Feeling aggrieved, Lin Haoyu let out a small sigh.

"System, just consider my situation. I'm a poor guy who's lost his job and been hit by a car. Surely you can't keep shortchanging me like this?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the system responded with a tone that, despite being emotionless and electronic, carried a hint of scorn: "Ding! The host may continue with the draw."

"...Are you really suggesting I keep squandering my chances?" Lin Haoyu scoffed, gazing up at the blue sky with a vacant look as he mourned the loss of his two valuable draw opportunities.

Blinking, Lin Haoyu moistened his parched lips and resigned himself to fate. "Forget it, System. Just go ahead and use up this draw chance."

After all, it seemed futile to hold onto it, only to be frustrated time and again. Lin Haoyu was beginning to grasp the pattern of his mischievous system: a slap here, a knead there, followed by a ceremonial incense offering after delivering a stabbing blow...

"Ding! Congratulations, host, you've won a Save/Load opportunity."

Upon hearing the long-lost electronic prompt, Lin Haoyu let out a derisive chuckle, shook his head in disbelief, and sighed, "I should've known it was another 'Thank You for Participating'..."

But he stopped mid-sentence as the realization hit him like a bolt of lightning, and he suddenly jumped three feet into the air.

"Hold on! What the hell! System, what did you just say?"

He finished his outburst by theatrically digging at his ear with his pinky finger, as if to ensure he hadn't misheard the system's announcement.

The system felt a sense of resignation, having not anticipated that the host it had so cleverly snatched from two other systems would be so slow on the uptake.

"Ding! The host has won a Save/Load opportunity. Upon use, it will preserve the current point in time and space, allowing for future revisits. This is an excellent opportunity for a host who struggles to succeed."

Somehow, Lin Haoyu couldn't shake the feeling that the system's tone was laced with deep-seated scorn for him. Even though it was just a lifeless electronic voice, why did it always seem to mock him?

"Holy smokes! A Save/Load feature? That's practically cheating!"

Lin Haoyu's heart raced with excitement, feeling as though he had just hit the jackpot on a lottery ticket.

Having been immersed in gaming for years, Lin Haoyu was well aware that with the Save/Load technique, one could almost foresee the future, adapt to any situation, and ultimately succeed with ease.

"System, save my progress now!"

Licking his parched lips, unable to contain his inner thrill, Lin Haoyu chuckled mischievously and strode towards the bustling street.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, your progress has been saved. Time until the next load: 24 hours."

After the emotional ups and downs, Lin Haoyu had a sudden brainwave. If he robbed a bank and then loaded his progress, wouldn't he be set for life?

"That's actually a brilliant idea. Plus, I could even find a few... ahem, make a significant contribution to society."

Lin Haoyu, realizing his slip of the tongue, quickly corrected himself, drawing curious glances from passersby that made him squirm with embarrassment.

"Host, don't get carried away. Once you load the progress, you can't bring anything back to the original timeline."

The system clearly lost faith in Lin Haoyu, questioning his intelligence.

"Whatever, I was just daydreaming! It's not like I'm actually going to rob a bank," Lin Haoyu retorted with an eye roll.

After his response, the system remained unusually quiet for a while, which left Lin Haoyu feeling smug.

But the next prompt caught him completely off guard:

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, you've been assigned a mandatory main quest: Apply to be a TV host. As the host of the Star Luck System, how could you not be a presenter? A mysterious reward awaits upon completion of the task."

Hearing this, Lin Haoyu was dumbfounded.

"System, can I opt out?"

Become a TV host? Sorry, but he'd much rather stick to his day job. After all, Lin Haoyu, who had only won a consolation prize in a school recitation contest, didn't see himself cut out for hosting.

"Ding! Should the Host decline, a mysterious punishment awaits."

The sterile electronic tone shattered all of Lin Haoyu's illusions.

Lin Haoyu: Heh...

A mysterious reward is one thing, but what in the world is a mysterious punishment? Given the system's track record, whatever it has in store is bound to be more than Lin Haoyu can handle. It's probably something like getting hit by a car... again.

With a heavy sigh, he wondered why he was stuck with such a system.

"System, I accept the mission. Now, where should I go to complete it?"

A look of bewilderment crossed Lin Haoyu's face, soon replaced by a sense of resignation. It was rush hour, and the street was predictably clogged with traffic. To make matters worse, an accident had jammed the sidewalk too.

Thankfully, chatting with the system offered some distraction from his frustration.

"The host may choose to apply at either the city or provincial TV stations."

"Huh? Why not head to Shiatan Radio Station? That's the top spot in Flitrora."

Lin Haoyu asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Ding! Because if the host applies to Shiatan TV Station now, there's a 99% chance of rejection."

The system's blunt honesty seemed almost like retaliation for Lin Haoyu's earlier complaints.

"Heh, System, I feel like strangling you."

Lin Haoyu let out a cold laugh. Mysteriously, a torch and gasoline appeared in his hands, but they were of no use since he certainly couldn't set himself on fire.

"Squeal!"

Out of nowhere, a piercing screech erupted behind Lin Haoyu. Caught off guard, he didn't have time to react.

"Watch out!"

Yu Dandie's face was etched with concern and frustration as she yelled out, but her warning didn't reach Lin Haoyu in time.

"Thud!"

"Thump!"

A muffled crash sounded against the back of Lin Haoyu's legs, and in a flash, he stumbled and fell forward, hitting the ground once more.

"Damn it! What the heck is going on!"

Sitting on the ground, disheveled from being struck by the bicycle, Lin Haoyu's face darkened with anger. Looking up, he spoke in a low growl.

"I was just hit by a car, and now this? My leg must be practically useless now!"

After the system's continuous enhancements, Lin Haoyu's body had become incredibly resilient. He could indulge in any food he desired, whether it was hot or cold, sour or sweet...

"Ding! The host's luck is very good at this moment. Keep it up."

Just then, the system chimed in at the perfect time and then went silent, unresponsive to any calls.

"...Good luck?"

Glancing at the flustered young woman in front of him, Lin Haoyu dusted himself off and got to his feet.

If this was considered good luck, then he had never had a bad day in his life.

"Um, are you okay?"

Yu Dandie weakly set her bicycle aside and hurried over to help Lin Haoyu.

Before she could reach him, Lin Haoyu gestured that he didn't need assistance, furrowing his brow as he said,

"Be more careful when cycling. If you run into a scammer next time, you won't have time to cry."

After he spoke, Yu Dandie stood there in a daze, taking a while to process his words before feeling a sense of injustice.

If it hadn't been for the sudden stop of the car ahead, and the confusing mix of pedestrian and bike lanes, she wouldn't have collided with anyone!

"I understand, it won't happen again."

She sighed, bowed her head, and gave Lin Haoyu another bow, apologizing as she mounted her bike,

"I'm truly sorry, but I'm rushing to work at the TV station. I have to go now. Maybe I can leave you my phone number?"

Lin Haoyu paused, then noticed her elegant and costly attire, complete with a badge that read "TV Station" pinned to her chest.

“Wow! Talk about a stroke of luck just as I was thinking of taking a nap!”