C9 A Nighttime Ghost Story

Regrettably, it might be because of his striking looks that the system seemed reluctant to bestow certain gifts upon him. The more Lin Haoyu pondered, the more convinced he became of this theory. It made sense why the system took such good care of him.

"Sigh, sometimes being handsome can be a burden."

"Ding! The host may opt out of using the item."

Lin Haoyu paused, then sighed at the system's lack of insight.

"Sigh, system, you're squandering the world's resources! We have only one Earth; we can't afford to be wasteful. So, I'll take one for the team and use them."

Indeed! It wasn't easy to come by these five books, and it would be foolish not to use them. But more importantly, as someone who had been a flag bearer in elementary school, he couldn't justify wasting resources.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for utilizing the five beginner-level skill books. You have now acquired broadcasting skills at level 5. Keep up the good work."

As he finished speaking, Lin Haoyu sensed a refreshing breeze wafting before him. For a moment, it felt as though the heavens and earth were rending apart, the sun and moon darkening, and the world shaking... But in reality, nothing of the sort occurred. The only change was an additional "skill" section in the system's description of the host.

"Broadcasting skill at level 5. I'm curious about the maximum level."

Lin Haoyu gave the static system panel a quick glance, his expression unflappable.

After a full five minutes of inactivity, the system, seemingly inspired by Lin Haoyu's resolve, decided to share some exciting news:

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving the mandatory Main Plot Mission: 'After Midnight' Viewership Rating. As a host with a system, you must achieve a rating of at least 3%. Upon completion, a mysterious reward will be granted."

"I had a feeling the system had laid a trap for me to walk into."

Lin Haoyu's gaze dimmed at the thought. A 3% viewership rating! His previous bravado stemmed from a lack of understanding of the dire state of the radio market.

It was like the Nokia phones that once dominated the market, becoming the largest mobile phone company in the world. But what came next? The advent of smartphones, followed by Steve Jobs revolutionizing the world with a seemingly insignificant device, only to leave Nokia out in the cold.

"One era's legend is another's history! It's like using an outdated hero from the King's game to take on the latest champion."

Lin Haoyu wiped away nonexistent sweat from his brow, his mind filled with doubt about the system's prompt.

"Even if it's a top-notch show, system, are you certain it can surpass a three percent rating?"

"Ding! Host, self-deprecation will deal a severe blow to your confidence, leading to a decrease in fortune, and you might even face threats such as car accidents..."

Lin Haoyu: "..."

It seemed that Lin Haoyu was destined to have a contentious relationship with car accidents, and luck played a significant role in that.

"Enough already. Just hand over the program. I'd rather not be run over by a car stepping outside."

Lin Haoyu rolled his eyes, searching for a crew member who could assist with recording the program.

This time, the system spared Lin Haoyu from further mockery. With a clear ding, he felt a rush of information flood his mind.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on receiving the Random Program Reward: The Complete Collection of Whispers from the Crypt!"

Whispers from the Crypt?

The title suggested a ghostly novel, but was he really expected to narrate it to late-night radio listeners?

"If that's the case, I might just get lynched by the audience."

With a scoff, Lin Haoyu meticulously mulled over the novel's plot that had filled his thoughts, finding it increasingly eerie.

Broadcasting it on the After Midnight show could scare listeners to death, not to mention the possibility of drivers succumbing to heart attacks on the road, potentially causing multiple traffic accidents...

"System, where did this novel come from?"

After much contemplation, Lin Haoyu had never come across a novel named Whispers from the Crypt in this world, prompting him to furrow his brow in confusion.

Regrettably, the system provided only a brief explanation before steering the conversation back to the task at hand.

"The resources provided by the system originate from an alternate dimension. Host, you must use 'Whispers from the Crypt' to achieve a 3% listening rate for the task to be considered successful. Otherwise, it will be void."

Lin Haoyu had run out of things to say. With a heavy sigh, he reflected on the increasingly bizarre book titles he'd encountered. Initially, he mistook one for a supernatural novel, but it now appeared to be more of a deadly tale.

Once the system stopped responding to Lin Haoyu, he managed to regain his composure and turned his late-night storytelling session into a written script.

As he was about to begin writing, he realized he was stumped for a title. Lin Haoyu scratched his head, his face contorting with frustration.

"Forget it, I'll just call it 'After Midnight.' It's a dangerous program anyway," he decided.

A smile of relief spread across Lin Haoyu's face. He felt he'd given fair warning to those who might be frightened to death by his show, hopefully preventing any traffic accidents.

The last thing he wanted was to encounter a driver who had died from listening to his program—especially if that driver ended up crashing into Lin Haoyu himself...

"You're sure about this, huh? Using a supernatural story for a late-night show is bold. No one but you would dare to try it," Jian Yang remarked, setting down Lin Haoyu's "After Midnight" program report in the office with a mix of seriousness and apprehension, massaging his temples.

The market for supernatural novels had always been niche. Despite their enduring presence in late-night slots, standout successes were few and far between.

"This kid could've done a midnight news segment, but ghost stories? Really?" Jian Yang mused.

Lin Haoyu spread his hands in a gesture of resignation and explained, "I have no choice. There's a ghost in my head that loves to curse people, and it's compelling me to tell these stories."

Jian Yang was momentarily taken aback, then burst into laughter. "Fine, we'll run it for a week. From ten at night until midnight, 'After Midnight' is all yours."

Jian Yang hadn't expected Lin Haoyu to be quite so intriguing. Maybe, just maybe, he'd be pleasantly surprised.

Glancing down, Jian Yang noted the program's theme was indeed a supernatural novel, and on the back of the page, the first chapter of the novel was attached.

"Hmm, 'Whispers from the Crypt'? This doesn't sound like your typical supernatural novel."

Unconventional meant a limited audience, and Jian Yang couldn't help but shake his head and frown, his faith in Lin Haoyu slightly shaken.

"Blood corpses? Tomb robbing? That's rather chilling."

The initial chapters of "Whispers from the Crypt" weren't exactly realistic, giving off a somewhat eerie vibe.

"Knock, knock!"

A series of light, rapid knocks echoed. Lin Haoyu turned to see a confident young man in his twenties stride in.

"Hey, Old Jian, is my show lined up yet? Aunt Kang is really taking it to heart!"

Zuo Qiushu let out a cold laugh and took a seat directly across from Jian Yang, completely disregarding Lin Haoyu, who was seated in the guest area.

Zuo Qiushu, Kang Biqin's nephew, had hoped to become a host by applying for the job, but Lin Haoyu's unexpected arrival meant that Kang Biqin had to use her authority as the deputy director to shoehorn him into the radio station.

Lin Haoyu couldn't be bothered with such pettiness. He turned to Jian Yang to say goodbye, ready to head out and record his segment.

"Well, I'm off to record my segment. You two have a good chat."

He hadn't even reached the door when Jian Yang's urgent voice called out.

"Wait!"

"Yes? Is there something else?"