Chapter 195: Heartbroken to the Point of Suffocation

"Writing your own scripts?"

Hearing this, Chen Qi was visibly stunned for a moment, and asked, "Is your channel... so short-handed?"

The Station Director: "..."

He looked at Chen Qi with great indignation.

Are you doing this on purpose?

Are you looking down on our small channel?

Sure, Beijing Channel One is small, but we aren't so hard up that we can't even find someone to write news scripts!

Short-handed?

That pathetic variety program team of yours is the one that's short-handed!

Your entire satellite television channel is short-handed!

"She requested it herself." For whatever reason, the easily agitated Station Director still managed to keep his temper and explained, "After she got familiar with our channel, she started editing other people's scripts because she wasn't satisfied with them. Eventually, that evolved into writing and compiling them herself. I've read her scripts, and the quality has indeed improved significantly."

"Oh..." Chen Qi gave an expression of sudden realization, said nothing more, and looked ahead thoughtfully.

A short while later, the recording began.

"Good evening, viewers. Welcome to tonight's Beijing Late News."

The host was presenting while standing.

Unlike serious news programs, probably due to the host's youth, her presentation style was noticeably more lively.

While broadcasting the news, the large screen behind her displayed the corresponding news footage.

"Since she took over as host, the ratings have gone up quite a bit," the Station Director's voice suddenly chimed in again.

"Besides, this show wasn't like this before. It used to be just like most news programs—sitting there rather rigidly reading the news to the end."

"But after she joined the show, she proposed a lot of improvement suggestions. Things like presenting while standing, incorporating news footage, and keeping the tone from being too rigid and serious—all of those were her ideas."

The Station Director chattered on like Tang Monk with his box opened.

Chen Qi listened with great interest at first, but gradually, things started to feel a bit wrong.

Wasn't this old director opposed to letting him poach this host? Why did he suddenly sound like he was hard-selling her now?

Recalling the entire sequence of events carefully, he felt a sudden sense of unease.

Damn it, I've been played!

All that talk about how hard it is to find a good sapling, how he disagreed, how he wouldn't allow it—fake!

All of it was fake!

Chen Qi cast a subtle glance at the Director, who was still pouring out praises, feeling both amused and exasperated.

Who would have thought this director was actually a master actor?

Without paying attention, he'd fallen right into a trap!

Had he not been influenced by that initial, resolute refusal, he wouldn't have been nearly this interested in the host.

If the Director had agreed right away, he probably would have just taken a casual look like he did with the previous host and left.

Thinking about this, Chen Qi shook his head with a chuckle.

Did this old man actually study psychology?

He continued listening to the Director's introduction without batting an eye, choosing not to expose him.

He could tell the Director had good intentions.

A good sapling was indeed a good sapling, and the old man genuinely wanted her to have a better future.

While listening, he carefully recalled the information he had seen earlier.

Zhou Zhou, female, 23 years old, graduated from Beijing Communication University.

According to the Director's earlier introduction, several television stations had thrown out olive branches after her graduation, but because she wanted to stay and develop in Beijing, she ended up joining Beijing Channel One by a stroke of fate.

Wanting to develop in Beijing?

Chen Qi gave her a thoughtful look, wondering to himself if her ultimate goal was actually China Central Television.

"Director, can you turn off her teleprompter?" Chen Qi asked suddenly.

He had observed carefully just now; her frequency of glancing at the teleprompter was very low, which clearly showed she had prepared thoroughly before the recording.

He was satisfied with semi-scripted hosting.

He was also satisfied with her overall image and temperament, but he still wanted to test her on-the-spot reactions.

After all, the finals would be broadcast live, and he couldn't guarantee that the entire live broadcast would go completely smoothly.

What if some unexpected accident happened?

"Turn off the teleprompter?" The Director was stunned for a second, but immediately understood his intention.

"Alright!"

He waved at a nearby staff member and gave a few whispered instructions.

"Got it," the staff member acknowledged and trotted away.

Ten seconds later, Chen Qi saw the teleprompter opposite Zhou Zhou suddenly go dark.

However, the recording of the program did not stop.

Seeing out of the corner of her eye that the teleprompter had malfunctioned, Zhou Zhou showed no obvious signs of panic; she continued broadcasting as if nothing had happened.

One piece of news.

Two pieces of news.

After finishing two stories, she finally stopped, looking rather helpless at the staff members off-stage.

The big screen at the back of the stage synchronized with the news footage. Without the teleprompter, she couldn't keep pace with the material and had no choice but to stop.

"Did none of you notice the teleprompter broke?" she asked, somewhat speechless.

"Ha..." Chen Qi couldn't help laughing as he watched this scene.

Not bad.

She performed very well.

If it were him, he probably would have frozen the very second the teleprompter went black.

"Can I talk to her for a moment?" Chen Qi asked the Director.

The Director nodded and directly instructed everyone to take a short pause.

Without further ado, Chen Qi stood up and walked toward the stage.

Then...

"Swish!"

The eyes of every single staff member in the room turned toward him.

Everyone looked at him in utter astonishment, including Zhou Zhou on the stage.

No one knew what he was going to do.

Everyone's gazes subconsciously followed his movement.

Feeling slightly awkward, Chen Qi unconsciously quickened his pace.

A dozen seconds later, everyone finally realized his target was the stage.

Zhou Zhou, who had been looking at Chen Qi in bewilderment, suddenly grew somewhat hesitant, watching with great confusion as he drew closer.

Some staff members off-stage stared at him in a daze and quietly perked up their ears.

"Hello, I am Chen Qi," Chen Qi initiated the greeting upon reaching the stage.

"I... my name is Zhou Zhou," Zhou Zhou said passively, extending a hand to shake his.

"Do you know me?" Chen Qi asked.

Zhou Zhou nodded subconsciously.

Of course she knew him.

As an employee of Beijing Television, how could she not know Chen Qi?

"Knowing me makes things much simpler." Chen Qi smiled, dispensing with pleasantries, and stated directly, "Here's the deal: *The Singer* is about to hold its finals, and after discussing it with the station, we've decided to broadcast it live on the Friday of next week. But we're currently missing a host—are you interested?"

"Whoa—"

As soon as Chen Qi said this, a few nearby staff members were genuinely startled!

They stared at Chen Qi with wide, shocked eyes, filled with dense disbelief.

The finals of *The Singer*?

Asking Zhou Zhou to host?

Has he lost his mind?!

What kind of play is this?

Not just them, even Zhou Zhou herself was frozen in place.

She stared blankly at Chen Qi, unable to process it for a long time.

Hosting the finals of *The Singer*?

Are you kidding me?

How is that even possible!

There are so many talented hosts on the satellite channel; how could it ever fall to her?!

"No need to doubt it, what he's saying is true." The Old Director walked over at some point, pointing at Chen Qi and saying, "He isn't very popular over at the satellite channel, so he gave up on all their hosts."

Chen Qi: "..."

*You're* the unpopular one!

Your entire family is unpopular!

Clearly, the old director was privy to some inside information.

Zhou Zhou turned her head to look at the Director, then back at Chen Qi, her expression suddenly growing complicated.

Naturally, she could tell the Director was joking.

Though she didn't know why Chen Qi wasn't using people from the satellite channel, judging by the Director's words, did he have some sort of conflict with them?

None of that mattered, however. What mattered was that this opportunity had suddenly been placed right before her eyes.

To go, or not to go?

That was the question.

In her heart, she naturally wanted to go; after all, this was a satellite channel program, and an enormously influential one at that.

Yet she also felt hesitant and lacked confidence.

Chen Qi had just said it—the finals would be broadcast live!

Live!

Did she have the capability?

What if she didn't perform well...

"Oh, I'll make the decision for her. It's settled," the Director said, growing a bit anxious when he saw Zhou Zhou remaining silent.

At that moment, he couldn't care about acting anymore.

If he kept acting, he might actually ruin it.

"When should we start preparing?" The Director looked at Chen Qi, his face completely straight.

Chen Qi gave him a profound look, too lazy to mock him, and said, "Come to the program team the day after tomorrow in the morning. Until the finals are over, all work here must be put aside."

"Alright, no problem. She'll be there on time!" the Director agreed readily.

"Fine then, I'm heading back. There's still a lot to do over there." Seeing that he agreed, Chen Qi said no more, bid him farewell, and turned to leave.

He could actually understand why Zhou Zhou hadn't given an immediate answer.

A fresh graduate suddenly receiving such a massive opportunity—anyone would be dazed.

He also knew her biggest concern was whether she could host the show well.

He had seen her hesitation and struggle.

But he didn't care.

She possessed all the essential skills required of a host; with a bit more practice time, hosting the finals well shouldn't be too big of an issue.

Besides, even if he cared, it wouldn't help!

Given the current situation, they couldn't possibly expect him to host the finals himself.

With his half-baked level of skill, he'd be even worse than her!

...

"Director..." Watching Chen Qi walk away in a daze, Zhou Zhou, who had finally fully recovered, revealed unmasked worry.

"Don't worry." Clearly knowing what she wanted to say, the Old Director smiled kindly, waved his hand, and said, "Chen Qi already looked into your personal background. Since he had the nerve to come here and find you, he must be prepared."

"But..." Zhou Zhou hesitated, words failing her.

"Go ahead with bold confidence, he will arrange everything." The Old Director watched the spot where Chen Qi had disappeared with a smile, feeling somewhat emotional. "This young man has plenty of capability and boldness!"

"..." Zhou Zhou fell silent.

"Since he could produce such a phenomenal hit show without any prior experience, he certainly has the ability to confidently place an inexperienced you on that stage. Just follow his guidance when the time comes."

"Okay." Zhou Zhou bit her lip tightly and nodded lightly.

The Old Director looked back at her and earnestly advised, "Zhou Zhou, you must seize this opportunity well! If you nail it, you're guaranteed a place on the satellite channel in the future."

Zhou Zhou gave him a complex look and nodded silently.

"Alright, you guys get back to work." With that, the Old Director turned and left.

Having achieved his goal, even his steps became light.

He found the young man Chen Qi quite interesting.

He had clearly seen through his little trick, yet said nothing at all.

What was that?

Was he giving this old man some face?

Interesting, truly interesting!

...

Not long after Chen Qi returned to Beijing Satellite TV, the news that he had poached a host from Beijing Channel One to anchor the finals of *The Singer* quickly spread across the satellite channel.

"Holy shit!"

"No way?"

"How is that possible?"

"True or false?"

"Has he lost his mind?!"

Once the news broke, it immediately caused an uproar within the television station!

Everyone was dumbfounded!

Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that Chen Qi would go to Channel One to find a host for the finals!

How unexpected was that?

How subversive was that?

They didn't have the slightest psychological preparation, did they?

Upon snapping back to reality, the expressions of everyone in the station turned wonderfully colorful!

Chen Qi really loved breaking the mold!

They were impressed!

They were genuinely impressed!

He really meant what he said!

If he said the Friday time slot belonged to him, it belonged to him!

If he said he wouldn't use Beijing Satellite TV's hosts, he wouldn't use them!

He'd rather go to a minor channel to find a rookie than use those famous hosts from his own station!

Well, he was just that willful!

In that instant, all the staff members at the station were dying to know what those hosts' reactions would be upon hearing the news.

They must be regretting it so much their intestines were turning green, right?

...

The famous hosts of the television station also heard the grapevine news almost immediately.

The moment they heard it, they stared in utter disbelief, their facial expressions as shocked as could possibly be!

Then, they sat stunned for a long time.

And after that, they fell silent.

At that moment, their emotions were extremely complex.

Especially the young host who had recently been observed by Chen Qi; upon hearing the news, she remained dumbfounded for a very long time.

So *that* was why Chen Qi had come to observe her hosting?

It wasn't until this moment that she realized she had actually entered the candidate list for the finals of *The Singer*.

Yet for some reason, she had been discarded.

Realizing she had missed out on a heaven-sent opportunity, she suddenly felt a heart-wrenching pain that made it hard to breathe.