I met my whole family through Baidu Tieba.

Tong Enkang lit a cigarette, took a puff, and shook his head: "This Shen Kang is a bit dull; he doesn't seem to get along with us very well."

Wei Minglun fiddled with the metal lighter in his hand, and chuckled upon hearing this. "Maybe he's just being cautious. After all, he's different from us. If he really went to a nightclub with us and picked up another girl, he might get into trouble and lose everything if they found out."

Meng Chengjiao shook his head: "That doesn't make sense. I've already told him to bring his partner out with him."

Wei Minglun thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's because that person doesn't like going to nightclubs, and he's just going along with her."

Tong Enkang steered the conversation back on track: "Not to mention nightclubs, we don't really get along in other places either. I talked to him about a lot of things while we were eating, but whether it was cars, watches, or other things, he didn't seem very interested."

As he spoke, he gave an example: "I invited him to go racing and mountain biking together tomorrow, but he told me to drive safely and that life is the most precious thing."

Tong Enkang found it unbelievable and couldn't help but laugh when he recalled those words.

The others also had strange expressions upon hearing this.

In their view, racing is a sport for real men, and the adrenaline rush during racing is exhilarating. Danger is what makes it exciting, thrilling, and cool.

And "safe driving"... that's something only old-fashioned people like their fathers would say.

Moreover, Tong Enkang also shared some information he had observed.

This information also reflects Shen Kang's composure.

But in the eyes of these rich kids, they are "old-fashioned" and "not exciting enough".

"...It does seem like we don't really get along." Meng Chengjiao thought for a moment and said, "But that won't stop him from joining our circle. We'll just have to invite him less often, or not invite him at all, in the future."

The others nodded in agreement.

……

Zhongtanghui is very close to Yangke University, so Shen Kang and the others walked back directly, chatting about "If You Are the One" along the way.

"Jintong, you'll be in charge of liaising with those two guys. Once they give me the information, I'll give it to you."

"Okay, I understand."

"Chunfu, keep an eye on the personnel screening process as well. Remember, while 'If You Are the One' is a program that helps students socialize, it's also a program. A program needs to be engaging to attract attention."

"Highlights? Boss, you mean, find a few oddballs to go on?"

"...That's somewhat true, but you can't treat the audience like fools. You need to strike the right balance..."

The three chatted as they walked through the commercial street and the front street before entering the gate of Yangko University of Science and Technology.

After entering the school gate, Shen Kang's phone rang. He hadn't gone far when he entered the school.

When I picked it up, I saw that the caller ID showed Xu Dexin's name.

Shen Kang answered the phone: "Hello, Teacher Xu, what's up?"

On the other end of the phone was a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment. The interior wasn't luxurious, but rather comfortably furnished, and full of life.

This is Xu Dexin's home.

At this moment, the living room was brightly lit, and Xu Dexin stood in front of the sofa, holding his phone to his ear.

Hearing Shen Kang's voice coming from the other end, Xu Dexin was stunned for a moment, thinking of what had happened half an hour ago.

Half an hour earlier, in this same living room, Xu Dexin received a phone call.

The call was from Director Zhang.

Xu Dexin hesitated for a moment, but still answered the phone, and then Director Zhang's voice came from the other end of the receiver.

Previously, when Director Zhang called him, his voice was quite relaxed, but this time, Director Zhang's voice was filled with laughter and contained a hint of flattery. He immediately greeted him warmly with "Teacher Xu".

"Teacher Xu, how have you been lately?... "

Director Zhang said some meaningless nonsense.

Xu Dexin just kept saying "uh-huh".

Soon, Director Zhang finally revealed his purpose: "...Ms. Xu, congratulations! After discussions within our program team, you are still the most suitable guest! If there are no problems, you can come to our station tomorrow to discuss the specifics."

Xu Dexin had already guessed something from Director Zhang's unusual attitude before. Now that he heard Director Zhang say it explicitly, his heart still trembled.

After a slight hesitation, he asked, "Director Zhang, what is the recording schedule for the program?"

Director Zhang explained, "Because it airs on Friday or Saturday, according to the station's rules, the recording time is Wednesday or Thursday. We also have to accommodate that person's schedule, so it's Wednesday or Thursday evening."

Hearing Director Zhang's reply over the phone, Xu Dexin thought for a moment and then asked, "Could we change the time? For example, Monday or Wednesday? As long as it's not Tuesday or Thursday evening."

Director Zhang sounded quite troubled on the phone: "Well, Ms. Xu, this is the station's rule. Besides, the station has many programs besides this one, and the venues are limited. It requires everyone's coordination; it's not as simple as just rearranging it for one day..."

Xu Dexin listened silently to Director Zhang's words, which were difficult yet resolute, and understood that it was indeed very difficult.

So, he could only explain his predicament: "Director Zhang, it's not that I want to act like a big shot, it's just that a student at my school made an online program and invited me to be a guest, and I've already agreed. The program's time slot happens to be Tuesday and Thursday nights."

According to Director Zhang, the program on the station was pre-recorded, and once it started recording, there was no set schedule. It could easily take five or six hours, starting at seven o'clock and ending around midnight.

On the other hand, "If You Are the One" starts at 8 PM on Thursday.

The two programs conflict in terms of timing; if I want to participate in the station's program, I can't participate in "If You Are the One."

On the other end of the phone, Director Zhang was also stunned when he heard Xu Dexin's words. Then he cursed inwardly, "Why do all these messy things have to pile up at once?"

Their station's new program needed a guest with a psychology background, so they selected a few candidates from several universities in Yangcheng, and Xu Dexin was one of them.

Besides Xu Dexin, there are two others, making a total of three candidates.

Among the three candidates, Xu Dexin was ranked second.

The person ranked first in their minds was a psychology teacher from Yang University.

The program team and the psychology teacher from Yang University had been in good spirits. The general direction had been set and it was basically confirmed that he would come. They were just still negotiating some details such as treatment, program presentation, and the right to speak.

This is also why Director Zhang and his team had a rather indifferent attitude towards Xu Dexin before. It was entirely out of the best of luck, in case of any unforeseen circumstances, that they didn't directly tell Xu Dexin and his team that the candidate had already been chosen.

Unexpectedly, the incident actually happened.

The teacher from Yang University suddenly changed his mind and terminated the cooperation with the program team when the talks were almost completed.

The production team immediately sent people to visit and try to persuade them, but to no avail.

Later, after asking around, they learned that the psychology teacher had declined their offer because he was going to participate in a program on the provincial TV station of Handong Province.

This is no way.

The provincial television station of Handong Province is a well-known television station throughout the country, which is incomparable to a local station like Yangcheng Channel 1.

People strive for higher positions, so it's understandable that the teacher chose to abandon them and participate in that program on the provincial TV station of Handong Province... bullshit!

After learning everything, Director Zhang gave the teacher a thorough dressing-down in front of several colleagues from the production team.

Fortunately, they had alternative plans.

That's why Director Zhang is now calling Xu Dexin.

What Director Zhang didn't expect was that their alternative plan also encountered some unexpected situations.

……

"this……"

Director Zhang's mind raced, and he said, "Teacher Xu, how about this? Why don't you call that student at your school and see if he can change the program's time? If they could move it to Monday or Tuesday, or Friday or Saturday, that would be perfect, wouldn't it?"

Xu Dexin remained silent for a moment.

He had also talked with Shen Kang in detail and knew that Shen Kang's decision on the broadcast time of "If You Are the One" was not made on a whim, but after various considerations, and was determined to be the best time in complete harmony with the daily routines of college students.

Based on his understanding of Shen Kang from those few interactions, this student was very opinionated. He might listen to others' opinions, but once he made a decision after careful consideration, it would be difficult to change his mind.

Xu Dexin also told Director Zhang on the other end of the phone: "Director Zhang, based on my observation of that student, it's unlikely that he will change the time."

Director Zhang on the other end of the phone said again, "How will you know if you don't try?"

Xu Dexin shook his head. "That's probably true."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line; Director Zhang seemed to have fallen silent.

Just as Xu Dexin was about to say something, Director Zhang's voice came again: "Teacher Xu, have you signed a contract with that student?"

Xu Dexin's heart skipped a beat. After a brief silence, he finally spoke: "No."

They've been busy preparing materials and reporting to the school these past few days, so they haven't signed the contract yet.

Director Zhang sounded very excited on the other end of the phone. Xu Dexin even heard a slap, as if Director Zhang was slapping his thigh. "That's it! Since there's no signed contract, it's just a verbal agreement and doesn't have legal effect! You can just verbally refuse him and say that something came up and you can only express your regret."

Xu Dexin instinctively denied it, shaking his head, "That's not a good idea. After all, I've already promised him, and he's still a student at our school, while I'm a teacher..."

Director Zhang's voice came through the receiver, directly interrupting Xu Dexin: "Teacher Xu, people strive for higher positions, water flows downhill. One is a TV program on Yangcheng Channel 1, which airs on Friday and Saturday nights; the other is an online program created by a student from your school. Can't you distinguish the importance of these two?"

Xu Dexin remained silent.

Of course he could tell the difference, and it was precisely because he could tell the difference that he had been arguing with Director Zhang all this time, instead of just hanging up on him.

Deep down, he still hoped to appear on that program on Yangcheng TV. However, he had already promised Shen Kang, and his morals prevented him from simply breaking the contract.

Director Zhang, who was also very experienced, immediately understood the situation when he heard Xu Dexin remain silent. He knew that Xu was also wavering and hesitant, so he decided to increase the intensity of the attack.

Director Zhang thought about it for a moment, and even laid his cards on the table.

"Professor Xu, to be honest, our program team actually had several candidates before, and you were just one of them. Our team's favorite is actually Professor Li from Yang University. We've been in talks with Professor Li for a while now, and things have been going quite smoothly."

This was the first time Xu Dexin had heard about this, and only then did he understand why the production team's attitude had changed.

Director Zhang's voice continued on the phone: "What we didn't expect was that just when we were about to sign the contract with Teacher Li, he suddenly changed his mind. Later, we found out that the provincial TV station in Handong Province also wanted to produce a program and had reached an agreement with Teacher Li. Teacher Li decided to go there, which is why he rejected us."

"Professor Xu, I know you might feel a little guilty, but this really isn't a matter of morality or immorality; it's just a simple business choice. Isn't that what Professor Li did?"

This example was a real game-changer; once it was thrown out, it really threw Xu Dexin into a panic: Yes, Teacher Li did the same thing...

After thinking for a long time, Xu Dexin finally said, "I'll call him first. If he's willing to change the broadcast time, that would be best. If not..."

Xu Dexin stopped talking abruptly and hung up the phone, preparing to call Shen Kang.

He didn't make the call for a long time, and just stood in the living room.

It wasn't until half an hour later that the call was finally made.

……

"Teacher Xu?"

Hearing Shen Kang's voice come through the receiver again, Xu Dexin finally snapped out of his reverie and quickly replied, "Yeah. Shen Kang, I called because there's something I want to discuss with you."

"What is it, Teacher Xu? Please tell me."

Xu Dexin said, "Could we change the broadcast time of 'If You Are the One'?"

"Change the time?"

Shen Kang paused for a moment on the other end of the phone before asking, "Teacher Xu, how would you like to revise it?"

Xu Dexin quickly offered his suggestion: "Friday or Saturday, or Monday or Tuesday, or even Tuesday and Friday?..."

He proposed several solutions.

After listening, Shen Kang also noticed the pattern: "Teacher Xu, you have something to do on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, right?"

Xu Dexin remained silent for a moment.

Shen Kang didn't press further. He just thought for a moment and said, "Teacher Xu, as you know, this schedule is based on the students' daily routines. It can only be adjusted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are possible, Wednesdays and Thursdays are possible, but to have neither Wednesday nor Thursday is mathematically impossible."

"So, if we can't change the time, Professor Xu, what do you want to do?"

After a moment of silence upon hearing Shen Kang's words, Xu Dexin finally spoke: "Shen Kang, I'm sorry. A TV program on Yangcheng Channel 1 is looking for me, and their time slot is Wednesday and Thursday nights. If you really can't change it... I can only apologize, I'm sorry."

Xu Dexin thought that Shen Kang would be very angry even if he didn't dare to scold him when he heard the news.

Afterwards, she will try her best to keep herself.

Xu Dexin has already made preparations for this.

But to Xu Dexin's surprise, after a brief silence, Shen Kang's voice, tinged with laughter, came from the other end of the phone: "It seems you've made your decision, Professor Xu. Television programs are indeed better than our online program, and more beneficial to your future development, which is understandable."

"Since you've made your decision, Teacher Xu, then I wish you a bright future and smooth sailing."

Shen Kang's reaction surprised Xu Dexin. "You...aren't angry?"

"People naturally strive for better opportunities. That's understandable."

Xu Dexin was truly baffled by this student and couldn't help but ask again, "Aren't you going to try to keep me here?"

Shen Kang on the other end actually did as he requested and tried to persuade him to stay: "Oh, then I'll try to persuade you to stay. Teacher Xu, don't go to Yangcheng anymore, come to our 'If You Are the One' show, okay?"

Xu Dexin remained silent.

On the other end, Shen Kang chuckled again: "So, it's meaningless. Alright, Teacher Xu, is there anything else?"

"...That's all."

"Then I'll hang up now." Shen Kang added a final word of comfort: "Don't feel too guilty. You're just too morally driven, Professor Xu. Even after a contract is signed, some people still try to break it, let alone those of us who haven't signed yet..."

In a certain place in Yangshang, a boy suddenly sneezed and looked around suspiciously, wondering who was cursing him.

At Yang University of Science and Technology, Shen Kang had already hung up the phone after comforting Xu Dexin.

The three of them had stopped in their tracks, and Ye Jintong and Ji Chunfu were both staring at him.

From Shen Kang's phone call, they had already gleaned some information: "Has Teacher Xu changed her mind?"

"Um."

Shen Kang didn't seem to care and continued walking forward, saying as he went, "I'll contact the other teacher tomorrow; everything will proceed as planned."

"Understood." Ye Jintong and Ji Chunfu followed.

They've gradually gotten used to the website's style—Shen Kang makes the plans, and everyone fills in like chess pieces. No one is particularly important or indispensable; everything can be replaced. So Xu Dexin's change of heart isn't a big problem for them.

In Xu Dexin's living room, Xu Dexin called Director Zhang, who had been waiting for a long time, and told him about the results on his end.

This delighted Director Zhang. "Teacher Xu, you will never regret this decision you made today. On the contrary, you should thank yourself for it. Teacher Xu, come to the station tomorrow!..."