Let you play a corrupt official, are you saying you want to make progress?

Chapter 3: Can I Play a Corrupt Officer?

Netizens were equally baffled by the turn of events.

[“This is incredible, this is the art of social grace!”].

[“Oh my, I need to learn this. This response is textbook-level for dealing with this kind of leadership and situation!”].

[“I’m genuinely impressed. Although I don’t like this kind of artificial behavior if you were Qin Xuan’s superior and he brought this role into real life, these words are just so comfortable to hear!”].

Bullet comments continued to pour in, and on top of that, numerous individuals were sharing the video, greatly increasing its viewership.

Overnight, Qin Xuan, the challenger, became incredibly popular. To gain popularity in this world, a solid foundation of historical knowledge was essential. Lacking historical knowledge would likely result in failure in less than a minute. However, knowledge alone wasn’t sufficient. Comprehending the complexities of human relationships was also crucial. Most people in this parallel world were fairly straightforward, with only a small minority grasping these dynamics. These individuals had risen above the common folk.

“Entering History” had a short duration due to the high costs of simulating historical scenes, and the failures of previous challengers had left little time for Qin Xuan. The program was about to conclude within a few minutes.

As the program wrapped up, Emperor Chenghua immediately appointed Qin Xuan as Assistant Minister of Justice, a high starting position for a sixth-rank officer. Back at the Ministry of Justice, Wang Zhi was greatly pleased with Qin Xuan’s performance.

“Qin Xuan, you are truly exceptional. True wisdom lies in understanding principles and knowledge,” Wang Zhi expressed his satisfaction with a warm smile.

Having reached his current position, Wang Zhi aimed to nurture his team, and Qin Xuan, who stood before him, was the ideal choice. Qin Xuan was not only highly capable but also well-versed in knowledge and principles. His sense of gratitude towards Wang Zhi made him an even more appealing subordinate.

After all, who wouldn’t appreciate such a loyal and competent subordinate?

At this moment, Wang Zhi handed Qin Xuan an authentic work by Wang Xizhi, a folding fan.

“This is a genuine piece by Wang Xizhi. While I appreciate calligraphy and art, I haven’t delved too deeply into it. It’s been sitting around here, practically unused. I’d rather give it to you. I can see that you understand its value.”

Hearing Wang Zhi’s words, Qin Xuan was surprised. A genuine work by Wang Xizhi was being given to him directly? Moreover, Wang Zhi seemed to have more to say.

“No one else is here, so just accept it!” Wang Zhi playfully scolded as if questioning Qin Xuan’s hesitation.

Not fully grasping Wang Zhi’s intention, Qin Xuan decided to accept the gift.

“Mentor, I gratefully accept your gift,” Qin Xuan replied as he received the fan, waiting for Wang Zhi to continue speaking.

“Beep! The system has detected that the host has secured his position through social maneuvering. The rewards obtained in the simulation can now be reaped in real life!”

The system suddenly alerted him.

“What on earth? Is this possible?” Qin Xuan was surprised by this revelation, not expecting the system’s rewards to be so substantial.

If he could earn a significant amount of currency in the virtual world, could he also obtain equivalent real-world rewards? That sounded incredible. However, it was evident that the amount of reward depended on his skills. With talent, he could amass a wealth of rewards, but without it, he would have nothing.

Seeing Qin Xuan lost in thought, Wang Zhi smiled and continued, “Qin Xuan, what are you pondering?”

Qin Xuan returned to reality and replied, “Mentor, I’m contemplating how I can continue to advance.”

At this point, the video abruptly ended, and the program was drawing to a close, leaving the audience somewhat unsatisfied.

[“What? Is it over? Seriously? I wanted to know how Qin Xuan would progress!”].

[“One Suifa gun, one major achievement, Wang Xizhi’s authentic work, and the leader’s favor – he’s hit the jackpot!”].

[“It’s a shame it’s over. I didn’t expect that people in ancient times were so sly. Without a sharp mind, they wouldn’t even know how they’d die!”].

[“I’ve learned a lot. Qin Xuan has truly shown the art of cunning in ancient politics.”].

In an instant, Qin Xuan garnered the masses’ adoration, and this program episode came to a complete conclusion. Qin Xuan suddenly found himself in a new system space, and within this space lay the folding fan.

As the scene concluded, the director warmly embraced Qin Xuan.

“Qin Xuan, you truly turned the tide and rescued a program on the brink of failure. Without you, this show would have been a laughingstock!” The director expressed genuine gratitude.

It was entirely thanks to Qin Xuan this time. Without his participation, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Even with Qin Xuan’s involvement, many moments had kept everyone on edge. Seeing the director’s heartfelt appreciation, Qin Xuan felt deeply satisfied. One of the benefits of this parallel world was the absence of complex social maneuvering. People here interacted genuinely, offering honest praise or criticism. In contrast, Qin Xuan’s previous world was fraught with the intricacies of human relationships, where spoken words often held veiled meanings, making them challenging to decipher without careful consideration.

The system proved to be thoughtful in this regard. In the virtual world, engaging in discussions about the complexities of human relationships with simulated characters yielded rewards, whereas in the real world, avoiding such behavior earned rewards. From this perspective, the system was quite pragmatic.

“Alright, let’s not forget our main agenda. The station manager wants you to visit the studio,” the director promptly informed him.

Qin Xuan’s exceptional performance had garnered the leadership’s attention, and they had already decided that, if circumstances permitted, the next episode of the program would revolve around him. In just a short hour, the show’s viewership had reached unprecedented heights in the history of the television station. It was an achievement that had seemed unimaginable.

So, Qin Xuan was led to the studio by the director. Upon entering, the station manager stood up and shook Qin Xuan’s hand.

“Little Qin, you’ve done a tremendous service for the station this time. The station has decided that the next episode will also center around you. Do you have any ideas about this? Feel free to share your thoughts without hesitation!”

Seeing the station manager’s enthusiasm, Qin Xuan no longer hesitated.

“Station Manager, I can assure you that I’ll give my best for the program, but in terms of content, can I play the role of a corrupt officer?” He asked directly.

In accordance with the system’s reward rules, what he earned in the virtual world would translate into something in the real world.

Qin Xuan’s idea took the station manager by surprise. Still, the manager, being experienced, responded, “As long as the program is effective and you can successfully pass the AI character’s assessment, playing the role of a corrupt officer is not out of the question. Think it over.”

“Furthermore, in light of your outstanding performance, the station has unanimously decided to promote you and increase your salary. Give it your best shot!” The station manager encouraged.

Talented individuals like Qin Xuan should not go unnoticed. This move pleasantly surprised Qin Xuan. This was the advantage of the parallel world. Here, as long as you had the ability, you could be promoted and receive a raise, unlike in ancient times when only those with knowledge and understanding could climb the ranks.