Godly Beggar

Jiang Han adjusted his collar, looking up at the imposing facade of the Seladang Broadcasting Centre. Today was the final round of interviews for a junior radio host position. The stakes were high, and Jiang Han felt the weight of the Begging System's latest mission pressing down on him.

[System Alert! Mission Triggered.]

Mission: Convince the panel to hire you as a junior radio host.]

Reward: Advanced Eloquence (+10% persuasive success rate in critical situations).]

Failure Penalty: System lockout for 72 hours.]

Jiang muttered to himself, "Three days without the system? That's a death sentence." He sighed and rolled his shoulders. "Alright, let's do this. System, don't fail me now."

The waiting area buzzed with chatter as the candidates sized one another up. Jiang Han glanced around, observing the competition's polished appearances and confident demeanours. Most were recent graduates from top universities or interns with prior broadcasting experience.

To his left sat Lim De Kang, a well-dressed man who exuded charm and confidence. To his right, Tan Kang Min, a young woman flipping through cue cards, whispered lines under her breath.

De Kang leaned over with a smirk. "Hey, bro. First time? You look...nervous."

Jiang Han smiled politely. "Not really. Just focused."

"Focused?" De Kang chuckled. "You'll need more than focus. These judges don't play around. You're competing against a seasoned talent like me, you know?"

"Seasoned talent?" Jiang Han repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Thanks for the advice. I'll remember that."

De Kang's smirk widened. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Inside the interview room, a group of five panellists reviewed the list of candidates. At the head of the table sat Zhao Guowei, the station's senior host, flanked by his sharp-eyed assistant, Li Hong Wei, and three other evaluators.

"This year's batch seems decent," said Hong Wei, flipping through resumes.

"Decent isn't good enough," replied Guowei. "We need someone exceptional. Someone who can adapt and think on their feet."

"Let's see if anyone surprises us," another panellist added.

"Jiang Han!" called the assistant.

Jiang stood, smoothing his shirt, and walked confidently into the room. He bowed slightly. "Good morning, esteemed panellists. Thank you for the opportunity."

Guowei motioned him to sit. "Let's skip the introductions. Here's the task. You'll have ten seconds to review this manuscript before reciting as much as you can from memory."

A thick document was handed to Jiang Han. His eyes widened briefly at the sheer volume of text but quickly narrowed in focus.

[System Notification: Enhanced Memory temporarily activated.]

"Time starts now," said Hong Wei, her tone clipped.

Jiang's eyes darted across the page. The words blurred and then sharpened as his mind absorbed the information at an accelerated pace.

"Ten seconds up," said Hong Wei, snatching the manuscript back. "Begin."

Jiang Han straightened his posture and began to recite:

"A notary organisation, ensuring judicial stability and the integrity of social order…"

His voice was steady, clear, and rhythmic.

At 200 words, Guowei raised an eyebrow.

At 400 words, Hong Wei stopped writing and leaned forward.

By the time Jiang Han reached 700 words, one of the younger panellists dropped their pen in shock.

When Jiang completed the final sentence flawlessly, the room fell into stunned silence.

"920 words," Jiang said calmly. "Thank you, esteemed panellists."

Guowei cleared his throat. "Are you saying...you memorised all that in ten seconds?"

Jiang nodded. "Yes, sir. I've trained myself to process and retain information quickly. It's a skill I've honed through years of self-discipline."

Hong Wei adjusted her glasses, clearly rattled. "That's impressive...but memorisation isn't enough. Radio hosting is about improvisation and connection. Do you think you have that?"

Jiang leaned forward slightly, his tone measured. "I understand, Madam Li. Memorisation is just a tool. Connection comes from understanding your audience, adapting to their needs, and delivering value. May I demonstrate?"

Jiang took a deep breath, his mind racing. The Begging System had been teaching him how to persuade and engage, even in challenging situations.

"Imagine a listener who just lost their job," Jiang began. "They tune in, not for entertainment, but for hope. A good host would recognise that, speak to their struggle, and give them a reason to keep going."

He shifted seamlessly into an impromptu segment, weaving a motivational narrative filled with humour, empathy, and practical advice.

By the time he finished, the panellists were nodding, their scepticism visibly eroding.

Hong Wei tapped her pen against the table. "That was...unexpectedly good. But why should we choose you over more experienced candidates?"

Jiang smiled. "Experience is valuable, but so is potential. I bring a fresh perspective, a strong work ethic, and the ability to learn and adapt quickly. Isn't that what this industry needs?"

Guowei exchanged a look with Hong Wei. The room was quiet for a moment before Guowei spoke. "You've given us a lot to think about. Thank you, Jiang Han. We'll be in touch."

As Jiang exited the room, the Begging System chimed:

[Mission Completed!]

Reward Unlocked: Advanced Eloquence (+10% persuasive success rate in critical situations).]

Jiang smirked. "Well, system, maybe begging isn't so bad after all."

De Kang, who had been watching from the waiting room, approached him. "How'd it go?" he asked, his tone laced with mockery.

Jiang shrugged. "Not bad. I think I left an impression."

De Kang snorted. "Sure, bro. Keep dreaming."

Jiang smiled knowingly. "Dreams are the foundation of success, De Kang. Maybe you'll understand one day."

As he walked away, Jiang couldn't help but chuckle. Face-slapping victories were becoming his speciality—and he was just getting started.

Jiang Han stepped out of the interview room, his shoulders relaxed but his mind buzzing with the adrenaline of his performance. He glanced at the candidates still seated in the waiting room, their expressions ranging from curiosity to scepticism. Among them, Lim De Kang locked eyes with him, smirking as if he knew the outcome.

"So, how did it go?" De Kang asked, leaning back with an air of superiority.

Jiang offered a polite smile. "It went well. Thanks for asking."

"Well?" De Kang scoffed. "That's vague. Did they grill you, or were they impressed by your... 'potential'?" His tone dripped with sarcasm.

Jiang chuckled. "Let's just say I gave them something to think about."

De Kang's smirk faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "Confidence is good, bro. Just make sure it's not misplaced."

Jiang didn't respond. He didn't need to. The seed of doubt was already planted in De Kang's mind, and Jiang was more than happy to let it grow.

As Jiang exited the building, the midday sun greeted him warmly. He found a shaded bench nearby and sat down to collect his thoughts.

[System Notification: Reflection Phase Activated.]

[Mission Complete!]

Reward Unlocked: Advanced Eloquence (+10% persuasive success rate in critical situations).]

Jiang felt a faint warmth spread through his chest, a sensation he was beginning to associate with system rewards.

[System Insight: Confidence combined with humility creates trust. The host's ability to balance both was key to success.]

Jiang leaned back and sighed. "Confidence and humility, huh? Easier said than done, but I'll take the compliment."

His thoughts wandered back to the interview room. The looks on the panellists' faces, especially when he recited the 920-word manuscript flawlessly, were priceless. It wasn't just about proving them wrong—it was about proving to himself that he could rise above the doubts and challenges.

Back inside the waiting room, it was De Kang's turn. He adjusted his suit, gave his reflection a quick nod in the glass, and strutted into the interview room as he owned it.

"Good morning, esteemed panellists," De Kang greeted them, his voice smooth and polished.

The panellists nodded but didn't seem particularly impressed. Guowei, the lead interviewer, glanced at his notes. "Mr Lim, your resume is impressive. Let's see if your skills match."

The same manuscript was handed over, and De Kang's confidence faltered for a split second as he realised the task ahead.

"You have ten seconds to review this document before reciting it," said Hong Wei, her voice neutral but firm.

De Kang nodded and began reading. His eyes darted across the text, but the pressure was palpable. When the manuscript was snatched back, he hesitated before starting his recitation.

"Uh... A notary organisation, uh, ensures judicial... um, judicial..."

The room fell silent as De Kang stumbled through the first few sentences. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his once-polished exterior began to crumble.

Guowei exchanged a glance with Hong Wei, who sighed audibly.

"Thank you, Mr Lim," Guowei interrupted, sparing him further embarrassment. "We'll be in touch."

Two days later, the candidates received their results. Jiang Han sat in his room, staring at his phone as the email notification popped up.

"Congratulations," he read aloud, a grin spreading across his face. "We are pleased to offer you the position of Junior Radio Host at Seladang Broadcasting Centre."

The message went on, but Jiang didn't need to read the rest. He had done it.

The next morning, Jiang arrived at the broadcasting centre for orientation. To his surprise, De Kang was there too, standing in the lobby with a sour expression.

"De Kang," Jiang greeted cheerfully. "Didn't expect to see you here."

De Kang's jaw tightened. "I'm here for another interview. The junior position wasn't the only one open, you know."

Jiang nodded knowingly. "Ah, I see. Well, good luck. I'm sure you'll do great."

De Kang's scowl deepened, but he didn't respond. Jiang hid a smirk as he walked past, feeling the familiar satisfaction of a well-earned victory.

As Jiang settled into his new role, the Begging System continued to push him into unexpected situations. Whether it was convincing a sceptical senior host to mentor him or negotiating better time slots for his shows, Jiang learned that begging wasn't about humiliation—it was about strategy.

One day, as he prepared for his first on-air segment, the system chimed again:

[System Alert! Daily Mission Triggered.]

Mission: Secure an experienced co-host for your debut segment.]

Reward: Audience Engagement Boost (+5% listener retention).]

Jiang sighed. "Here we go again."

But this time, he didn't feel dread. He felt excitement. After all, begging was becoming his strongest weapon.