She didn't want to continue on the subject, so she mumbled a brief thank you, and then returned the microphone to the emcee.

The professor smiled knowingly. It was clear that this wasn't the first time he had witnessed such a reaction. He brushed it off as youthful naivete and did not take it to heart.

But the director had other plans. There had been two consecutive questions about alien life forms, and he had kept tab of the audience's reception to the topic.

“The current vibe is excellent. If you ask something beyond this subject, it might ruin the program's momentum."

He lowered his voice and told the show's other guests, "You know what I'm saying, right? Keep those alien-related questions coming."