Chapter One, A Bit of Infatuation (9)

Fang Zhu stood up respectfully and listened attentively.

He smiled at everyone: "I must first thank my classmates, as this is our last year to gather together on campus to give such presentations"

After the topic reporting meeting, the students in Fang Zhu's group began to feel anxious

This is the true essence of recording, a student remarked

This was the first time she heard him utter such a long sentence, the first time she discovered that his voice was deep and magnetic, much like that of a male host on a morning FM radio program

Their choice of topic is also unique, narrated in the style of a travelogue, devoid of any superfluous rhetoric, astonishingly approachable. By the end of the report, he exhibited some emotional fluctuations on stage, yet he restrained himself, as he had no concluding remarks; he merely recited a report from the 1940s—"Here lie the bloodstains you left behind while resisting the enemy, your fountain pen, your camera, all comrades who fell alongside you. When we see their remnants, your youthful and wise face, your resolute and kind expression, your clear and resonant voice..." He continued to recite a report from the 1940s—"Here lie the bloodstains you left behind while resisting the enemy, your fountain pen, your camera, all comrades who fell alongside you. When we see their remnants, your youthful and wise face, your resolute and kind expression, your clear and resonant voice... all vividly appear before us. We caress the bloodstains that have lost their warmth and heat, and we recall the most profound impressions you left with us.

Bamboo Zhang asked: "Why?"

Teacher Qi did not answer her

He was clearly dressed simply, yet stood on the stage with an extraordinary commanding presence, his gaze resolute and his demeanor dignified, just like his name

When she came to her senses, she realized that she was gazing up at him

Fang Zhu asked: "He Zhi Xuan and the others will also be participating, right?"

Fang Zhu felt an overwhelming sense of shame, lowering her head, unable to utter even half a sentence

A few days later, the judging panel announced the scores. As expected, He Zhixuan's senior team scored two points higher than Fang Zhu's rookie team. A few days later, the counselor, Teacher Qi, came to inform Fang Zhu about participating in the city competition.

He is well-suited for public speaking, with emotions and voice that are perfectly calibrated to stir people's feelings. In the ears of the audience, every word he utters seems to be imbued with emotion, and for a moment, Fang Zhu was also entranced.

Teacher Qi spoke with a blank expression: "The school will only send one group. You must work hard to bring honor to the school"

Fang Zhu felt uneasy and shared her situation during a phone call with her mother. Her mother comforted her, saying: "It is normal for your experience to be less than that of the upperclassmen. You should maintain a calm mindset and not be overly competitive"

The team led by He Zhixuan is a formidable opponent, and they practice what they preach; their reports are crafted with both feet and hands.

He was different from the other students who presented on stage; he immediately introduced his team one by one. She thought to herself, they are all in their fourth year, yet they still have such a strong sense of teamwork

This matter soon caused a stir in the news agency, when senior Ji Kaiwen from He Zhixuan's group publicly jabbed Fang Zhu during a club activity, saying: "No amount of hard work can compare to having a powerful father."

After the event, some classmates told her: "He Zhixuan is from a small northern city and came to our city for the exam. He was the top science student in his local area back then. His family background is not good, but his academic performance is excellent, and a master's supervisor specifically wants to take him as a disciple! However, he is likely to look for a job right after graduation. Moreover, the few students in their senior year are all from out of town, and they all want to secure positions in newspapers and television stations. If they win this competition, they will have a better chance of staying here."

The classmates in the same group as Fang Zhu remained silent

Indeed, losing to He Zhixuan is truly nothing to be ashamed of, although one may feel a sense of regret.