Chapter 200: I Booked a TCM Appointment for You

“It’s not about the audience. I’m just a little nervous, and I don’t want to go anymore.”

“Uh…”

Chen Yuan didn’t need her to say another word to guess what Brother Wei meant.

“You’re not thinking of asking me to take your place, are you?”

“That’s exactly it! I’m too nervous. I don’t dare to go.” Brother Wei rubbed her thighs anxiously and said emotionally,

“I only joined for fun at first. Who would’ve thought I’d make it all the way to the finals? I’m just not cut out for this.”

“Well…”

Based on his observations over the past semester, from a debating standpoint, Brother Wei really wasn’t cut out for it.

But the other three members of the class team were just too strong; they had literally carried her into the finals.

“Chen Yuan, please take my place. If our class doesn’t win the championship because of me, I’ll be the one to blame.”

“Brother Wei, listen to me. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. It’s the participation that counts. No one will blame you if we lose.”

“No, that’s not okay! We’ve come this far, we have to win the championship! I can’t be the reason we lose the competition!” Wang Wei said.

“If it’s the four of you, that would be our class’s strongest lineup. Maybe you could actually bring home the championship.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m fine with just bullshitting around, but I can’t handle something this serious.”

“But I’m even worse! I’m begging you! When the time comes, I’ll be like Yingying, I’ll come watch your match and shout, ‘Chen Yuan, I love you!'”

“Brother Wei, you really don’t want me to agree, do you?”

“What are you even talking about? Anyway, it’s settled. Be a good person and see it through. Just help me out.”

RING RING RING—

The class bell rang, and Brother Wei quickly stood up.

“It’s settled then. I’m leaving.”

Chen Yuan never imagined he’d one day be strong-armed by Brother Wei.

He didn’t take it too seriously, though. He read a novel for a while, scrolled through some muted videos, and made plans to have lunch with Song Jianye.

When class ended at noon, he got ready to head to Cafeteria No. 3.

“Brother Yuan, wait up.”

He had just stepped out of the classroom door when Li Songtao called out to him.

“What’s up?”

“Brother Wei said you’re going to take her place in the final round?”

“I didn’t agree. That was her unilateral decision,” Chen Yuan said.

“Who’s the opponent in the finals? Did they completely shatter Brother Wei’s resolve?”

“The School of Economics and Management. They’ve been champions for two years straight. They’re seriously tough.”

“The opponents are that badass? Then it’s probably hopeless no matter who goes, right?”

“You could say that, but we’ve made it this far. We can’t just forfeit,” Li Songtao said.

“I talked to Brother Wei during class. Her mind is made up; she’s not participating. How about you come and save the day?”

“When’s the match? What’s the topic?”

“The match is tomorrow. The topic is: ‘Is money omnipotent?’ We’re on the affirmative side, arguing that money *is* omnipotent.”

“Our opponents are strong enough as it is, and we drew a topic that goes against socialist values?”

Li Songtao shrugged. “Nothing we can do. Bad luck of the draw. But since it’s come to this, let’s just give it our all.”

“Holy shit, hold on. I haven’t agreed to this yet.”

“If you don’t agree, no one will go. Just think of it as helping Brother Wei out. She said she’ll treat us to a meal afterward. I’m gonna go, don’t want to keep you from your lunch.”

Li Songtao quickened his pace and left.

Chen Yuan was about to start cursing, but then he saw Song Jianye at the cafeteria entrance.

Today, she was wearing a pair of loose-fitting jeans with a white T-shirt and a light blue blouse over it. Among the bustling crowd of female university students, her outfit was undoubtedly a breath of fresh air.

“Was that person one of your classmates? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.”

Chen Yuan nodded. “He’s in my class. He’s on the school debate team, which made it to the finals. He was just talking to me about it.”

Song Jianye looked at Chen Yuan with surprise.

“You’re in the debate competition too?”

“I’m not, but a girl in my class got scared and wants me to take her place. I’m thinking it over…”

Suddenly, Chen Yuan looked at Song Jianye. “You’re in the School of Economics and Management, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You guys are our opponents in the finals. I hear your team is really strong. They’ve won the championship for two years in a row. If they win again this year, it’ll be a three-peat.”

“I don’t really know about that, but I have heard that our school’s debate team is supposed to be pretty amazing.”

“That’s the problem. Going up against pros like them, it won’t be easy to win.”

“Just do your best. It’s the participation that counts, right?”

“My mindset is fine, so you don’t have to comfort me. It’s not a big deal. Let’s go eat first.”

“Mhm.”

The two arrived at the cafeteria. Song Jianye ordered a bowl of wonton soup, and Chen Yuan got a plate of braised pork knuckle with rice.

Chen Yuan had class in the afternoon, so Song Jianye went to the driving school to practice.

Li Songtao came to talk with Chen Yuan about the debate again, bringing a ton of research materials that made Chen Yuan’s head spin.

Brother Wei even brought drinks over and kept cheering Chen Yuan on.

That evening, after Song Jianye returned, the two of them went to the library to memorize vocabulary after dinner.

Chen Yuan was also exceptionally serious. He even did a few listening comprehension exercises with Song Jianye, but he was a bit of a disaster in that area. ‘I’ll need to focus on improving that skill in the future.’

Resting her cheek on her left hand and twirling a pen with her right, Song Jianye stared at the words in the book, but her thoughts had already drifted to the highest heavens.

“Are you sure you want to participate in the debate tomorrow?”

Song Jianye asked suddenly, interrupting Chen Yuan’s thoughts.

“I’ll just go to make up the numbers. It’s the participation that counts. Forfeiting would be embarrassing.”

Chen Yuan was very casual about the matter and didn’t take it to heart. To him, it wasn’t worth wasting brain cells on something like this.

“Well, you have to do your best! I’ll be there to cheer you on tomorrow.”

“OK.”

BZZT BZZT BZZT—

Song Jianye’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Wang Chuyue.

“It’s almost eight. Let’s head back.”

She glanced at the time on her phone. With their focus so sharp, it felt as though time itself had accelerated.