"Ding! Eloquence and Speech Writing course has ended!"
"Ding! English real-life speaking training has reached intermediate level, rewards have been issued!"
At this crucial time of year-end exams and competitions, after toiling for so long, she finally finished these two courses before the competition.
She hadn't expected an unexpected bonus. Perhaps it was due to practicing often, her performance in the speaking training had been exceptionally smooth, directly reaching the intermediate level.
Looking at the 2000 points and 20,000 cash she had just received, Qiu Xi felt a bit surprised.
However, nearly half of the one-year period stipulated by the system had already passed. With two levels remaining, there was still a lot of practice to do.
As she thought about this, Qiu Xi fell asleep.
The next day, at the pavilion by the artificial lake on campus.
Qiu Xi and Nan Hua had moved their practice sessions to the pavilion by the artificial lake on campus, hoping to face the judges and audience with ease.
During a break, Nan Hua saw Qiu Xi still engrossed in her notes and asked, "The competition is the day after tomorrow. How are you feeling?"
He had no doubts about Qiu Xi and believed she would definitely win a prize. He asked now merely because he was tired from practicing and wanted to chat.
Qiu Xi glanced at Nan Hua, her expression as serene as ever, revealing nothing.
Holding her pen, Qiu Xi began to twirl it incessantly. To be honest, after preparing for so long, she no longer felt much. However, the thought of going on stage still made her a little nervous.
"Why aren't you speaking?" Seeing Qiu Xi twirling her pen, Nan Hua knew she was lost in thought.
"It's nothing, I just feel quite good right now, and I think you're doing well too."
Qiu Xi shook her head and began to answer.
"Of course! I'm definitely doing well," Nan Hua replied.
"..." Qiu Xi felt a bit helpless looking at the person who had misinterpreted her meaning.
When she first met him, she thought he was a aloof top student. However, after studying together for a while, she realized that his aloofness was conditional on time and place.
For instance, now, with his chin slightly raised and his eyes occasionally glancing at her, there was no sign of aloofness.
The more Qiu Xi looked, the more she wanted to laugh.
"Pfft~ Yes, yes, yes~"
The sight of the girl suddenly beaming with a radiant smile stunned Nan Hua.
It was the first time he had seen her smile like that. It was beautiful, and coupled with her bell-like voice, she looked captivating in the sunlight.
"Xi Xi..."
He couldn't help but call out the name he had long wanted to use.
"Huh?" Qiu Xi looked at him, confused. Had she hallucinated?
"Ahem, nothing. Good luck for the competition the day after tomorrow!" Regaining his composure, Nan Hua turned his head away, changing the subject.
There were things he wanted to say, but he couldn't say them now; it wasn't appropriate.
"Okay, you too!"
"Mmm!"
After this brief interlude, the two continued their studies.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the competition.
They had taken a train the day before and set off for Kyoto with their teacher. Now, they were heading to the venue.
"Don't be nervous, you two. Just compete well."
On the car, the teacher began giving pre-competition guidance, worried that the two students might be nervous on stage.
Although they had come this far, there were still things to be said, as they were indeed two promising talents.
"Teacher, we understand. Don't worry." It was impossible not to be nervous at all, but not as nervous as the teacher imagined.
"Yes, Teacher Yan," Nan Hua also responded.
He liked this teacher. Although she was strict in class and came up with many ideas, she was indeed a very interesting teacher. As he thought this, he glanced at Qiu Xi beside him.
Teacher Yan looked at the two students with genuine delight.
"Very good, very good. I believe in you two. You can do it. Good luck in the competition later!"
As she smiled, her gaze fell upon Nan Hua. Children these days, really, they don't know how to restrain themselves, and an old man like her could see it.
However, he couldn't discern anything from the girl, Qiu Xi.
Teacher Yan was completely engrossed in her own thoughts.
Who would have thought that an old man would have such gossipy thoughts?
When they got out of the car, she patted Nan Hua on the shoulder and said with some earnestness, "Good luck!"
Nan Hua heard this and only took it as the teacher's pre-competition encouragement, not thinking much of it.
If he had known the teacher's implied meaning, he would probably be digging a hole somewhere now, and the thought of "My Teacher Discovered My Little Thoughts" would likely accompany him for the rest of his life.
"I'll go in first. Good luck!"
Since they were in different competition groups, the professional group's venue was reached first. Before entering, Qiu Xi said goodbye to Nan Hua.
"Mmm, you too."
Then they entered their respective competition venues, signed in, and waited for the competition to begin.
As expected of elites from all over, as soon as the competition started, Qiu Xi was amazed. The speeches were truly excellent.
Those who went up later were also outstanding performers. At this moment, Qiu Xi couldn't help but lament that without Xiao Hua, she might not even have the qualification to watch from the audience.
However, fortunately, she had met Xiao Hua. Not to mention anything else, but with the current finals, Qiu Xi felt she was okay.
Because her number was quite late, Qiu Xi watched others' "performances" for a long time before it was finally her turn.
It was no wonder they said time wears people down. After watching for so long, it had actually diminished Qiu Xi's initial nervousness.
Smoothing the creases on her dress, Qiu Xi composed herself and walked onto the stage to begin her speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
As if rehearsed countless times, Qiu Xi delivered the fixed-topic speech brilliantly.
Her impromptu speech and the subsequent Q&A session were also impressive.
A freshman who had just turned 18 with such a foundation was indeed astonishing. It seemed she had put in a lot of effort.
The judges were seen conferring and nodding frequently. This young lady's performance was truly outstanding, and her answers to questions were also very insightful.
One might have thought she was specially trained for competitions.
However, they didn't know that, in a certain sense, Qiu Xi had indeed undergone specialized speech training before participating in the competition.
After all, with all the system courses and the daily efforts with her teacher and partner, she had invested a great deal of effort.
However, the final result was somewhat beyond Qiu Xi's own expectations, as she had clearly aimed for the first prize.
The host announced "the special prize." Qiu Xi understood the words, but if that were the case, would she have completed the mission?
While she was still pondering and preparing to ask Xiao Hua, the system's broadcast came in advance.
"Congratulations to the host for exceeding the mission objective! Rewards are stacked and doubled. The Jade Nose of Qiong Yao and 1 million cash have been issued."
"Whoosh!"
Qiu Xi was stunned by the system's generosity. So, it could be like this! She had witnessed it!
Regardless, it was still a success, and Qiu Xi was very happy, especially with the doubled reward!
Of course, it wasn't just Qiu Xi who was pleasantly surprised; Teacher Yan, waiting in the audience, was even more so. She hadn't had much hope, thinking even a participation award would be good, but this time it was a shocking double surprise.
After reacting, she immediately took out her phone and sent the news back.
Once the message was sent, she paid no more attention to anything else. The awards ceremony was next, and she wanted to take more photos.
For publicity!
Yes, and the video she had recorded for memento could also be used well.
Qiu Xi didn't know what the teacher was thinking. She was now just waiting for the awards ceremony to end and then to see the rewards given by the system.
After two months of hard work, the season of harvest had finally arrived, and she was already impatient.