"Mr. Smith certainly has a way with words, truly impressive," Liu Qingxi said, turning to praise Smith as Mao Jinyan struggled to find his voice.
"Ms. Liu, you flatter me."
"My skills are only a little better than the average person."
Liu Qingxi's gaze briefly darkened before her smile returned instantly.
"Mr. Smith is indeed remarkable. May I have the honor of seeking your guidance?"
By calling himself an average person, wasn't he belittling Mao Jinyan, with whom he had just spoken?
"Of course," Smith nodded. "Since Ms. Liu is interested, I am naturally happy to oblige."
"Ms. Liu, please."
With that, Smith's eyes fixed directly on Liu Qingxi, signaling her to speak.
"Then I shall begin. Please listen carefully, Mr. Smith."
After speaking, Liu Qingxi presented the points she had prepared.
...
"Mr. Smith, what do you think? Did you enjoy yourself?" Liu Qingxi asked softly, looking at Smith's somewhat flushed face.
"...Good!" Smith replied stiffly, his face expressionless and his teeth gritted.
"Ms. Liu is truly formidable. What you've said is excellent..."
He had no choice but to admit it; this Liu Qingxi had exceeded his expectations.
He hadn't even had her on his radar before, and now she turned out to be an even more troublesome opponent than Mao Jinyan.
A miscalculation!
"Then, Mr. Smith... I concede."
"!!!"
Liu Qingxi's remark almost made Smith lose his composure.
However, he wasn't faring much better.
His face was sullen, his eyes fixed on Liu Qingxi like a snake's.
A fake smile played on his lips, but an aura of gloom surrounded him.
To be bested like this!
"Smith, so you have moments of being... disheveled~"
This was James.
He had been watching Smith for a long time, and it was only now, seeing Smith's gloomy expression, that he began to smile gleefully.
To have his plans thwarted earlier, only to be rendered speechless now, was truly poetic justice!
Before the exchange even began, they had agreed that only by working together could they achieve victory.
Yet, this Smith was greedy for the admiration of others...
Truly!
An embarrassment!
With this thought, James's smile grew even brighter.
Smith watched, his hands clenched tightly, his eyes glaring.
What was James so pleased about!
He was just relying on an enemy, putting on a false display of might.
"Since James is so happy, why don't I let you have another turn next?" Smith asked James calmly, concealing his emotions.
This was just the beginning. Losing this round didn't matter much to him; it would be interesting if James lost consecutively.
"Bring it on!" James readily agreed.
He refused to believe it!
If Smith could win one round, surely he wouldn't be worse off!
Besides, there were still a few young people present. If he competed with them, he couldn't possibly lose, right?
James was not entirely without sense, but he had made the wrong calculation.
Of these four girls, Qiu Xi aside, Nian Lanqi was also capable. Then there was Fang Lingling, whose ability was only slightly less than Nian Lanqi's, still not bad.
As for Wang Yanyan, although she was far behind Qiu Xi, she still had a high chance of winning against Fang Lingling.
Therefore, James had truly underestimated these girls.
"Since Mr. Smith has put it this way, I shall not decline."
James chuckled and nodded, believing himself to be refined and gentlemanly.
"Mr. Mao, Ms. Liu, I see there are a few more people with you. Why don't we chat together?"
Since they were all here to fill the numbers anyway, they might as well bring him some glory.
"..."
"Heh!"
Smith let out a soft scoff.
He had thought this fellow had some great skill, only to find him like this...
To gain fame by suppressing the younger generation, that was something he could come up with!
Truly... shameful!
Smith cast another mocking glance at James and said no more.
He would simply watch his performance. If he were to be rendered speechless by a child later, it would truly be a spectacle.
Besides Smith, everyone else on the stage began to look at James with suspicion.
This James...
He had quite a thick skin!
However, James had no time to notice the expressions on their faces.
His eyes scanned Qiu Xi and the other three, looking for someone who wasn't very clever and would be easy to talk to.
That way, it would be amusing to watch later!
He refused to believe these children could be that formidable.
...
Two minutes later-
"So, Miss Qiu, are you willing to give it a try?"
That's right!
After looking around for a long time, James finally set his gaze on Qiu Xi.
She's beautiful, she must be a vase!
She might have been placed here by someone higher up!
He chose her, and there must be no problem!
James looked at Qiu Xi with full confidence, as if he had already won...
However, the happily smiling James failed to notice the expressions of others.
Especially Wang Yanyan and the other two, who looked at James with a hint of doubt.
Even Nian Lanqi, who usually found Qiu Xi slightly annoying, looked on with slight astonishment.
What could one say to praise this James...
Was his judgment good or bad?
In any case, Wang Yanyan looked at James with an expression of hoping for the best.
This James had good judgment!
He knew to pick the most capable...
It just remained to be seen if he would regret it later...
After all, Little Xi was someone even the teachers praised, so dealing with this James shouldn't pose any problems for her.
After being looked at by James for a moment, Qiu Xi finally nodded, and she said with a light smile, "Since Mr. James is so enthusiastic, I shall not decline."
"Mr. James, please proceed."
Qiu Xi smiled at James, prompting him to speak.
She had done her research. The most formidable person on the stage was not at their table.
Among their table, she felt Smith was the only one worth discussing.
Although he hadn't spoken of Sister Liu, he did have some merit.
As for this James, it wasn't that she looked down on him, but while Wang Yanyan and Fang Lingling might have a chance to talk for a bit, it was unlikely for her to do so...
After all, this conference was hosted by their side, and she truly knew a lot.
Not to mention she had reviewed a lot of materials just now. With her ability to recall everything she saw, these materials were nothing.
Therefore, she looked forward to a more interesting exchange.
Qiu Xi's nonchalant attitude stimulated James.
He looked at Qiu Xi, his eyes revealing disdain.
"Then listen carefully."
Since you're acting this way, don't blame me for not holding back.
James thought for a moment and then brought out the topic he had saved for the finale.
Smith, "..."
Others, "..."
This brainless fool!
If he brought up this topic now, even if he won, there would be no glory!
And if he lost, it would be a complete humiliation.
Although...
It was unlikely he would lose.
However, just as everyone thought this, they were immediately countered by this young girl, Qiu Xi.
"..."
For a moment, they were rendered speechless.
Now... it wasn't impossible for James to lose...
James himself hadn't expected that the child he perceived as a beautiful vase could actually respond to his topic.
He had been too careless!
The next second, James became serious.
His mind raced through what Qiu Xi had just said, organizing his thoughts.
Qiu Xi, "..."
Truly uninteresting!
Looking at the person whose forehead was already starting to sweat, Qiu Xi felt a bit helpless.
Now, it looked like she was the one bullying someone?
Wang Yanyan and the others next to her were also speechless.
This James, truly!
He couldn't take a loss!
...
After James started to falter, Qiu Xi found it even easier to handle.
In less than five minutes, Qiu Xi had already rendered him speechless.
"Mr. James, I apologize."
Qiu Xi stood up, glanced lightly at James, and said, then obediently sat back down.
James, "..."
Everyone opposite them, "..."
Utterly humiliated!
To be outdone by a child, and to have practically handed it to them...
Thus, Qiu Xi's group remained silent for quite some time.
While the others were contemplating their embarrassment, Liu Qingxi, on her side, was astonished by Qiu Xi's skill.
Finally, Liu Qingxi and Mao Jinyan looked at Qiu Xi in unison and nodded seriously.
This child had a promising future.
...