Occasionally, the voices of the three judges outside could be heard, sounding like they were engaged in a heated discussion.
anwhile, inside the mock court classroom, the audience Q&A session proceeded smoothly.
In fact, the Q&A sessions in most first-year debate competitions tended to be rather subdued.
Many audience mbers were only there to show up for participation credits, and most of them didn’t actually listen to the debate.
Ensuring the Q&A session ran smoothly was thus a challenge for the moderator.
Fortunately, for the finals, the departnt had prepared small gifts, which helped maintain audience engagent.
But the moderator hadn’t expected that because of Jiang Miao’s outstanding performance, coupled with his good looks, the Q&A session beca unusually lively.
The third questioner was also a girl.
“I have another question for Classmate Jiang Miao,” the girl with braids asked curiously. “Since you said that different perspectives can lead to different outcos, why do you still believe that the opposition’s stance is the correct one?”
“Are you all targeting ?” Jiang Miao chuckled and looked at Wang Xin across the room. “Old Wang, save !”
He ant it as a joke, not expecting Wang Xin to really stand up. Jiang Miao was delighted, more than happy for Wang Xin to take the spotlight from him.
“Because this topic is too harsh,” Wang Xin said. “The debate topic requires ti to enter the free market, and with so many varying outcos from different perspectives, no one can truly predict what the future holds.
“In fact, the opposition’s stance is only against the free market aspect, not this black technology itself.
“It’s like how certain drugs can be used in dical treatnts but should never be allowed to circulate in the market.
“As a unique existence, ti certainly shouldn’t be thrown directly into the market. At least, it should undergo a pilot phase first.”
With that, Wang Xin sat back down.
Jiang Miao nodded with a smile and continued, “This is the nature of debate. Everyone argues from the most extre standpoints.
“The goal of the audience isn’t to take sides but to listen to both sides, absorb the valid points, and discord the flawed ones.
“By combining the useful content from both sides, you can find the balance that lies in between.
“A senior sister who taught debate once said that only by pushing argunts and flaws to the extres can we realize the value of moderation and reason.
“I’d like to share this thought with all of you.”
Jiang Miao winked at Su Huaizhou, causing her to roll her eyes at him.
But then she smiled. The thought that Junior Brother still rembered what she had said so long ago made her heart bloom with joy.
With the third question finished, the moderator noticed that the judges outside didn’t seem ready to co in yet, so she called on another audience mber to ask a question.
Unfortunately, it was another girl.
The girl was petite but showed comndable courage. After taking the microphone, she looked at Jiang Miao. “I would like to ask Classmate Jiang Miao.”
Perhaps because Jiang Miao had already been asked four tis in a row, this girl blushed a little and smiled shyly. Still, she gathered her courage to ask, “What kind of girl do you like?”
Laughter erupted in the mock courtroom. Jiang Miao, standing on the stage, was caught between laughter and tears.
“Ahem…” The moderator quickly interrupted. “Questions should be related to the debate. Could you please ask sothing else?”
“Um, t-then…” The girl smiled shyly but still asked boldly, “Then, Classmate Jiang Miao, what kind of girl would you like as your debating teammate?”
The moderator: “…”
“I like Senior Sister Su Huaizhou…” Jiang Miao blinked and didn’t shy away from the question this ti. “… to be my teammate.”
He deliberately paused, causing so girls in the audience to gasp subconsciously.
When he finished the second half of his sentence, laughter erupted once more. Seeing Senior Sister Su Huaizhou holding her forehead helplessly in the first row only made the mont more amusing.
But no one thought much about it. They assud it was a sign of the good relationship between Jiang Miao and Senior Sister, with no deeper aning.
However, Su Huaizhou knew exactly what Jiang Miao was hinting at and shot him a glare, her face red.
The three female teammates on stage all knew about the relationship between Jiang Miao and Senior Sister.
Ding Ning glanced at Jiang Miao, then at Senior Sister Su, and finally at the audience, who was unaware of the truth. She clenched her fists, feeling excited!
If she were to shout that she liked Chen Haoshang right now, would he spank her when they got back?
After this small interlude, the moderator called on a few male audience mbers.
The boys’ questions were more typical, giving the girls on both sides the chance to speak. The Q&A session finally got back on track.
Around 8 p.m., the three judges finally returned.
Zhao Lu returned to his seat and, as requested by the moderator, offered feedback on both sides.
“In fact, at the start, the two judges next to were in agreent. The opposition side clearly had a significant advantage.
“So, before the free debate, it was expected that the opposition would suppress the affirmative side.
“But during the free debate, the affirmative side managed to turn the tables and take the offensive. It really surprised us.
“Especially the affirmative side’s fourth speaker in the closing argunts, who did an excellent job completing the affirmative side’s local chain and dismantling the opposition’s argunts.
“Unfortunately, it would have been better if the fourth speaker’s closing remarks had co earlier, perhaps during the second or third speaker’s turn.”
Hearing this, Jia Tongxue and Yi Luren smiled bitterly.
If Jiang Miao hadn’t provided them with ideas during the free debate, they might not have even made it through without faltering, let alone during the second and third speakers’ turn.
Then Zhao Lu briefly comnted on both sides’ argunts and offensive and defense strategies, offering a few more insights on potential angles for the debate topic before wrapping up his evaluation.
The moderator on stage had already received the results. She raised an eyebrow and smiled. “This result is quite interesting.”
She didn’t keep everyone in suspense and continued, “First of all, let’s announce tonight’s best debater. It’s the fourth speaker for the affirmative side, Classmate Jiang Miao!
“Let’s all congratulate him~”
The audience applauded, agreeing that there was no dispute about it.
Given Jiang Miao’s impressive performance tonight, he truly deserved the honor of best debater.
In the audience, Su Huaizhou’s heart skipped a beat.
Normally, after a team won the match, the judges would select the most outstanding participant from the losing side to be the best debater as a consolation prize.
Unless the losing side’s four debaters perford too poorly, the best debater would never co from the winning team.
Just as Su Huaizhou’s mood sank, the moderator, as expected, said, “The final result is that the opposition side wins the finals with a five to four vote. Everyone, please congratulate them!”
The mont Jiang Miao heard the result, he only felt a brief mont of disappointnt, but he still shook his head with a smile and applauded the other team.
Each judge had three votes, which were typically divided into impression votes, round votes, and deciding votes.
The terminology might vary by region, but the overall breakdown was the sa.
Impression votes primarily depended on the content of the first speakers’ speeches. Clearly, the opposition had a slight advantage here, and the votes were 1:2.
The round votes were also 1:2. After all, the affirmative side had been suppressed by the opposition side for most of the debate, only managing to slightly reverse the situation during the free debate.
The deciding votes were 2:1. Clearly, Jiang Miao’s unexpectedly outstanding performance had impressed the judges.
Otherwise, given the previous votes, the deciding votes could have easily been 1:2 or even 0:3.
Although the affirmative side had perford admirably during the free debate, and the fourth speaker’s closing argunts were exceptional, it couldn’t fully offset the earlier disadvantages.
In the judges’ view, a score of 4:5 was already a remarkable achievent for the affirmative side.
Jiang Miao didn’t care about winning or losing. His main concern was Senior Sister’s reward. But since the results were out, he didn’t dwell on it any longer.
If he wanted to kiss Senior Sister, there would be plenty of chances later.
But just as he was thinking this, Su Huaizhou quietly stood up from the front row and ran towards the staff outside.
When Jiang Miao looked at her, he realized she wasn’t in her seat.
“Next is the awards ceremony,” the moderator said. “First, let’s welco Jiang Miao, the best debater and fourth speaker for the affirmative side, to co up and receive his award.”
Jiang Miao looked around but couldn’t find Senior Sister, leaving him puzzled.
But he didn’t dwell on it. He stood up according to the moderator’s instructions, walked to the center of the stage, and faced the audience.
He just wanted to receive his award as soon as possible, then find Senior Sister for so comfort and maybe trick her into hugging him.
anwhile, out of his sight, in a corner behind him, Su Huaizhou had already received the best debater certificate and prize from the staff and casually walked onto the stage.
The audience thought that this was part of the usual process. After all, Su Huaizhou was the leader of the affirmative team, so it was normal for her to personally present the award to her team mbers.
But as a vice-captain of the debate team, Qi Lianyue naturally knew that presenting awards wasn’t Su Huaizhou’s job.
When she saw Su Huaizhou walking in with the certificate and prize, she raised an eyebrow, unsure of what Su Huaizhou was up to.
You’re presenting the reward to your boyfriend personally. Are you in such a hurry to show off your love?
Jiang Miao had no idea that Su Huaizhou was behind him.
It wasn’t until she walked up to his side that he turned his head and widened his eyes.
“Senior Sister?” he asked softly.
“Don’t make a fuss. I’m just here to give you your award.” Su Huaizhou smoothed her hair, her cheeks blushing slightly.
As she waited for the moderator’s cue to present the award, her mind flashed back to the basketball ga this afternoon.
The girls in the back rows of the stands had discussed Jiang Miao, and every ti he scored, their cheers had felt like tiny thorns piercing her heart.
Then, during the Q&A session earlier, those girls had asked Jiang Miao question after question and even teased Junior Brother in front of her.
Even now, Su Huaizhou still felt sour in her heart.
Therefore…
“Let us congratulate Classmate Jiang Miao for being the best debater in this finals!”
As the moderator’s voice faded, Su Huaizhou handed Jiang Miao the certificate and prize.
The student in charge of taking photos stood in the aisle, capturing the mont Jiang Miao held the certificate.
The audience applauded, and the girls’ claps were especially loud, as though the affirmative side had won. Many of them looked at Jiang Miao, eager to hug and comfort him.
Just as many girls were lost in their daydreams, Su Huaizhou, who was responsible for presenting the award, moved.
Suddenly, she stepped forward and stood in front of Jiang Miao. She cupped her face with both hands, gently stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him on the lips.
Ti seed to freeze.
Most of the people witnessing this scene had their brains short-circuit for a mont.
What should have just been a simple award ceremony suddenly turned into…
Many girls’s mouths fell open.
Soone had actually done what they always wanted to do but didn’t dare to do.
And it was their senior sister!
Even the few people who already knew about Jiang Miao and Su Huaizhou’s relationship stared at them in astonishnt, unable to believe she would be so bold.
A senior sister forcefully kissed a junior brother in front of so many people.
Oh~
Just thinking about it made people blush.
But Su Huaizhou had done it.
In front of everyone, she marked Junior Brother’s lips with a kiss, sending a clear ssage to all the girls present that the boy they liked was already taken.
Don’t even think about my Junior Brother!
However, just kissing him in public had drained all her courage, and there was no way she could say those words out loud.
But this action alone was enough.
Jiang Miao was Su Huaizhou’s, and no other girl was allowed to eye him!
She was just that petty.
Before today, she hadn’t really minded. But from the afternoon until the evening, she kept hearing girls talking about her boyfriend.
Only then did she realize just how possessive she really was.
But after the impulsive kiss, Su Huaizhou took a step back, her face flushed bright red. She stole a glance at Jiang Miao but didn’t dare to look at the audience and then bolted out of the classroom.
Jiang Miao was still in a daze. After regaining his senses, he hurriedly shoved the certificate and prize onto Wang Xin’s table and ran out of the classroom.
The next mont, the mock courtroom erupted into chaos.
Everyone was buzzing, talking excitedly.
“Wasn’t that too thrilling?! Senior Sister is so bold!”
“Ahhhhhh! My Jiang Miao is gone!”
“Was that a confession from Senior Sister just now? Or were they already together?”
“They must have been secretly dating! Otherwise, how else could they be so bold?”
“My heart is broken… The relationship ended before it even started… Boohoo…”
“Stop overthinking. Even if Jiang Miao were single, he wouldn’t be interested in you.”
“Get lost!”
“Everyone, please quiet down.” Zhao Lu clapped his hands in the front row, chuckling lightly as he looked at the door of the classroom, feeling a headache. “Let’s continue with the award ceremony.”
Fortunately, it was just the first-year competition, and there were no professors present, so the award ceremony wasn’t that important.
After Jiang Miao and Su Huaizhou left, the opposition team smoothly received the championship certificate.
Outside the Law School.
Jiang Miao chased after Senior Sister down the stairs and followed her out the door. He saw her stop by the lake, leaning on her knees, panting.
“Senior Sister.” When he caught up to her, he smiled softly. “I lost the debate, so why did you still kiss ?”
“Don’t overthink it.” Su Huaizhou straightened up and turned her head away, feeling shy. She whispered, “It’s just a reward for being the best debater.”
“Then why did the affirmative team get four votes?” Jiang Miao moved behind Senior Sister, gently wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her soft body into his embrace, and placed his chin on her shoulder. His warm breath brushed against her air as he whispered, “Can I get four more rewards?”
“You’re… mmm… don’t…”
The moonlight fell like silk, casting a soft glow on the lake, reflecting the silhouettes of the two figures.
Bashfulness and affection mingled, creating a feeling of subtle intoxication.
===
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