The college debate competition arrived swiftly, just in time for the last day of the National Day holiday.
Though three days of preparation seemed absurd, as the classmates mentioned, they had prepared all the content for Mai Dong. Mai Dong’s only task was to memorize it. He tirelessly memorized in the dormitory, practicing in front of the mirror, earning applause from his three roommates.
The pressure for the first debate was minimal this time. Given Mai Dong’s last-minute involvement, everyone took care of him. He didn’t need to find loopholes in the opponent’s arguments or employ additional tactics.
Before going on stage, Chen Sinian only said a few words to him, “Mai-zi, don’t panic even if there are points you can’t recall. When you pause, just use that cold expression to glance at a few people on the other side. Be as fierce as possible; have a commanding presence. Since they know we substituted someone in the first debate. If you lack assertiveness, they might think you’re an easy target.”
Chen Sinian appeared very confident in himself, and Mai Dong nodded in agreement.
As the name suggests, the college debate competition is a debate between two colleges.
The location and time are public, and anyone who wants to see it can do so.
In university, such activities are common, and debates are frequently held. The topics are usually light and relatable to daily life. For instance, this time, the debate topic was a somewhat clichéd one: “Should couples go AA on dates?”
Chen Sinian was afraid that Mai Dong might be nervous, so he comforted him in advance, “Not many people usually attend this kind of debate. You don’t have to be nervous.”
Mai Dong really wanted to say that he wouldn’t be nervous even if many people came to watch.
Unexpectedly, quite a few people did show up today.
Mai Dong remained calm, but it was Chen Sinian who became somewhat nervous. Just before going on stage, he grabbed Mai Dong’s clothes, muttering, “Damn, we could count the people who attended our previous public debates with both hands. What’s happening today?”
Mai Dong comforted him in turn, “Just treat them like radishes and cabbages, don’t be nervous.”
Chen Sinian insisted with a tough expression, “I’m not nervous. Am I nervous? I’m not nervous!”
When the time came to go on stage, the debaters from both sides bowed in acknowledgment.
Mai Dong’s gaze didn’t even shift towards the audience. He truly wasn’t nervous, indifferent to how many people were watching—whether it was one person or a thousand, it made no difference to him. He lowered his head, mentally rehearsing the script once more, emanating a cool, calm disdain.
The host announced the debate topic, and Mai Dong was the first speaker.
As he stood up, the content he had to deliver was already deeply ingrained, and there was no sign of forgetting or stumbling over words that Chen Sinian had worried about. Perhaps, as Mai Dong spoke, he genuinely displayed a disdain for the audience. The expressions of the opposing debaters showed surprise, accompanied by whispers. Clearly, they were somewhat intimidated by Mai Dong’s aura.
Chen Sinian was so delighted that he nearly slapped his thigh. He had always said Mai Dong was a debating genius! Bringing him in as a last-minute replacement was indeed a very wise decision.
Mid-sentence, almost subconsciously, Mai Dong’s gaze swept across the audience. A sentence that was about to be spoken instantly disappeared, and he stood there with his mouth open, abruptly frozen.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
With a thunderous “boom” in his head, he remained stationary in his spot.
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Chen Sinian waited for five or six seconds. The first debater’s speaking time was mercilessly slipping away, so he discreetly tugged at the hem of Mai Dong’s clothing, using a hushed tone to remind him, “Mai-zi, what kind of relationship is a couple, after all?”
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Mai Dong was someone who never got nervous, except for matters related to Yan Xuming.
He won’t get nervous during speeches, debates, or performances unless Yan Xuming is watching from the audience.
What was it again?
What kind of relationship is a couple, after all?
What kind of relationship? Certainly not the kind he had with Yan Xuming. Yan Xuming was indifferent even to his secret admiration, reluctant to spare him a rejection.
“Mai-zi!” Chen Sinian steeled himself and pinched Mai Dong’s hand.
Mai Dong winced, his head instantly clearing. Trembling, he took a quick breath, hurriedly averting his gaze, and continued his speech. Fortunately, the first half of his speech was brilliant, and the minor incident in the middle didn’t lead to severe consequences.
They already held an advantageous position, and in the end, they smoothly won the debate.
Chen Sinian, overcome with excitement, let out a burst of expletives. He “swooshed” up from his chair, tightly embracing Mai Dong. If it weren’t for the crowded surroundings, he would have genuinely wanted to give Mai Dong a kiss.
A week ago, their first debater suddenly developed acute appendicitis, landing in the hospital awaiting surgery. The entire debate team was at a loss. Since it was more of a university interest group than a competitive team, they had no substitute members.
At that time, Chen Sinian thought of Mai Dong, but he was mercilessly rejected when he first invited him. Chen Sinian had suppressed that thought. Unexpectedly, in the end, Mai Dong came to the rescue.
“Mai-zi, you okay later? You must join us for a meal. We’re treating you. You’re the hero of this round,” Chen Sinian said, his face distorted with laughter as he draped his arm over Mai Dong’s shoulder.
Yan Xuming was no longer in the audience.
Mai Dong nodded but corrected him, “I didn’t do much. The materials were all prepared by you guys. I just memorized them. You all worked even harder.”
Chen Sinian patted his shoulder. “Enough, winning is what matters. Don’t think too much about it.”
After saying that, he released Mai Dong and turned to discuss with everyone where to have a meal.
Mai Dong still stood in the position of the first debater, reluctantly gazing at the seat Yan Xuming had occupied. It’s worth noting that people skilled in secret admiration are also adept at fantasizing. He couldn’t control his imagination—was Yan Xuming here to watch him?
God knows how audacious this thought was. What qualifications did he have? Yan Xuming must have lost his mind to come and watch him debate on the last day of the National Day holiday.
Mai Dong clutched his phone, perhaps because the repression of these days had taken a toll on him.
Now, he couldn’t resist the urge to send a message to Yan Xuming, asking why he had come to watch the debate.
Unable to control his hands, he daringly sent such a message. But Mai Dong swore that the reason he dared to send it was because he believed Yan Xuming had probably already deleted him.
He didn’t see the red exclamation mark.
In fact, Yan Xuming replied very quickly.
“Senior, I saw you at the debate today. Do you have friends here?”
“No, came to see you.”
Mai Dong’s head was like a boiling kettle, currently emitting steam with a “puff, puff, puff” sound.
He abruptly locked his phone screen, took a deep breath to calm his racing heart a bit, closed his eyes, and silently repeated “Evil spirits and monsters, quickly leave” many times in his mind. Apparently, he thought he must be possessed by a ghost to receive such an inexplicable message.
Then, he opened his phone again, and the message lying on the screen still looked the same.
“No, came to see you.”
Even in the time Mai Dong spent staring at this message, a voice call from Yan Xuming popped up. Mai Dong was startled, his hand shook, and he accidentally pressed the decline button.
…
“Not convenient to answer?”
“T T No, it’s fine. I just shook my hand a bit.”
So Yan Xuming dialed again.
Mai Dong took a few deep breaths and devoutly brought the phone to his ear.
Yan Xuming’s voice came through the earpiece, slightly distorted but still pleasant, “How about having dinner together later?”
This was a question Mai Dong hadn’t anticipated at all.
Or rather, everything had been beyond his expectations from the moment he didn’t see the red exclamation mark after sending that message. His brain malfunctioned, and he had no idea how to respond. Subconsciously, he activated the auto-reply mode, “Ah, the debate team is having a meal later.”
“En, forget it then.”
How could he just forget it ah?!
Mai Dong went online quite slowly, realizing what he had just said. He quickly corrected himself, “Ah no, we don’t have a meal. There’s no dinner; I made a mistake.”
Then, a very faint laughter came from the other end of the phone. This laughter was blurred by the electrical interference, turning into a chaotic heartbeat that annoyingly disturbed Mai Dong’s ears with a “thump, thump, thump.”
Yan Xuming said with a smile in his voice, “I was abrupt. Just won the debate, and having a meal with teammates is more important. Maybe next time.”
Everyone knows that “maybe next time” is a polite Chinese way of politely declining. Mai Dong didn’t want to lose the chance to have a meal with Yan Xuming, even though he had no idea why he got this chance. He impolitely pressed for an answer.
“Then, when is next time?”
“Next Friday night? Are you free?”
“Yes.” Mai Dong didn’t even have time to think about when next Friday was, or if he was available. He just agreed at the fastest speed, then added, “Let me treat you, okay?”
“Very rich?” Yan Xuming seemed to be joking.
“A… little bit.” Mai Dong honestly replied in a rather unromantic manner.
Yan Xuming laughed again.
After hanging up, Mai Dong still couldn’t process what just happened.
All he knew was that his right ear was now burning because the phone had been against it. He reached up and pinched his earlobe, surprised even by the warmth of his own touch. Belatedly, he opened the chat with Yan Xuming, and to his astonishment, there was indeed a solid two minutes of call history.
He thought it must be a dream.
Even if it was a dream, it didn’t matter. Mai Dong had always been a very polite secret admirer. He never disturbed or fantasized about Yan Xuming. Even in his dreams, he restrained himself. He had never held Yan Xuming’s hand or kissed him in his dreams. The most exaggerated dream was that he and Yan Xuming were friends for many years, occasionally sending each other messages to grab a meal.
“Mai-zi, ready to go ah? Let’s have some skewers,” Chen Sinian called out to Mai Dong.
Mai Dong clenched his phone, sneakily took a screenshot of their call history, and then locked his phone. “Ai, coming.”
Mai Dong speculated that Yan Xuming would probably find an opportunity to reject him.
But it didn’t matter; Mai Dong still looked forward to it.
Thanks for the chapter! (≧◡≦) ♡
And Mai Dong is sooooo cute!
He took a screenshot of their call history!!! So cute!
OH! MY! BOIIII! Go for it~ o(≧∇≦o)
Thank You for the new chapter ( ˘ ³˘)♥
AHHHHHHH this is so sweet I got diabetes… Anyways thank you for the chapter
Wow, Mai Dong, you’re brave boy, if you have aim. Respect it!!!!
Thank you for your translation 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Mai dong you’re so cute, little gong will fall in love with you in the end (if he isn’t already) 🤭
I do hope though, that Yan Xuming isn’t suddenly being buddy-buddy because he finds Mai Dong’s crush “amusing” or “interesting”, but because there is actual “I would date that”-kind of interest. And not just bi-curiosity.
This is so relatable.🤣