Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

Chapter 203 Large-scale English Competition
The afternoon sun shines through the dappled leaves, casting golden patches of light on the campus paths.

Shi Ning, carrying her books, was leisurely returning to her dormitory with Chen Yu.

"Shi Ning, Shi Ning!"

A sudden, urgent yet familiar shout shattered the tranquility and peace.

Shi Ning and Chen Yu paused and turned around at the same time. They saw their English teacher, Professor Wang, walking briskly toward them, with beads of sweat on his forehead and a hint of urgency in his expression.

"Professor Wang, you wanted to see me?"

Shi Ning asked politely, a gentle smile on her face, her eyes full of doubt.

Professor Wang, slightly out of breath, raised his hand to push up his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses filled with expectant light: "Shi Ning, it's like this, there's a very important international English competition, and you were the first person I thought of. Your English grades have always been among the best, and your speaking and writing are especially outstanding. Your pronunciation is pure, your vocabulary is precise, and your logic is clear. I think you are fully capable of representing our school in the competition."

Shi Ning was slightly taken aback, and a look of surprise and hesitation flashed in her eyes.

Chen Yu, who was standing to the side, also became interested and curiously leaned over to ask, "Professor Wang, what kind of competition is this? It sounds really exciting."

Professor Wang enthusiastically gestured as he introduced the competition: "This is a top-tier global English competition that attracts English elites from all over the world every year. The competition covers multiple aspects, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and it demands a very high level of comprehensive ability from the participants."

"The listening section features fast-paced speech with diverse accents, testing your ability to capture key information. The speaking section involves drawing a topic on the spot and giving an impromptu speech, posing a significant challenge to your mental agility and language organization skills. The reading materials are not only lengthy but also cover various professional fields of knowledge."

"Writing requires novel viewpoints and strong arguments. Moreover, the award certificate for this competition is highly valuable and internationally recognized. If you can achieve a top-three finish in the competition, it will be a significant stepping stone for you, whether you want to pursue further studies abroad or develop your career in China. Many top companies and universities will look at you differently."

Shi Ning's heart suddenly raced. On the one hand, this was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase herself on such a stage, which would greatly benefit her future development.

On the other hand, she was also a little worried, after all, her opponents were all experts from all over the world, and she really had no idea whether she could handle them well.

If I perform poorly in the competition, I will not only disappoint my teacher's expectations, but also bring shame to the school.

Seeing Shi Ning's hesitant expression, Professor Wang said earnestly, "Shi Ning, I know this is a big challenge for you, but I've taught you for so long and I know your abilities very well. You've always been very talented in learning English, and you're also very diligent. Your performance in class is always outstanding, and you take the initiative to study and accumulate knowledge after class. This competition is a great opportunity for you to shine. Think it over carefully and give me your answer within two days. I'll be waiting for your good news."

Shi Ning forced a smile and said, "Okay, Professor Wang, I will definitely consider it carefully and live up to your trust."

Professor Wang patted Shi Ning on the shoulder, turned and left with expectations in his eyes.

Chen Yu looked at Shi Ning and asked with concern, "Ning'er, what do you think? This is a rare opportunity, it would be such a pity to miss it."

Shi Ning sighed, her brows furrowing slightly: "I know, but I'm still a little scared. So many outstanding people are participating. If I don't perform well, I'll not only lose face for myself, but also bring shame to the school."

Chen Yu held Shi Ning's hand and said firmly, "Ning'er, don't think like that. Have you forgotten all your hard work? Those early mornings memorizing vocabulary and those late nights doing exercises weren't for nothing. I know your English level best. Your pronunciation is as standard as a native speaker's, your grammar is excellent, and your translation and writing are outstanding. You can definitely do it. Even if we don't get good grades in the end, at least we tried, and we won't have any regrets."

Shi Ning looked at Chen Yu, a warm feeling welling up inside her, but she was still somewhat conflicted and didn't answer immediately. Back in her dorm, Shi Ning lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, Professor Wang's expectant gaze and Chen Yu's encouraging words constantly replaying in her mind. Participating in the competition meant facing immense pressure and unknown challenges.

Not participating would feel like a waste, missing out on this rare opportunity.

At this point, the roommates also heard about the incident and gathered around to share their opinions.

"Shi Ning, you absolutely have to go! This is a great opportunity to stand out from the crowd. So many people want to participate but don't even have the chance. With your abilities, you're sure to shine in the competition."

"Exactly! With your skills, you'll definitely be fine. We study together, and everyone has seen your level. You'll definitely be good enough for the competition!"

The encouragement from her roommates made Shi Ning feel a little better, but she still couldn't make up her mind.

That evening, Shi Ning called home and told Jiang Man about it.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Man smiled and said, "Ning'er, this is great news! You've always loved English and shown a strong interest in it since you were little. This is a perfect opportunity for you to challenge yourself. Mom believes in you, and whatever decision you make, Mom will support you. If you decide to participate, just go for it! Mom is cheering you on!"

Jiang Man's words solidified Shi Ning's resolve, and she decided to think it over more carefully.

The next day, Shi Ning was absent-minded all day and kept spacing out in class.

When the teacher asked her questions, she answered somewhat absentmindedly.

After class, Chen Yu found Shi Ning and, seeing her haggard appearance, said with heartache, "Ning'er, don't put too much pressure on yourself. No matter what you decide in the end, I'll be by your side. If you feel too much pressure participating in the competition, then we won't participate. If you want to give it a try, I'll prepare with you."

Shi Ning looked at Chen Yu, her eyes filled with emotion, "Chen Yu, thank you. I'd like to think about it some more and give Professor Wang an answer tomorrow."

In the evening, Shi Ning came to the lakeside on campus alone, sat on a bench, and quietly watched the moonlight reflected on the lake.

Her mind kept replaying every detail of her English learning journey, from her initial love for English and pestering her parents to buy her English books, to her daily efforts. Those days of memorizing words, practicing listening, and writing essays seemed to be right before her eyes.

She suddenly realized that she couldn't give up this opportunity just because she was afraid of failure; she had to fight for her dream.

Just then, Chen Yu's voice came from behind: "Ning'er, I knew you were here."

Shi Ning turned to look at Chen Yu, her eyes shining with determination. "Chen Yu, I've made up my mind. I want to participate in the competition. I don't want to leave any regrets. I'm going to give it my all."

Chen Yu smiled with relief. "I knew you could do it! Ning'er, I'll always be there for you, helping you prepare. Let's make a detailed study plan, practice listening and speaking every day, read more English novels, and accumulate writing material. You'll definitely be fine!"

The next day, Shi Ning came to Professor Wang's office, took a deep breath, and said, "Professor Wang, I've decided to participate in the competition!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Professor Wang's eyes, and he said excitedly, "That's great, Shi Ning! I knew you wouldn't let me down. Starting today, we'll begin preparations, and I'll help you develop a detailed training plan. We'll start with listening and speaking, scheduling specific time for practice each day, and then we'll focus on specialized training in reading and writing. Feel free to ask me any questions you encounter."