Reborn not to be a beast of burden, I set the rules.

Li Yue stepped forward to explain her initial idea of ​​arranging the younger students at the front.

After listening, Professor Chen slowly shook his head: "It's commendable that you have this intention. However, at the provincial and national levels, the judges look at more than just 'favoritism'; they look at the 'core' and 'potential' of the project. This also concerns you yourselves. You're seniors now, and this award is the most direct proof of your professional abilities. When applying for graduate school or jobs, an award obtained as a core technology contributor carries significantly more weight."

He earnestly said, "You should also firmly grasp the values ​​recognized by the rules and the platform for yourselves."

Zhang Yuan nodded solemnly, and Li Yue's relaxed expression vanished.

Xu Wei listened quietly; the judges' words were clear, reasonable, and justified. But when the thought that "his name is now one place further away from his" came to mind, a pang of sadness welled up inside her for no apparent reason.

Ruan Xing blinked and smiled, saying, "Teacher Chen is right! Yuan-ge and Yue-jie should have been in front!"

Ye Ming stepped forward and solemnly replied, "Thank you, Teacher Chen! We completely understand and are extremely grateful. We will definitely optimize this order."

Professor Chen smiled and said, "Great. The project itself is excellent. Keep up the good work."

The group went down from the stage and waited, then sat down with Lin Ting, Chen Mo, and others who were already waiting below the stage.

By noon, all projects participating in the school-level supplementary selection had completed their presentations.

A few minutes later, the results were announced one after another.

"Rebirth Simulator: An Immersive Life Experience Platform Based on Text Interaction and UGC Ecosystem" won first prize in the school competition!

Applause erupted, and Ye Ming went on stage to accept the award on behalf of his team.

Li Yue was the first to raise her arms and cheer, Zhang Yuan's lips curled into a clear smile, and Ruan Xing happily hugged Xu Wei beside her.

Xu Wei slowly breathed a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders relaxing, and subconsciously looked at Ye Ming beside her.

Ye Ming took a deep breath, faced the judges' panel, and bowed deeply.

Amid applause, the teachers went on stage for a brief congratulatory photo session.

After all the awards were presented, the audience began to disperse from the auditorium.

Ye Ming and his team have secured tickets to the provincial competition's supplementary selection.

Shen Zhiyi put down her notebook, clapped softly, and a look of joy flashed in her eyes.

She watched Ye Ming surrounded by his team members, a bright smile on his face.

The division commander was talking to him, and he listened attentively.

She thought, "It's time to go."

But my feet felt like they were nailed to the ground.

Go and congratulate him in person.

A voice inside me said.

Shen Zhiyi's fingers curled up, gripping the strap of the canvas bag tightly.

Go ahead.

Just one sentence.

She took a small step forward.

It stopped again.

My heart is pounding.

She watched Ye Ming surrounded in the center, watched Xu Wei standing half a step to his side, and watched Ruan Xing holding Xu Wei's arm while turning her head to smile and speak to Ye Ming.

That circle seemed so natural, so natural that she didn't know how to walk into it.

Her gaze fell on Ye Ming.

He was listening intently to Teacher Zhang Bingwen, his head bowed.

The phone slipped slightly out of her coat pocket, and the dark blue lanyard hanging on the side swayed—it was the one she had braided.

Seeing the hanging strap warmed her heart slightly, and she loosened her grip on the bag strap a little.

Just then, a voice rang out beside her: "Senior High School Girl?"

Shen Zhiyi was startled and turned her head sharply.

Li Yue appeared beside her at some point, her ponytail swaying gently behind her head, a smile on her face.

"I..." Shen Zhiyi opened her mouth, her ears turning red instantly.

"You've taken such careful notes!" Li Yue said with a smile, her gaze falling on the notebook in her hand. "I saw you writing a lot. There's a technical point I didn't quite remember; could I borrow it to take a look?"

"Huh?" Shen Zhiyi was stunned.

"Just take a look, I'll give it back to you right away." Without waiting for a reply, Li Yue gently pulled her wrist. "Come on, let's go over there and look. There are more people here."

Shen Zhiyi wanted to refuse, but Li Yue's hand was steady, and she pulled her towards Ye Ming.

Ye Ming was talking to Teacher Li Guoqiang when he looked up and saw Li Yue pulling Shen Zhiyi over. He was stunned for a moment.

Xu Wei's gaze turned almost simultaneously. She looked at the girl in the white dress, her cheeks flushed, and saw Li Yue familiarly holding her hand, and instantly understood. It was her, the "senior student" she'd seen in the computer lab corridor last time. A smile remained on her lips, and her posture straightened almost imperceptibly.

Ruan Xing turned her head at the sound. She saw Li Yue leading a particularly beautiful senior she had never seen before, the senior's face flushed. Ruan Xing blinked, her face showing pure curiosity. Then, her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Ye Ming. She saw Ye Ming pause for a moment, then his eyes softened more than usual.

In that instant, a chord in Ruan Xing's heart was gently plucked. An inexplicable, subtle sense of alertness arose. Who was this senior? Why did Sister Li Yue seem so familiar with her? Why was her deskmate looking at her like that…?

Before she could even process her thoughts, her body had already moved.

Ruan Xing beamed with a bright smile, skipping a few steps to Ye Ming's other side, perfectly positioned to flank Xu Wei. Her eyes crinkled with laughter, and her tone was lively: "Are you Li Yue's friend? There are so many people defending their theses today! Are you here to listen to their defenses too?"

Shen Zhiyi was pulled in front of Ye Ming. Hearing Ruan Xing's lively question, her face turned even redder. She didn't dare to look up at all, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "...Congratulations."

Ye Ming looked at her flushed face and softened his voice: "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

He glanced at Li Yue with a hint of helplessness. Li Yue shrugged, released Shen Zhiyi's hand, and smiled at Ruan Xing, saying, "What friend? This is the top student in our School of Information Science, Ye Ming's 'senior sister,' right?"

Ruan Xing's smile remained unchanged as she echoed the words, but she felt a little uneasy inside. Instinctively, she moved closer to Ye Ming, looked up at him, and asked affectionately, "Classmate! When did you meet such an amazing senior? I've never heard you mention her."

Shen Zhiyi felt all eyes were on her. She couldn't stay any longer. Clutching her canvas bag, she hurriedly whispered, "Congratulations... I'm leaving now." She turned and fled in a hurry, her white skirt fluttering wildly across the ground.

"Hey, senior!" Li Yue called out from behind, her voice filled with laughter.

Ye Ming glanced at Li Yue but didn't say anything.

As Ruan Xing watched the white figure practically jog away, the smile on her face slowly faded. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask something, but unsure what to ask, and in the end, said nothing.

"Let's have lunch together, it's on me!" Ye Ming's voice was full of laughter, drawing everyone's attention back to him.

The dinner was lively, but at 2 p.m., everyone on the team returned to the computer lab of the Computer Association.

The air was filled with the calm that was typical of the period before a major battle.

"Everyone," Ye Ming stood in front of the whiteboard and tapped it, "the real battle is tomorrow night. Tomorrow night at 7 PM sharp, 'Rebirth Simulator' will officially launch. Whether we can ignite the first wave of popularity depends on how we act as the 'spark' in these next few hours."