They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

As the younger sister, I should properly guide my brother on how to get along healthily with girls.

She thought so.

……

"It's so cold... I keep feeling chills all around me..."

Meanwhile, Qiu Luxi rubbed her hands together and looked around warily.

"Could it be that An Yu is plotting something again?!"

[Next chapter preview: "He actually ran out while I was getting snacks!"]

Why do you seem a little unhappy? Did something happen?

"Hmm, about this?" Ling Chuqing muttered.

"It's alright. After all we've been through, what bad news couldn't we handle?"

Chapter 118: A New First Debater Has Emerged

"Ah Xin~"

Chen Di and I were looking down at the rough outline on the draft when we suddenly heard Ling Chuqing shout happily towards the door.

"Ah Qing, you're here too?"

Entering through the door were Qiu Luxi, who looked smug and gave a thumbs-up to An Yu, who had returned earlier, and Ning Ruoxin, who greeted Ling Chuqing with a smile.

"She ran out while I was getting snacks!" "Cats are always cunning, meow!"

"That's utterly despicable! Senior clearly accepted the bet without hesitation!" "She didn't accept it... Both of them... are very... cunning..."

I glanced at An Yu and Qiu Luxi, who were bickering, and at Senior Chu Guyin, who occasionally chimed in.

Seriously, just now too. I heard they even played rock-paper-scissors to grab a spot to pick up Ning Ruoxin—my sister is really popular.

I looked at Ning Ruoxin, who had walked up to me, and asked her with a smile.

Why do you seem a little unhappy? Did something happen?

Before Ning Ruoxin could speak, An Yu seemed to have thought of something.

"Ah, speaking of this, when Xiaoxin was at the door, it seemed like she was being bothered by two male classmates from another class."

"?" I narrowed my eyes slightly.

“But they didn’t succeed,” Qiu Luxi added. “I already cursed them.”

The cat looked at me with eyes that seemed to be begging for praise, which made me smile wryly and reach out to rub her head.

"Then I'll thank you on Xiaoxin's behalf."

"Me, I too..."

An Yu seemed to want to say something, but her voice was so soft it sounded like she was talking to herself, and I couldn't hear her clearly.

"No, it's okay, right?"

Ling Chuqing ran to Ning Ruoxin's side and said with some concern.

"Yeah. Actually, the seniors just wanted to ask me some questions, but they were a little too enthusiastic," Ning Ruoxin replied with a smile. "Don't worry, I didn't take it to heart at all."

"Hmm, about this?" Ling Chuqing muttered, as if she wanted to ask something, but at that moment, Senior Wu Yuehua pushed her wheelchair in.

"You're back? He really didn't show up over there?" I asked Wu Yuehua.

"Well, he'll probably only appear during tomorrow's competition." Just as we had guessed, "Wu Sui'an" did not appear at the opening ceremony. Even when Wu Yuehua went to greet them as a representative of the school to the lounge, she did not see "Wu Sui'an".

The members who came today are said to be completely different from those in the last regional selection competition—given their cunning nature, the members participating in the opening ceremony today are probably not the ones who will be on stage.

"...Honey, you really like teasing me~ Are you so embarrassed to admit our relationship in front of everyone?"

Oh, I forgot to mention, there did seem to be someone sitting in the wheelchair that came in, but I selectively ignored it.

"Seriously, Mr. Wheelchair, this is not right of you. Don't bring weird things into the room. It makes the air feel dirty."

"My dear is still so cute and funny, I like her even more~"

I shut up.

Pushing Ling Qingxue, Wu Yuehua walked to the table we were gathered around.

"I'm submitting the newspaper on my way. Thank you for your hard work, senior." Chen Di nodded to her senior.

“It’s not just my achievement; the newspaper is the result of everyone’s hard work.” Wu Yuehua shook her head. “Qingxue too; she really did a lot behind the scenes this time.”

这点我倒是不置可否。不过看到她眉眼弯弯望向我，刻意用妖艳的眼神含笑舔着嘴角的样子——我果然还是想揍她。

"But I'm sorry, I have some bad news."

As Senior Wu Yuehua said this, her expression began to become somewhat serious and troubled.

"It's alright. After all we've been through, what bad news could we not handle?"

I laughed and said, "Is there an error in the school magazine or is the performance costume dirty? Let's leave it to the all-knowing Mr. Chen Di! He can do everything from unlocking doors to repairing appliances."

"I don't know how to pick locks."

So he really can repair home appliances?!

Senior Wu Yuehua forced a smile, concealing her earlier somewhat dejected expression.

“Our debate team’s first speaker, it seems like something happened at her home last night.”

...I looked at Chen Di.

Chen Di shrugged. "I don't know how to do this either."

That’s right.

"Just in case it's a misunderstanding on my part—is it something serious?" Chen Di asked senior Wu Yuehua.

"Yes. A fire. Thankfully, some kind people helped in time." Senior Wu Yuehua nodded somewhat reluctantly. "But there are too many things to deal with. Forget about catching up with our competition here, I probably won't even be able to participate in the Hundred Clubs Battle."

"Several other female students who didn't participate also encountered all sorts of strange and unusual troubles... What a coincidence..."

"Are the senior students all alright?" I asked Wu Yuehua to confirm.

"Hmm. Fortunately, everyone seems to be lucky, always encountering kind-hearted people... Ah, I see..."

Wu Yuehua seemed to understand something, glanced at me in surprise, and then showed a look of gratitude and joy.

I smiled.

While their despicable nature is slightly less than mine, it's still quite alarming. After talking with Chen Di last time, I realized that given their "better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free" mentality, they might take action against even unsuspecting bystanders, like those three idiotic senior girls, if their interests are threatened.

So I asked Uncle Gold Tooth and the others to keep an eye on the surroundings of those three female students.

Well, to put it simply, while they didn't achieve complete protection, they at least prevented the worst-case scenario from happening. Given this unbridled madness, coupled with manpower issues during the final stages, it's safe to say that Uncle Gold Tooth's men did their best to handle the situation to this extent.

"In that case, do we have to find a new first debater?" After confirming the safety of the three senior students, Chen Di pointed out the key problem we were currently facing.

"I just asked, and the substitute members of the debate team also have their own club arrangements for the next day. After all, we didn't discuss the competition schedule with them beforehand, and now that they've been added to the schedule at the last minute, everyone is really helpless."

"In this situation, we need to find someone who can be the first speaker... especially someone who can write the first speaker's speech in a day..." Even the senior student was at a loss.

"that!"

An Yu wiped the potato chip crumbs from the corner of his mouth and nervously raised his hand.

"If it's just reading a script, is there anything I can help with?" An Yu blinked. "My mind might not be the fastest, but if we need someone to read it—I can!"

“Thank you, junior, but the first speaker is not just about reading a prepared statement.” In response to An Yu’s suggestion, Wu Yuehua patiently replied, “Besides reading the prepared statement, the first speaker will also face difficult questions from the opposing team’s fourth speaker after the speech. At this time, the opposing team will deliberately distort your definition and content, and guide your reasoning in a direction that suits their interpretation.”

"That's why it's safer for the first speaker to write their own speech. Only by being thoroughly familiar with what your teammates want to say and the core of the speech can you deal with the opponent's malicious attempts to shift the focus. If the first speaker doesn't take a firm stance, all the other debaters will be at a disadvantage."

"Oh, I see." An Yu lowered his head silently, revealing a somewhat embarrassed and apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't know anything about these things and offered unsolicited advice; I couldn't be of any help."

"How could that be! Thank you for worrying about us," Wu Yuehua quickly reassured her.

"Can we try both?" Qiu Luxi suddenly asked, and An Yu looked at her in surprise.

"Well, it's not like there's no one here, meow? Maybe we can help? -- I don't think this woman is pitiful, meow." Qiu Luxi said.

An Yu suddenly teared up and looked at Qiu Luxi with gratitude in his eyes.

"I forgive you for sneaking off!" "I already said I'm not speaking up for you, meow, I also want to try and see if I can team up with Ning Ruoyu!"

Ning Ruoxin, who was standing next to me, tugged at my sleeve. "Brother, can I try it too?"

"Ah, me too, I want to participate as well," Ling Chuqing said, not to be outdone.

I looked at Wu Yuehua. The president glanced at Senior Chu Guyin, who had also slightly raised her hand but remained silent, and sighed with a smile.

"So, everyone should try out the first speaker position—let me make it clear beforehand that the first speaker's job is very tiring and troublesome, but the only reward is the precious memories you'll have with your teammates and the tacit understanding you'll develop during the competition."

For some reason, after I said that, everyone was silent for a few seconds, and then they all glanced at me.

"You'll win!" "Because you're going to be a screenwriter, you're very logical!" "I will... work hard..." "Sorry, Ah-Xin, I'm going to get serious!" "I'm the one who should apologize to you. I won't go easy on you just because you're Ah-Qing."

...Their drive is terrifying.

So, after a morning of classic debate practice and interviews, which Chen Di and I both went through, the final winner finally emerged!

Ta-da!

"Oh dear, it seems my darling and I are truly destined for each other~"

Ling Qingxue looked at me with a smile.

Ahhhhh, the worst has happened!!! I don't want fair competition anymore, I want a rigged competition to replace this woman!!!

[Next chapter preview: "I understand, the first speaker is a doormat."]

An Yu, who had been repeatedly "praised," became completely depressed.

"Your personality is really terrible."

Upon hearing the topic of the debate and our stance, even someone like Ling Qingxue, after a brief moment of thought, chuckled and sighed.

"I really don't know if it's optimism or just being oblivious..."

Chapter 119: Upholding Justice Requires Selflessness / Acting Within One's Capacity (Bonus Chapter)

"Ugh, damn it, why can't I ask the other person a question in return?"

The cat looked very unwilling.

However, I think her defeat was to be expected. After all, in the fourth debater's questioning session, it's rare for the first debater to grab the opposing side and ask, "Hey, why?" or "So what do you mean?"

"But I really don't know?" Qiu Luxi was still somewhat dissatisfied. She seemed genuinely trying to understand what the other person meant when she answered.

That's true, after all, cats have a natural and strong sense of curiosity.

"No matter how curious you are, don't ask questions. This isn't a debate where you throw out a question and he answers it with one..." Senior Wu Yuehua smiled wryly.

"I understand, the first speaker is a pushover." Qiu Luxi tilted her head.

"...She has grasped the essence of the first debater!!" The first debater, who was video chatting with us, was in tears.

I've mentioned it before, but the first speaker always seemed timid and weak-willed. Completely different from the second and fourth speakers, who were more assertive, aggressive, and motherly...

In order to better select suitable candidates, we contacted the three senior students who were unable to come at the moment and communicated with them off-site via video.

"That doesn't really count. I feel like An'an, the junior, is a bit of a pushover, but she's not quite right either," the fourth debater in the video said softly.

“…Indeed.” We looked at An Yu, who was eating potato chips. The girl smacked her lips dejectedly as she ate her snacks, and when she noticed that we were all looking at her, she quickly covered her face.

"Actually, things were fine at the beginning, but after we got caught up in the later stages, we reached several very important consensuses."

Chen Di seemed to want to explain a few things for An Yu, but it sounded even more terrifying.

"This is the first time I've heard someone answer 'Oh, I think so' when they're being questioned... I can only say that my junior has a great personality."

The fourth debater seemed to be trying hard to find something commendable about An Yu, even through the screen.

...It just sounds like complete irony.

An Yu, who had been repeatedly "praised," became completely depressed. She even started eating snacks with her eyes closed.

"As for Xiao Xin and Xiao Qing, they both handled it quite well. With a little more systematic learning, they could be ready to compete." Wu Yuehua thoughtfully refrained from commenting on Senior Chu Guyin.

—No one really expects Senior Sister Chu Guyin to participate in a debate, right? We would all be moved to tears just by how fluently Senior Sister Chu Guyin can converse!