The only thing left to prepare was the “delivery.”
She first tried to memorize and recite the speech in her room.
Wei Ping was a professional cheerleader.
He expressed 100% admiration for Lin Zhexia’s speech: “Uncle thinks it’s excellent!”
“This is the first time I’ve heard such a brilliant speech. First, your content is very professional. Second, your memorization is excellent, with proper emphasis and pauses. For instance, those several pauses in the middle highlight the key points of your speech and add paragraph structure—”
“No, Uncle Wei,” Lin Zhexia couldn’t help interrupting, “that’s where I stumbled while reciting.”
Wei Ping: “…Ah, um.”
Wei Ping: “But you stumbled beautifully, it wasn’t abrupt at all, Uncle didn’t even notice.”
Lin Zhexia: “Thank you, your critique is very earnest.”
Finally, standing in the living room with her speech in hand, she thought for a moment and said: “You two aren’t suitable, I’d better find someone else to listen to me.”
Ten minutes later.
She knocked on Chi Yao’s door, speech in hand: “Congratulations.”
Chi Yao: “?”
“You’ve won a prize.”
Chi Yao had been playing games with He Yang until midnight last night, and looked like he hadn’t fully woken up. Today, he was unusually wearing a white T-shirt, looking fresh and clean, for once resembling a civilized person.
Then Lin Zhexia heard this “civilized person” open his mouth and say something not so civilized: “Get all your craziness out at once.”
Lin Zhexia took out her speech: “Congratulations on being selected as today’s lucky audience member, receiving an opportunity to witness Lin Zhexia’s speech.”
The “civilized person” glanced at the speech: “Can I decline?”
Lin Zhexia: “No, you can’t.”
“What about transferring it to someone else?”
“Also. Not. Possible.”
“Forced sales again?”
“Yes,” Lin Zhexia nodded, “if you want to refuse, you’ll have to die first.”
Chi Yao’s reaction was mild as he made a move to close the door: “Oh, then just pretend I’m dead.”
“……”
Lin Zhexia stuck her hand through the door gap and forced her way in. To make him listen to her speech, she blurted out: “No, how could I bear to pretend you’re dead?”
After saying this, she was stunned for a moment.
Chi Yao’s hand, which was about to close the door, also paused.
How could I bear?
Bear.
The phrase “how could I bear” sounded strange.
Her mind went blank for two seconds, then when it started working again, she habitually covered for herself: “What I mean is, if you died, I’d have to go bother other people, which wouldn’t be fair to them.”
Chi Yao gave a cold laugh: “So you bother me instead?”
Lin Zhexia: “…”
Chi Yao said sarcastically: “Should I also praise you for being so conscientious?”
Lin Zhexia: “That’s okay, no need for praise.”
After entering, she first prepared a glass of water for herself.
Then she pushed Chi Yao onto the sofa, ordered him not to run away, cleared her throat, and unfolded her speech: “Hello everyone, I am Lin Zhexia from Class 7, Grade 2. The title of my speech is Youth.”
She paused briefly, opened one hand outward, coordinating the gesture with an aria-like sigh: “Ah—Youth. A word that seems simple, yet is not so simple.”
Chi Yao sat on the sofa, casually applauding: “Hearing your words is like… hearing words.”
Lin Zhexia: “…”
Chi Yao tilted his chin up slightly: “Continue.”
Lin Zhexia didn’t want to continue anymore.
She stopped: “Let me drink some water.”
After using the water to cover her embarrassment, she continued reading: “—Each of us has, or once had, youth.”
Chi Yao was already starting to yawn.
He propped his chin with one hand and interrupted her: “Besides clichés, do you have anything else?”
“…”
“How is this a cliché?” Lin Zhexia said, “Is there anything wrong with what I said? Can you say there’s something wrong with it?”
Chi Yao: “It’s a statement with nothing wrong with it, but it’s still a cliché.”