Chapter 66: Are You Awake Now?

Chapter 66: Are You Awake Now?

Translator: virtual group, EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: virtual group, EndlessFantasy Translation
Even though Director Liu had high myopia, he was still able to see clearly everything within three meters in front of him. He thus saw the number 10 on Du Min’s board.
What’s more, the number was as big as his face.
There was also a small heart in the lower right corner of the board.
Then, he heard Du Min ask in a deep voice, “So you think Zhi...”
He paused for a moment and then asked again, “I mean, you don’t think Ms. Fu Zhi’s speech was good enough?”
Director Liu had no idea why but he suddenly felt a chill creep up his spine. He felt that if he were to say no, the man before his eyes would definitely slap him in the face.
Director Liu’s heart skipped a beat as sweat began to ooze out of his forehead. “No... Nope...”
“That’s more like it,” Du Min replied. He pulled a pen from underneath his seat and added a “1” in front of the “0”. Then, he looked straight at Director Liu and said matter-of-factly, “Since this is a competition, then as the judges, we have to make sure it’s fair and just. I know you’re exhausted from all the work at school, so you don’t have to worry about using your brain for an evaluation. I’ll help you with that.”
In any case, he had to make sure Fu Zhi, the president of the FZ Research Institute, was the winner of the competition!
Director Liu did not know what to say. He felt very conflicted. Before he could say anything, he heard the teacher sitting next to Du Min ask a question that shocked him to his core. “9.8? Are you kidding me? Do you think Ms. Fu Zhi would get uppish if you gave her a 10?!”
Apparently, this was not an ordinary backroom deal anymore.
Director Liu turned to Ma Mingquan and asked in a soft voice, “How much do you think Mr. Lu has donated to the FZ Research Institute? A million?”
His eyes were glowing with enthusiasm while he was talking, giving Ma Mingquan the impression that if he were given a chance, he would grab Du Min’s hand and shout, “Let’s make money together, brother!”
Ma Mingquan retracted his gaze and gave Fu Zhi a “10”. After doing that, he replied, “Xiao Liu, your heart has been corroded by money and has blinded you to the bright spot in Fu Zhi. After all, knowledge is priceless, and you... you’re philistine.”
Director Liu was stumped.
‘Do you still want your job or not?’
*
Soon enough, Fu Zhi’s score was released. After the highest and the lowest mark were removed, she got a 9.9, which was the highest score amongst the participants. Even though she had told on her schoolmates halfway through her speech, the way she had connected her viewpoints, her level of spoken English, her knowledge, and her stage etiquette had compensated for it. Every teacher had been surprised by her performance and had begun to change their view of her.
Excited, Xu Wei grasped Lu Yushen’s arm and shouted, “Look at your sister! She really has inherited my intelligence.”
There was no expression on Lu Yushen’s face, but he raised his finger and pointed in a certain direction.
Piqued by curiosity, Xu Wei looked in the direction he was pointing at and saw her eldest son, Lu Yumo.
He was wearing a sapphire suit and he had gotten the lowest mark amongst the participants—3.2.
Lu Yushen then typed on his phone, ending his onslaught on his own mother. “Are you awake?”
Xu Wei did not know what to say.
There was no doubt that Fu Zhi’s score was way ahead of the score of Zhou Tingting, the 1st runner up, at this English Public Speaking Competition.
On the stage, all 40 students, including Fu Zhi, stood in two rows in an orderly manner.
Music then started to play.
The vice-president of the FZ Research Institute, Du Min, was welcomed on the stage and handed the golden access card over to Fu Zhi.
He was in his mid-forties and was a charismatic man. His actions were graceful as he said, “I’m truly sorry for what you’ve experienced, Ms. Fu Zhi. Your speech was like a bell that awakened all of us. Don’t worry, the door of the FZ Research Institute will always be open to talented individuals like you!”
Fu Zhi was left speechless.
Just as Du Min was about to continue praising her, Fu Zhi grabbed the access card and said softly, “Can you please step aside? My mom is taking a picture of me.”
‘Ermm...’
Du Min was disappointed. He could help her take a picture. He could also help her edit the picture to make her look even better.
However, he could not fight with his president.
Thus, he let out a sigh and retreated to a corner, shrouding himself in an aura of gloom.