Chapter 639: You missed one person

Two minutes elapsed, the rebuttal ended, and the third speaker of the opposition began asking questions.

……

They reached the final free debate segment, limited to eight minutes, and the clash between the two sides grew increasingly fierce.

The affirmative side handed the initiative over to their fourth speaker, Feng Cen.

Feng Cen repeatedly stood to speak, continually throwing out examples to solidify the affirmative viewpoint, and finally concluded: "Education itself also represents a kind of ability; it is certification of a person's learning ability and knowledge reserves. Without education, you cannot even knock on the door."

The opposition's fourth speaker seized the opportunity to counter-question: "The affirmative side repeatedly emphasizes the 'knocking stone,' but after opening the door, how far can one go, relying on education or ability?"

"Ability is the variable that determines the upper limit; the opposition's previous remark mentioned that education is the knocking stone, but after opening the door? How far can one walk inside, relying on education or ability?"

Feng Cen rebutted: "Without this education knocking stone, how can ability be seen?"

The opposition's fourth speaker spoke steadily: "Ability is enough to be seen; there is absolutely no need for an education knocking stone."

I can also give many examples, for example, the founder of a certain tech startup in M Guo, Mu Xianqi; the founder of SY Star Road Interactive Entertainment, Song Yusui; the top fashion designer, Yan Yuejiu; the chairman of the Mu Clan Conglomerate, Mu Nian; the chairman of the Jiang and Shen conglomerates, Jiang Liangjin; and the music prodigy, Mu Xi.

Industries where one speaks with ability are everywhere; many of them had already proven their worth with ability while still in high school.

Feng Cen heard those names and felt a stir in his heart.

Good, she remembered him, that scheming man! Is it interesting to drop so many names of close female friends and family?

Mu Xi: "……" Why put him last?

Song Yusui, hiding in the back to watch the show:?

Mu Youyu and Jiang Liangjin pressed their lips; the people this person mentioned all possess both ability and education.

A low murmur rose from the audience.

Next, the young man's gaze slowly swept across the audience and settled on the figure in the middle of the judges' bench: "Furthermore, the Mu chairperson present here, her achievements are certainly not solely reliant on the halo of education."

Feng Cen: scheming man.

Mu Youyu's lips bore a hint of polite smile, with no particular expression.

Feng Cen pondered for a moment, then spoke unhurriedly: "The opposition just mentioned several names, all weighty; I fully agree that their achievements are spoken through works and strength, but there is also a logical problem in what they said."

"Those you mentioned indeed do not treat education as the sole label, but have you considered——"

"The reason they can avoid the education knocking stone in their respective fields is precisely because they have left deep enough marks in their industries; their very existence constitutes a kind of authority to speak."

She paused, then added: "But most people still need that brick before reaching that step."

The audience fell silent for a moment, then scattered applause broke out.

Feng Cen continued: "Moreover, when you mentioned those people just now, I noticed you left out someone."

The opposition's fourth speaker was about to blurt out that person's name, but she beat them to it: "Mu Xin, who earned double doctorates at fifteen, founder of XY Group; although still a minor, his education and ability run in parallel, not mutually exclusive alternatives."

"If education is meaningless, why would he spend time studying?"

"So, the examples you gave precisely prove one thing: truly impressive people do not discard education to prove ability, because they want and can have both."

She finished, gave a slight nod, and sat back in her seat.

After a brief silence in the audience, applause louder than before erupted.

Mu Youyu, together with the surrounding teachers, clapped a few times unhurriedly.

The opposition's fourth speaker opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately just exhaled lightly and sat back in his seat.

The rhythm of the debate was completely thrown off by this round of clash; in the following minutes, both sides' offense and defense became noticeably tighter than before.

When the final result was announced, the affirmative side won by a narrow margin.

Feng Cen stood up to shake hands with the opposition in greeting, then glanced toward the chair's seat.

Mu Youyu remained in her original seat and gave her a thumbs-up.

Feng Cen curled his lips and replied with a mouth shape: "Of course."

The first round ended, with a ten-minute break preparation time.

Feng Cen tidied up the things on the table, intending to go around to find Mu Youyu, but after just two steps, the opposition's fourth speaker blocked his path.

Feng Cen's steps halted, and he looked at the opposition's fourth speaker before him.

Qi Qiong, a third-year humanities student, the one who previously confessed to her with a drone at the sports meet.

She didn't know this guy at all, so naturally she didn't agree.

Qi Qiong wore the college short-sleeve uniform, with two buttons undone at the collar at some point, her demeanor gentle: "You spoke very well just now."

"Thank you."

Feng Cen responded indifferently, then turned sideways intending to go around him and leave: "Anything else? If not, I'm leaving."

"Wait a moment." Qi Qiong called out to stop her.

She turned her head, her gaze falling on his collar where two buttons were undone.

Qi Qiong did not avoid her gaze: "Can I add a contact method? Feng Cen classmate, I haven't seen you around the classroom or below your dormitory these days."

Of course she wouldn't see him; Feng Cen skips every class he can, doesn't live in the dorms, and usually spends most of his time off-campus.

"Okay." Feng Cen reported a string of numbers: "You can ask me any academic questions."

Qi Huai lowered his head to save it, then looked up: "Alright, we'll get in touch later."

Feng Cen nodded at him, then turned and walked toward another direction in the audience.

"How was it?" Mu Youyu's gaze fell on Feng Cen's face: "What did he want from you?"

Feng Cen spread his hands: "I want contact information."

"Oh?" Mu Youyu raised the tail of her tone and exchanged a glance with Jiang Liangjin beside her.

Feng Cen raised his hand and patted her shoulder: "Don't come at me; it's just a contact method, I'm not someone who hasn't given it to others before."

Mu Youyu laughed and praised: "Got it, got it, our Cen Cen is simply handsome to the extreme!"

Feng Cen raised his eyebrows: "It's necessary; besides, look who I am—just from playing this debate too much, I'm afraid I'll turn into an argumentative personality."

"Even if you become an argumentative personality, you'd still be the most handsome one." Mu Youyu comforted.

Jiang Liangjin handed over a bottle of mineral water, "Baby, you look tired, drink some water."

Mu Youyu took it and drank a sip, "You go sit first; later, later there are still a few rounds, I have to go be a judge; after it ends I'll have my older brother treat you to a meal."