The Microphone Is Yours, You Speak

Li Yao had no interest in those so-called celebrity alumni lectures.

But Cao Rui and Chen Tao were way too excited. Not only did they drag Shuisheng Ge along, they also insisted on dragging Li Yao with them. What could Li Yao do? Stuck with two animal-like roommates, he was desperate too.

By the time they reached the Great Hall, it was already packed three layers deep inside and three layers deep outside. Cao Rui and Chen Tao were both Student Union officers and knew plenty of people, so they managed to squeeze into seats near the front. Li Yao looked around from within the crowd but didn't see Lin Xiaoxi, so he took out his phone and sent her a message: "The Great Hall is lively. Where are you?"

Lin Xiaoxi: "Watching shows in the dorm."

Li Yao: "...You're being that lazy?"

Lin Xiaoxi: "I, Lin Baiwan, have swelled up!"

Fine then.

Li Yao exited his chat with Lin Xiaoxi and found Lin Xiaowei's chat window in his pinned conversations. Her profile picture was still gray. More than half a month had passed, yet there was still no sign of Lin Xiaowei coming online. It seemed that operation had placed a huge burden on her. He wondered whether it had left behind any adverse effects.

As he pondered, enthusiastic applause erupted through the hall. A group of school leaders and several celebrity alumni came onto the stage amid the applause, followed by a long-winded speech from the leaders...

It was practically a universal affliction among leaders in every industry.

Li Yao grew drowsy listening to them. He secretly took out paper and pen from his Space Ring and began working through an alchemical formula.

He had already completed the Cleansing Potion. He just didn't know its potency or effects yet. The Miniature Pig wouldn't arrive for several more days, so he had already begun researching the "Vitality Potion." As its name suggested, the Cleansing Potion removed harmful toxins from the body. Li Yao didn't understand the principles behind its medicinal effects, but following the formula was enough.

He was merely a potion synthesizer, so his workload was much lighter.

The Vitality Potion was a potion that could stimulate all the body's systems and allow the drinker to recover quickly.

It sounded somewhat like it would drain one's potential, and at first, that was indeed the case.

But after mages improved the potion, they added many ingredients that strengthened the body and replenished vital essence. While the body rapidly produced various hormones and repaired cells, it would also replenish the resulting expenditure, so it would not overdraw the body's potential.

While Li Yao was working through the formula, the leaders' speeches onstage finally ended, and the celebrity alumna everyone had been eagerly awaiting stepped up to the podium.

The rousing applause rolled in wave after wave, affecting even Li Yao.

He looked up.

His eyesight was excellent, so he could see her clearly.

Li Shishi really was a very beautiful woman. At twenty-seven or twenty-eight, she had maintained herself exceptionally well. Her skin was so smooth and tender it seemed water could be squeezed from it. She had a gentle, refined temperament, yet beneath her soft appearance was a powerful aura of confidence and resolve. Standing beneath the spotlight, she seemed to truly be glowing.

Cao Rui was so excited his heart nearly flew away. "When I graduate, I'm applying to Senior's company! I'd gladly work overtime until dawn if I could work with a beauty like her!"

Chen Tao said mournfully, "I'd even do it for free!"

Li Yao considered this for two seconds before saying, "President Li handles countless affairs every day. Do you think she can stay at the company all day?"

Cao Rui and Chen Tao pondered for a moment before saying in unison, "Who's 'countless affairs'?"

Why did that guy get to hog President Li all day? Li Yao: "..."

Zhao Shuisheng nudged those two idiots and said, "The speech is starting. Keep it down."

Well then,

Shuisheng Ge was the most honest one of them all.

How many of the boys who came here were actually here to listen to the speech? Still, the hall quickly quieted down. Li Shishi's speech topic might have been a well-worn one, but her words were humorous, lively, and playful, firmly holding everyone's attention. Of course, it was mostly because she was beautiful. Anything she said sounded good.

Li Yao listened for a while too, but soon lowered his head again and returned to working through the alchemical formula.

You know, studying really could make me happy.

Li Yao genuinely found alchemy fascinating. Limited by his knowledge and experience, he was only a synthesizer for now, but he absolutely did not want to remain an alchemical formula synthesizer forever.

Immersed in the world of alchemy, Li Yao failed to notice the changes around him.

Li Shishi's speech had already ended. The school had specially arranged a "Questions and Answers" segment, allowing Southeast University students to speak directly with their idol senior and have their doubts answered. However, each person could only ask one question, and there were only ten opportunities in total.

This stirred the enthusiasm of the students, and arms shot up throughout the Great Hall.

Like a bamboo grove after the rain.

Very quickly, a student received the microphone. "Senior, are you single?"

The hall burst into laughter, yet quite a few people still stared at Li Shishi with burning eyes. There were not only boys among them, but also many girls—what was wrong with people these days? Li Shishi smiled and answered graciously, "Classmate, you wasted an opportunity, you know. Yes, I'm single."

The next person asked, "You're so successful. There must be many outstanding men pursuing you. Why are you still single? Or do you not like men?"

Li Shishi said, "When you stand where I do, you'll understand why."

Li Shishi effortlessly defused the question.

Two questions in a row had been about her private life, making the school realize they could not let this continue.

They had invited this celebrity alumna to encourage the students! Not to let them gossip.

So, from then on, they consciously selected students with both excellent character and academic performance to receive the microphone. The questions became things like, "How did you become successful?" and "What setbacks did you encounter while achieving your current accomplishments?" ...By the time they reached the final opportunity, the instructor selecting the microphone was searching through the crowd when her eyes were drawn to a dark, burly figure.

—Zhao Shuisheng, nearly 1.9 meters tall, was standing with his hand raised. His tall, sturdy build was especially conspicuous.

His dark skin and plain, rugged features were even more conspicuous.

In truth, the instructor had noticed Zhao Shuisheng several times already...

But for various reasons, she had passed him over every time.

Yet for some reason, she felt a little guilty this time. He looked like such an honest kid, always so active and enthusiastic. It would be hard to justify skipping him again.

So, in a moment of impulse, the instructor handed the microphone to Shuisheng Ge.

Zhao Shuisheng: "???"

Zhao Shuisheng was instantly dumbfounded when the microphone suddenly landed in his hands:

Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do? Why did they give me the microphone? I'm just a bystander dragged here by my roommates to eat popcorn... Shuisheng Ge held the microphone, completely at a loss. Cao Rui and Chen Tao instantly slipped into their sneaky little bastard mode, crouching beside him and offering nothing but terrible suggestions. "Shuisheng Ge, hurry and ask how old she is!"

"No, no, no—ask for her measurements!"

Whispering nonsense.jpg.

In truth, they were only talking trash in secret. Honest Shuisheng Ge would never ask something like that, which was why he stood there holding the microphone in utter confusion...

At a loss, Shuisheng Ge lowered his head and saw Li Yao bent over his paper, scribbling away without the slightest awareness of what was happening outside. So, holding the microphone, he poked Li Yao. "Li Yao, the microphone's yours. You speak."

"Huh?"

Li Yao took the microphone on instinct, looking utterly bewildered. "Say what?"

Wishing everyone an awesome Mid-Autumn Festival. I heard mooncakes taste better while reading my novel. That must be true.