The Universal Speech

On the stands of the athletic field, the department head spoke a load of nonsense with great excitement, spittle flying everywhere.

Zhou En and Chubby stood behind the department head, both feeling heavy-hearted.

No one would feel good about having to criticize himself in front of the entire school.

"Now, at this solemn moment, I have no choice but to announce something deeply regrettable."

As he spoke, the department head even clutched his chest.

His words immediately roused quite a few drowsy students. They raised their heads and looked at the department head onstage with renewed interest.

"Last Saturday, Zhou En and Wang Rui of the Management Department got into a fight on campus. In order to cover up the matter, Zhou En lied to the teachers who came to investigate."

The instant the department head's words fell, the field below erupted like a boiling hot pot.

"Who are those two? They're that badass?"

"Ha, man, your memory is terrible. That's the famous Zhou En from this school."

"Zhou En? The guy who beat Yue Hua?"

"Damn, how is this guy so fierce? He fought someone in the morning, then picked another fight that afternoon?"

"Ha, maybe he's got a violence gene hidden in his body."

"Then isn't it dangerous for me to be at the same school as him?"

"Director, I demand that Zhou En and Wang Rui be expelled."

"Yeah, Director, expel Zhou En and Wang Rui."

Amid the crowd, a smile rose at the corner of Li Hui's mouth. Most of those students' discussions had been stirred up by his lackeys.

"Zhou En, what use is brute strength alone? Didn't I still play you like a fiddle?"

On the stands, Zhou En's face had gone pale.

The department head raised both hands in a calming gesture before speaking.

"I understand everyone's feelings, but considering that Zhou En and Wang Rui are already juniors, the school wants to give them another chance."

At that, a wave of boos rang out across the field. Though everyone disliked the school's decision, they could only grit their teeth and accept it.

"However, Zhou En and Wang Rui have also realized their mistakes and deeply reflected on their actions."

"Now, let us invite these two students to deliver their self-criticisms to everyone."

As the department head spoke, he stepped aside to make room for Zhou En and Chubby.

Zhou En looked at the students below the stands. He had to admit, the designer of these stands had done an excellent job.

He could clearly see every expression on every person's face below.

There was contempt, anger, disgust...

"After all, the school has taken into consideration that Zhou En and Wang Rui are already juniors and wants to give them a chance. Moreover, Zhou En and Wang Rui have clearly recognized their mistakes."

"And they will read their letters of repentance during this solemn flag-raising ceremony. I believe everyone will surely give them another chance."

The department head's speech sounded very polished, yet it had pushed Zhou En and Chubby right into the eye of the storm.

If Zhou En and Chubby's self-criticisms failed to satisfy everyone, the school might really expel them under pressure from the students.

Below the stage, Li Hui sneered. Ever since meeting the boss of the Iron Blood Gang, he had accepted his defeat wholeheartedly. He had also come to understand that people who usually used their hands to deal with others were idiots.

Only by using one's brain could one kill without leaving a trace.

Chubby patted his chest and belly, then said to Zhou En in an old-fashioned tone, "Let me do it!"

After saying that, without waiting for Zhou En to respond, he walked straight up to the microphone.

"Hahahaha!"

Laughter immediately broke out across the field.

Chubby was simply too short. Even standing on tiptoe, he could not reach the microphone.

The department head beside him was rather helpless and could only step forward to lower the microphone stand.

"Respected teachers and students, hello! I do not wish to make any excuses for my mistakes, as that would only make me more ashamed. Through this self-criticism, I wish to express my deep hatred for this kind of behavior."

Hearing this, scattered laughter began to rise from the field.

"Bro, what are you guys laughing at?"

"Ha, you don't even know? This is one of those universal self-criticism templates from the internet. Search it online and you'll see."

"And this guy copied it word for word. He didn't even bother changing a few keywords."

"The leader's teachings seem to still ring in my ears, and his serious expression remains vivid before my eyes. I was deeply shaken and have already recognized the importance of this matter, so I repeatedly told myself..."

"Hahahaha!"

The laughter on the field instantly changed from light raindrops into a raging storm. At this point, even an idiot could tell that Chubby had copied his self-criticism.

Zhou En could not help covering his face with a hand. He knew Chubby had not written anything at all; he had simply printed out something from the internet.

No, no, no. It should not be said that he had not written it. He had not even read it.

"Director, this fat guy's attitude toward admitting his mistake is improper. Shouldn't you expel him?"

Just as the crowd was laughing uproariously, a voice suddenly rang out.

Li Hui looked toward the person who had spoken and gave him a slight nod.

That person was one of the plants Li Hui had arranged.

He believed that, under pressure from so many students, the school would definitely make concessions.

Even if they could not expel Zhou En, they would at least put him on probation.

Being placed on probation was equivalent to stripping Zhou En of his rights as a student. He would also be unable to represent the school in the World Fighting Selection Tournament.

Then he would have no chance of becoming an official team member.

"Yeah, Director, shouldn't you give us an explanation?"

"That's right, Director. We're not satisfied with that fat guy's attitude toward admitting his mistake."

Sure enough, following the words of Li Hui's plant, a large group of mindless followers immediately began clamoring for Zhou En to be expelled.

Sweat the size of beans streamed down the department head's face as though it cost nothing. He was truly stuck between a rock and a hard place now.

Originally, he had merely intended to follow procedure by having Zhou En and Wang Rui practice their self-criticisms before announcing the school's punishment.

Yet he had never expected things to reach this point.

Chubby stared at the surging, shouting crowd below and was dumbfounded as well.

He had never expected the self-criticism he had painstakingly printed out to be exposed so quickly.

Damn it, they were kindred spirits.

Only Zhou En knew best that someone had to be stirring this up behind the scenes.

The department head walked over to Chubby and snatched the microphone from his hands while he was still standing there in a daze.

"Ahem."

The department head's soft cough drew the attention of every student. It had to be said that anyone capable of becoming a department head had some real skill.

The previously noisy crowd on the field immediately fell silent.

"Everyone, quietly listen to Wang Rui and Zhou En finish reading their self-criticisms. As for the school's handling of the two of them, we will give everyone a satisfactory explanation."

The department head's words immediately quieted the agitated crowd. Li Hui's plants could not very well speak up again at such a critical moment.

Otherwise, they would be exposed.