Celebration and the Semifinal Twist

Her roommates embraced Zhou Yi, laughing and jumping with an excitement that far surpassed her own.

Xiao Ju, brimming with excitement, swayed her arm. “This absolutely calls for a grand celebration!”

Zhou Yi, suppressing the urge to cry, laughed in response. “Oh, easy there! My arm’s about to fall off!”

Just then, her phone rang again.

The caller ID displayed: Jiang Chen.

Zhou Yi’s heart skipped a beat.

Her three best friends’ gazes immediately converged on her face, and an unspoken, teasing warmth instantly filled the air.

Zhou Yi simply stared.

She took a deep breath, then answered the call. “Hello…?”

From the other end, Jiang Chen’s deep, amused voice resonated. “Boss Zhou, have you seen the official announcement yet?”

Zhou Yi stammered, “J-just saw it. The Counselor also called to inform me.”

“Congratulations,” his voice softened. “You were the first person I wanted to call.”

‘Again?’ Zhou Yi silently clenched her fist. She had long resolved to maintain the steadfast resolve of an unyielding man, no matter what he said.

Yet, a bubbling joy, like effervescent soda, continued to rise within her heart.

‘It’s nothing,’ she consoled herself. ‘This is just a normal reaction after the team’s success.’

After all, the effort they had poured in truly deserved this happiness.

She was genuinely proud of their team, and of herself for giving her absolute best.

She feigned composure. “Th-that… has Li Yanze been informed yet?”

Jiang Chen seemed to chuckle on his end, his voice so low it made her ears tingle. “I tagged him in the group chat while I was calling you. That guy is probably running laps around the track in celebration.”

“Zhou Yi replied, “Oh… that’s good then.”

“So,” his voice, imbued with an enticing magnetism, came through the receiver, “Boss Zhou, how do you plan to celebrate?”

“Xiao Ju and I are at the mall…” She paused, feeling three burning gazes on her back. “…We’re about to head back.”

“Send me your location,” Jiang Chen said. “I’ll pick you up. I just told Li Yanze to grab a table at the barbecue place.”

The moment the call ended, Xiao Ju immediately leaned in, winking and raising her eyebrows. “Jiang Chen’s coming to pick you up?”

Zhou Yi mumbled an affirmative, lowering her head to pretend to smooth her clothes.

She didn’t notice the slight upturn of her lips, nor did she catch the knowing glances her three roommates exchanged.

When Jiang Chen’s figure appeared at the doorway, Zhou Yi was surrounded by her roommates, who were applying lip gloss to her.

Jiang Chen stopped, quietly observing the girl encircled by her friends through the glass door.

Today, she was… exceptionally radiant. Jiang Chen noticed the delicate star-and-moon earrings, swaying gently with her movements.

Unlike her usual casual attire, her entire being exuded a soft, feminine aura.

From her expression, a mix of helplessness and indulgence, it was clear that this elegant makeover was mostly her roommates’ doing.

‘But… I have to admit, it really does look good.’

He didn’t rush forward, instead leaning quietly against the doorframe, watching her with a gentle gaze.

“Hey! Jiang Chen’s here!” Xiao Xia was the first to notice, gently nudging Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi turned her head, seeing him leaning against the doorframe. His eyes, always alight with a smile, were now fixed intently on her.

She uncomfortably touched her earrings. Wearing such delicate accessories in front of her ‘bros’ felt overly feminine.

‘Even though I’m outwardly a girl now, this feeling still makes me a bit awkward.’

“It suits you beautifully,” Jiang Chen said, stepping closer, his gaze lingering on her ear. “You look very pretty.”

Zhou Yi’s ears felt a faint warmth. Before she could respond, she heard his amused voice:

“Let’s go,” he said, naturally taking the shopping bag from her hand. “If we don’t get there soon, Li Yanze might just devour the entire barbecue restaurant menu.”

****

As Zhou Yi, Jiang Chen, and Li Yanze entered the Counselor’s office, the morning sun streamed through the blinds, casting dappled light across the desk.

“Come, come, have a seat, all of you.”

The Counselor gestured, smiling. “First, I must congratulate your team. Your preliminary performance was outstanding.”

Zhou Yi quickly responded with humility. “Teacher, this is the result of our team’s collective effort…”

“Indeed, your teamwork is exceptional.”

The Counselor flipped through some documents, then continued:

“We specifically called you here today to emphasize the unique nature of this year’s competition. The sponsoring company has not only doubled the prize money but also offered internship positions without requiring an entrance exam.”

“Both the university and the company attach great importance to this, leading to significant adjustments in the semi-final format.”

He paused, looking at the three of them.

“All previous years’ online defenses have been canceled. Instead, you will conduct a live presentation and defense in the Run Run Shaw Building Auditorium.”

“The auditorium?” Zhou Yi asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

“Yes,” the Counselor’s expression grew serious. “This is a special request from the company, and the university is fully cooperating. Although it’s only the semi-finals, all stages will adhere to the finals’ standards.”

“This semi-final round will not be open to the public, limited only to the judging panel, university representatives, and corporate guests.”

Zhou Yi gasped.

Li Yanze’s eyes widened. “S-so, we’ll be presenting in front of all those industry experts?!”

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, calmly interjecting. “An upgraded venue is a good thing; it will truly test the project’s strength.”

The Counselor looked at the three of them. “You only have seventy-two hours until the semi-finals. Your project’s innovative aspects are outstanding, but that also means you’ll face more rigorous questioning.”

“If you require any resources or support, don’t hesitate to contact me.”

Jiang Chen calmly inquired, “Has the presentation order been determined yet?”

The Counselor replied, “The exact order hasn’t been finalized, but it’s highly probable you’ll be scheduled for the early part of the morning session.”

Zhou Yi simply stared. ‘Starting with Hell Mode right out of the gate.’

The Counselor continued, adding another layer of pressure. “However, there are two points you must pay special attention to.”

He held up two fingers.

“First, the semi-finals are not a one-way presentation. You will need to respond to spontaneous questions from the judges.”

“Second, only two members from each team can go on stage for the main presentation and defense.”

These words plunged the office into a brief silence. Zhou Yi, Jiang Chen, and Li Yanze exchanged bewildered glances, this rule entirely outside their expectations.

“Of course,” the Counselor’s tone shifted, a relaxed smile gracing his lips. “While the pressure is immense, the opportunity is equally significant. If you perform well, a spot in the finals is practically guaranteed.”

Li Yanze’s eyes immediately lit up. “R-really?”

“As long as you don’t completely mess up on stage.”

Zhou Yi sighed inwardly.

‘That single sentence was more impactful than everything he said before.’

“The rules are clear,” the Counselor said, closing his folder. “Discuss among yourselves and decide who will present. All right, meeting adjourned. Get to preparing immediately.”

The moment they stepped out of the office, Li Yanze let out a long sigh, patting his chest. “Only two people on stage? That’s great! No, I mean, what a shame!”

He couldn’t help but flash a smile of pure relief. “Defending in front of so many experts? Just thinking about it makes my hands shake. Now I don’t have to worry!”

Zhou Yi was amused by his honest reaction, patting his shoulder. “Don’t worry, we weren’t planning on having you go up anyway.”

After speaking, she turned her head to look at the figure beside her, hands casually tucked into pockets, appearing nonchalant yet exuding an undeniable aura.

“Don’t we have an ace up our sleeve?”

Jiang Chen tilted his head in question.