could sit at his level, whereas someone like Su Cen would soon be forgotten.Tang Wu was obviously tempted. Although her grades were excellent, she wasn’t arrogant enough to think she knew everything....Chapter 78 Speech

Su Cen leaned in, his voice sounding rather sinister. "Why do I see my family member as just a piece of meat"

Brows like distant mountains, a high and straight nose made of jade, lips red and full; if beauty could be eaten, Lin Luoran would definitely be a delicacy.

"Who is it Who is it" Lin Luoran's voice grew softer as Su Cen leaned forward, taking up most of the space next to the swing. She involuntarily moved closer to the iron chains beside her; while her lower body remained on the swing, her upper body leaned against the chains. Her red lips slightly pouted, but fear gradually welled up in her eyes.

"Yes, it's probably because of my limited strength that I always miss out on things. Should I let this one go as well"

"I don't know... Who should I ask" Lin Luoran was slightly nervous and shook her head. What did he mean by that

This pose was quite lovely, Su Cen chuckled lightly, "Is it because you don’t know or shouldn’t do so" Saying this, Su Cen felt he had overstepped a little, acting like an unscrupulous uncle.

Lin Luoran paused for a moment and then stubbornly lifted her head, giggling. "Alright, I say you shouldn't. What are you going to do about it You brat!"

Demeaned This little girl is quite unpredictable. It seems that the weak appearance she showed earlier was just an act. Su Cen became angry; even though she was a Miss Lin, there’s no reason why he couldn't deal with her.

As he leaned in closer, Lin Luoran suddenly said, "Do you intend to grope me" Her expression was calm and didn’t match the audacity required for such words.

"You’ve figured it out. Your eyes are sharp." He had already caught her scent of hair; if not for his unwillingness to give up, Su Cen would have liked to just let this go. On closer inspection, despite his reluctance to admit it, psychological analysis suggested that his unwillingness stemmed from a kind of inferiority complex. Even though he was reborn, there were often times when he felt this way in front of both Lin Luoran and Tang Wu.

"Although this place is quiet, it’s close to the residential area where little kids are playing football; they would hear me if I shouted." Under the full moonlight reflected in her eyes, her black hair hung down from her pale neck. Su Cen even suspected that if he reached out to grab her hair, it might slip away like water, such was its quality.

Su Cen gritted his teeth in frustration; he wanted to mimic a scene from some movie and say sarcastically, "Shout all you want, no one will come."

The sight before her was tantalizing, yet the way it was spoken with such a disdainful and assured tone was infuriating. The more rational and composed one became, the more it represented a nakedly arrogant stance.

"Are you so sure I'll scream" Su Can wanted to tear apart that layer of arrogance she wore. Their noses were almost touching; her translucent face was before him, exuding an alluring fragrance with every breath.

Her crimson lips were right there, tempting one to explore the depths.

Lin Luoran stared intently at Su Can's cheek for a long moment and nodded confidently, "Yes, I will scream." Then she closed her eyes.

Was this like a mutual harassment Closing your eyes in front of someone who has already sharpened his mind against you is an indirect form of seduction, inviting criminal behavior.

It was like gambling: either silencing her mouth or being startled by her scream and causing the courtyard lights to come on. Any kind of gamble is thrilling; this one was no exception.

The moment she closed her eyes, Lin Luoran's mind flashed back to a scene from long ago, when she saw Wang Weiwei getting into someone else’s car at a street corner, disappearing around the next block, making her realize that wanting certain people to stay by your side was often in vain.

She thought of many friends who didn't want to part but ultimately did.

She recalled being mocked as a tomboy and a tag-along, yet still running after them out of fear that someone she cared about would suddenly leave her alone.

Then she felt the warm body close to hers, with slightly labored breathing right in front of her face, exhaling an aroma reminiscent of sunlight on cotton bedding.

This scent lightly brushed against her face and lips, like a mild electric shock causing goosebumps. Her mind vividly displayed Su Can's face and jawline at this moment.

Her eyes opened to reveal starry depths as she turned her head away from direct eye contact with him, not screaming "hands off" but red-eyed declaring, "You and I are different!"

This difference represented many aspects of their lives being distinct: backgrounds, social circles. Some things could change, but others were unalterable. To Lin Luoran, even her childhood friend Wang Weiwei was different; they might be together temporarily but would eventually drift apart.

Moreover, what's the fuss if it’s just a rest stop like Xia Hai What about a little boy named Su Cen who occasionally appears

This might be the suppressed sentiment deep within her heart that she never got to express.

Seeing Su Cen get up from his half-squatting position in front of her, Lin Luoran regretted what she had said. She looked at him and murmured, "I'm sorry."

Su Cen smiled and replied, "There's no need to apologize, Lin. What you said is right; we are different. We are both weak—just the college entrance exam can send different people in all directions across the country."

"That’s why we should cherish each other even more," he gently wiped away a droplet of water from Lin Ran's porcelain-like face and turned to leave towards the garden exit.

He waved back at her, "However, I am someone who has always been destined to fight against fate from day one. Whether or not we are different is still too early to tell."

The sky was adorned with brilliant stars and a full moon.

Studying continued as usual, and everything seemed promising. In the month after the Shushan chain stores opened, they achieved 250,000 yuan in turnover across all five locations. After deducting expenses, their profit was around 80,000 yuan.

The sales figures of the best-selling locations—No.7 High School and Wa Hai Middle School—earned them first, second, and third place awards respectively. Even older female employees were motivated to recite product information and prices without being asked, further proving that no one underestimated these young bosses' capabilities anymore. The only drawback was that Wang Ming and Su Cen became the subject of private discussions or gossip among their staff members or families, likely because they had never heard of such young female store managers before.

The reputation of Shushan's chain stores grew even more as it made a significant impact in Xia Hai’s stationery sales industry.

Students were the best carriers for word-of-mouth advertising.

All primary and secondary school students in the city would soon be entering the second semester and gearing up for their final exams of this academic year.

The atmosphere in the school has turned tense, as exams are approaching. There are fewer gatherings outside the classrooms and less kicking around of stuffed animals or throwing of sandbags. More students sit quietly with their heads buried in books instead of running around.

This term is about to end.

Su Cen occasionally looks towards Chen Lingshan’s seat. Her former deskmate was Tang Wu, who promised him a call at her new school. He knew the number but never received the call.

The oppressive heat of summer is coming to an end; autumn will soon arrive.

In the first-year grade office, Su Cen stands before Xiao Rihua.

Other class teachers from their grade surround them and look at them with envy.

"Do I need to prepare a speech" Su Cen thinks this is the most shocking event of the term.

"Yes, as exams approach, the school will select three outstanding cadres, excellent League members, and top students from Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12 for speeches at the flag-raising ceremony. The aim is to motivate all the students in the final push of the term and also encourage those about to take their college entrance exams. Two other spots are given to senior high school students; your name was personally selected by the principal!" For some reason, Xiao Rihua emphasized this last part so strongly that other teachers tsked.

"Are you playing with me" Su Cen looks dumbfounded.

Teacher Xiao furrows his brows. "What are you mumbling about As the representative of Grade 10, your speech should cover happiness and encourage students to cherish their current happy times. You can talk about how revolutionary martyrs sacrificed themselves for national liberation to highlight happiness. Your language skills are usually good; I won't give detailed instructions. Prepare a thousand-word formal speech as soon as possible! Both the principal and vice-principal will also provide guidance!"

Xiao Rihua nods sagely. Representing the whole grade in such a ceremony is not just an honor for Su Cen, but also for his class, Class 5 Grade 10. The announcement of this event was made with great seriousness due to the education bureau's leadership visiting the school at this crucial time before the college entrance exams to boost morale among key high schools. Therefore, they are extremely cautious about selecting a speaker who can reflect the highest standards of students from key high schools.

The two selected students include one who won the provincial middle-school debate competition and another recognized as a young writer, having published a book during second year with remarkable literary talent.

As for Su Cen, it seems that the principal hasn't forgotten his essay being featured in the national middle school essay collection. He must believe that Su Cen has considerable writing ability and thus selected him personally. that can traverse the world.Wang Weiwei's arrival at First High School was uneventful. However, for those like Wang Haoran and Zhang Xi who have intricate connections within the city’s upper echelons...