Chapter 47: “The Opportunity to Go to the Capital’

The news of Cui Mingtao’s case spread like wildfire in the small town of Qingcheng. People were shocked to learn that such a large parasite had been hiding within the ranks of the people.

Thanks to the efforts of the police and the special investigation team, Qingcheng was finally restored to a clean and peaceful state.

At the cotton spinning factory where Yu Meijuan worked, there was a wave of joy. The removal of such a toxic element was a huge relief for the factory. Even Director Zhou couldn’t help but smile for the first time in a month.

It seemed as though life was entering a peaceful period.

Yu Zihan, grateful for how everything had been resolved, made a special trip to thank Gu Jingxuan.

It was because of him that the situation had been handled smoothly, and it was also because of him that she and her daughter weren’t implicated in the matter. Therefore, Yu Zihan’s gratitude toward Gu Jingxuan was genuine, coming from the depths of her heart.

She felt lucky. During her darkest times, she had met someone like Gu Jingxuan. Not only had he brought warmth into her life, but he had also given her the hope of light.

Yu Zihan felt that her already strong beliefs had been reinforced by an additional power—this power was the strength that Gu Jingxuan had given her.

Looking at the young girl in front of him, Gu Jingxuan couldn’t help but feel a little out of place.

“Thank you,” Yu Zihan said. After pondering for a whole night, trying to think of the right words to say, when she finally stood in front of him, she couldn’t remember anything. Seeing his warm smile, all she could say was the most simple and common phrase, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Gu Jingxuan replied just as simply, but the unspoken sentiment was clear—”I would do more for you.”

However, at this moment, he could only keep those words hidden in his heart.

Because she was still so young, she had her own path to follow. He firmly believed that, in the long journey of life, there would be a part of the road he would walk beside her.

“I’ll be leaving tomorrow, heading back to the capital. If fate allows, we will meet again,” Gu Jingxuan said as he bid Yu Zihan farewell.

“Safe travels,” Yu Zihan’s farewell was sincere.

They turned and walked in opposite directions, each focused on their own journey.

On the way to school, Yu Zihan’s mood was downcast. She couldn’t help but think of the song “Zai Jian” by Zhang Zhenyue.

I fear I won’t have the chance to say goodbye,Because perhaps I will never see you again.Tomorrow I must leave this familiar place, and with you,The moment we part, tears will fall…

By the time she reached the school gates, her emotions had calmed. She was still young, and there were many important things to do.

She had no right, nor the time, to let herself dwell in such feelings. All the beauty would be cherished, but for now, she had to lock it deep inside her heart.

Once inside the classroom, she was once again the focused and diligent student, Yu Zihan.

After class, her English teacher, Mr. Li, called her to the office. Yu Zihan knocked politely on the door and greeted the other teachers.

Today, Yu Zihan noticed that her usually composed English teacher, Mr. Li, seemed overly excited.

Mr. Li eagerly said, “There is a fantastic opportunity right now, one that could bring glory to both you and our school.”

Yu Zihan, not fully understanding, looked at her teacher, waiting for the details.

Mr. Li calmed down a little before continuing, “The first National Middle School English Talent Competition is about to be held. It’s a nationwide event.”

Yu Zihan was still unsure. What did a national competition have to do with a small town like theirs?

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Mr. Li explained, “Our school has the opportunity to participate. We have one spot for the junior high department and another for the high school department. After much discussion, we’ve decided that you’ll represent the junior high department.”

Yu Zihan nodded at her teacher’s words.

“Okay, teacher. I understand,” she said calmly. It was just an English competition, after all.

“The competition will be held on May 4th, just a month away. Before that, you’ll need to go to the provincial capital for a week of training with Du Yuning from the high school department. Do you have any problems with that?” Mr. Li asked carefully.

It was a significant commitment, especially for a student preparing for the high school entrance exams. But this competition was very important for the school.

“It’s no problem. I’ll make arrangements,” Yu Zihan replied, not wanting to burden her teacher. A week of training wasn’t too difficult for her. In fact, she was confident that if she took the high school entrance exams right now, she could still achieve excellent results.

“Great, great! You should focus on your studies. I’ll arrange everything for next Monday. Don’t worry, the school will cover accommodation and food expenses. There won’t be any additional costs. Also, I heard that there are cash prizes for those who win,” Mr. Li said, somewhat hopeful but still unsure about the outcome.

He wasn’t overly optimistic, as it was a nationwide competition with many talented students, making it difficult to stand out. But Yu Zihan understood his concerns. She wasn’t afraid. She was determined to participate—and win. She dreamed of winning in the capital city, believing it would bring her closer to the day her mother had been hoping for.

That night, she eagerly entered her space, searching for the knowledge she needed for the competition.

As expected, the space was incredibly helpful, providing her with a clear direction for her training and the types of questions she would face.

The most important skill for the competition was oral English. If her speaking skills were impressive, she would already be halfway there.

In her past life, Yu Zihan had experience negotiating with foreign businessmen, so speaking wasn’t a challenge for her. In fact, her accent was pure London-style British English.

This part of the training was easy for her. She only needed to familiarize herself with the rhythm and content, and after three rounds of practice, she passed with flying colors on the fourth attempt. She even earned a thousand points as a reward.

Next, she tackled the hardest part: impromptu speeches. The space provided her with various scenarios and topics, requiring her to write a high-level speech in a very short time and then deliver it passionately.

At first, Yu Zihan struggled—either her speech wasn’t good enough or she exceeded the time limit. Sometimes, her delivery felt like memorization rather than a real, engaging speech. The space even labeled her speech as robotic, like a machine reading aloud with no emotion.

The space didn’t hold back in criticizing her. It also deducted points, making Yu Zihan feel the sting of loss in her heart—she was a bit of a money-conscious person, and losing those points hurt.

But after three days of intense practice, Yu Zihan finally met the space’s standards.

That night, after completing her training, Yu Zihan lay on her bed, imagining herself in the capital. She dreamed of the day she would win.

As she drifted off to sleep, she dreamt of a handsome man bathed in the glow of the setting sun. His deep, affectionate gaze locked onto her, and he silently declared that she was the daughter of him and Yu Meijuan…