Chapter 112: The Ceremony

The next morning, after receiving a call from Xiaoyu, Chen Mo got up and headed to the school. It was the day of the donation ceremony, and he had to attend the event and deliver a speech on stage.

As soon as he arrived outside the school, Xiaoyu, Li Lingfeng, Li Ruoxi, along with several principals and teachers, were already waiting at the entrance. When they saw Chen Mo’s car approaching, the group immediately went forward to greet him.

“Chen Mo, I must apologize for something,” Qiu Guofeng said as soon as he saw Chen Mo. “Because too many students signed up to listen to your speech, the auditorium couldn’t accommodate everyone. So last night, we moved the venue to the square. We didn’t notify you then, as we were afraid of disturbing you.”

“Is that so? It’s fine, it’s all the same,” Chen Mo replied. For him, it was just a change of stage—it didn’t matter where it was held.

“This is how today’s donation process will go…” Xiaoyu walked over to Chen Mo and began explaining the day’s schedule.

Soon, the group arrived just outside the square.

The moment they appeared, the students who had already gathered in the square grew restless, turning their heads to look in their direction. Immediately after, a wave of enthusiastic applause broke out.

The media reporters, who had been waiting in the square, also turned their cameras toward Chen Mo.

Legion Ant Company was a legend in the domestic business world. Their President, Zhao Min, had appeared countless times in front of the camera and was undoubtedly an internet celebrity. However, the company’s Chairman, the real authority, had never made a public appearance.

It wasn’t until yesterday, through posts and news that spread from Binhai University, that they learned the identity of Legion Ant Company’s Chairman.

Upon hearing that Chen Mo would be speaking at Binhai University today, many reporters rushed overnight to Binhai City.

Chen Mo looked at the dense crowd before him and was inwardly stunned. No wonder the auditorium couldn’t hold everyone—there had to be six or seven thousand people here, nearly half the school’s population.

Many classes had been organized to attend collectively. Chen Mo hadn’t even known that, for this ceremony, the school had announced a day off.

He never imagined that his first speech would attract such a large audience.

After Chen Mo took his seat, the applause finally died down, and the scene gradually quieted. Still, he wasn’t quite used to facing the lenses of so many reporters.

As the ceremony began, Qiu Guofeng stepped onto the stage.

At that moment, Qiu Guofeng looked spirited and energetic. He adjusted the microphone in front of him and said, “I know you’re not here today to listen to an old guy like me give a speech.”

As soon as his self-deprecating remark ended, the audience burst into laughter, accompanied by thunderous applause. They had already experienced the principal’s humor during the opening ceremony, but this time he was even poking fun at himself.

“But I still have a few words to say—it’s just that this sentence is a bit long.”

Qiu Guofeng smiled and continued.

“At the beginning of the school year, I told each one of you: ‘Today, you take pride in Binhai University; tomorrow, Binhai University will take pride in you.’ Why do I say I’ve told this to each of you? Because I’m a bit lazy—my opening ceremony speech is the same every year, and that line is in it.”

The audience erupted in laughter once again.

“Today, our Binhai University takes pride in one student: Chen Mo, your senior. I hope you will follow his example—fight for your dreams in college, become someone useful, and not spend your days like ostriches hiding in a corner.

I also hope that one day in the future, it will be one of you standing on this stage, speaking to your juniors. I hope you become the next Chen Mo. Even if you can’t be the next Chen Mo, at least become someone useful to society. I’ve heard that the shorter the speech, the louder the applause!”

“Well said…”

The students below caught on and began clapping vigorously, cheering loudly. They had endured countless long, tedious speeches without learning anything useful. The principal’s speech, though brief, at least offered something meaningful.

As the applause gradually subsided, Qiu Guofeng spoke again: “Next is the donation ceremony. Let’s welcome our senior, Chen Mo, to the stage.”

Qiu Guofeng looked toward Chen Mo in the audience, and everyone else’s gaze followed to where Chen Mo was seated. All the reporters aimed their cameras at him.

They knew that today, this young man was the main attraction.

In less than a year, Legion Ant Company had created a business miracle. This miracle would become a legendary tale in the business world.

Now, Legion Ant Company was like a ship charging through a fixed market landscape, and Chen Mo was the helmsman behind this giant vessel.

If not for the facts right before their eyes, they would never have connected the Chairman of Legion Ant Company with the amiable young man in front of the cameras.

“Chen Mo has donated twenty million to the school for construction. We will use this money to create better learning conditions for all students. Additionally, Legion Ant Company has established the Ant Scholarship at Binhai University to reward and assist students with outstanding academic performance and financial difficulties. Let’s give our warmest applause to thank Senior Chen Mo and Legion Ant Company.”

A joyful Qiu Guofeng clapped continuously, and the applause from below merged into a continuous roar, with cheers frequently rising.

Below the stage, Li Ruoxi glanced around before smiling and leaning close to Xiaoyu’s ear.

“Xiaoyu, do you feel proud? Your man is so impressive?”

“Watch the ceremony now, stop fooling around,” Xiaoyu said, her ears turning red as she pushed Li Ruoxi away. She continued clapping, but her gaze toward Chen Mo was tender.

“I can tell from your eyes—you’ve fallen for him,” Li Ruoxi leaned in again. “Should I say he’s lucky, or are you the lucky one?”

“I’m the lucky one,” Xiaoyu replied with a smile.

“You certainly are lucky,” Li Ruoxi teased. “Look at those girls with their infatuated stares. You better guard your man well, don’t let him get snatched away.”

“This isn’t the time to talk about that,” Xiaoyu said helplessly to Li Ruoxi.

The applause came in waves, with many people cheering. Especially from Chen Mo’s college and class, the applause was the most intense, and some were already shouting loudly.

“Senior, you’re so handsome!”

“Senior, I love you!”

…

Amid the lasting applause, numerous shouts from female students could be heard. Soon, the shouts merged into a chorus, leaving Chen Mo on stage both amused and embarrassed.

Amid the clapping and cheering, Chen Mo handed the oversized check to Qiu Guofeng. Reporters below the stage aimed their cameras at the handover, snapping photos furiously.

After the donation was completed, Qiu Guofeng spoke once more.

“Next, your senior Chen Mo will give a speech. This is your senior’s first speech—let’s welcome him with applause.”

Amid the enthusiastic applause, Qiu Guofeng stepped down cheerfully, leaving the stage to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo looked at the sea of faces below, gathered his courage, and walked up to the small lectern with the microphone. This was his first speech, and he had been overconfident yesterday, not preparing any notes. Now, he had no choice but to wing it.

The moment he stood at the lectern, all the applause in the audience stopped. Countless pairs of eyes, filled with anticipation and admiration, fixed on Chen Mo.

Every one of them was curious about what Chen Mo would say to them.