Volume 2 Chapter 53
by Need_More_SleepVolume 2 + Chapter 53: The Debate Concludes
“Do you know? If these funds were saved, they could be used to improve the school’s infrastructure and accomplish many things beneficial to everyone. Yet now they’re being wasted on them. Students, are you truly willing to accept this?”
“Now I see! Those club presidents whose clubs were abolished are absolutely disgraceful! They’re taking up everyone’s resources without doing anything meaningful!”
“They deserved to be shut down!”
“Exactly!”
Voices of agreement rose from the audience one after another.
Hearing the surrounding accusations, the former club presidents whose organizations had been abolished lowered their heads in shame.
“This is bad… after what Bai Yuxuan just said, everyone has completely sided with him!” Ning Caiwei said anxiously to Wang Qian beside her.
“Tch… that Bai Yuxuan, he actually exploited the mindset of those students who aren’t in any clubs!” Wang Qian glared at Bai Yuxuan, who wore a cold, calculating smile.
“Exploited? What do you mean?”
“Originally, the issue of club abolishment had nothing to do with non-club students. They were neutral, with no bias toward either the student council or the clubs. But after Bai Yuxuan framed it like that, those abolished clubs suddenly became the culprits harming their personal interests.”
“And then Bai Yuxuan steps forward, transforming himself into a diligent student council president defending everyone’s rights. Naturally, those non-club students acting as judges will side with him!” Ning Caiwei followed up, finally understanding.
“That’s Bai Yuxuan for you, effortlessly playing with others in the palm of his hand.”
“Then what do we do? Think of something quickly!”
“This is a duel between Bai Yuxuan and Qianxue. Whatever we do won’t matter. The only thing we can do now… is trust her.”
“Hmph.”
Bai Yuxuan let out a cold laugh as she looked toward Ouyang Qianxue.
(Let’s see how you deal with this move of mine.)
(What do I do… what do I do…)
Panic surged in Ouyang Qianxue’s heart. Ever since Bai Yuxuan finished speaking, the audience had completely turned one-sided, condemning the abolished clubs for wasting public resources. If he didn’t turn things around, he would definitely lose.
“Student Ouyang?” the faculty advisor prompted gently.
“Yes!”
“According to the debate rules, your remaining time is limited.”
At that moment, Ouyang Qianxue bit down hard on his finger. A sharp pain shot through him, followed by the faint metallic taste of blood.
“…Good. I’ve calmed down.”
He steadied himself and began organizing his thoughts, carefully recalling Bai Yuxuan’s arguments, searching for flaws. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
“First, I acknowledge that there has indeed been wasteful spending, that is a fault, and I do not deny it. However, that responsibility lies with the club management, not with every member. Moreover, such faults do not justify dissolving entire clubs. And now that the previous presidents have stepped down, I believe the new presidents will learn from this incident.”
“That’s merely your wishful thinking. Even if the new presidents improve, how do you explain those clubs that contribute nothing? They exploit the club system, take school funds, and indulge themselves without producing results!”
“It’s true that some clubs misuse funds for personal gain, but we cannot generalize from a few cases. I have investigated this, and such behavior exists only in a minority of clubs. Furthermore, the amount of funds involved is far from what President Bai claims, it’s nowhere near enough to affect students’ campus lives. Isn’t that right, Principal?”
Ouyang Qianxue turned to the principal in the audience.
“That’s correct,” the principal replied. “Each year, the school allocates a portion of its budget specifically for club activities. These expenditures do not affect students’ normal campus life.”
“However, any remaining funds are used for class activity budgets, sports meets, and prizes for various competitions.”
“On that point, President Bai is correct.”
With that, the principal sat back down.
At this moment, a faint smile appeared on Ouyang Qianxue’s face, his goal had been achieved. Thanks to the principal’s words, the hostility among the audience toward the abolished clubs visibly diminished.
“Regardless, avoiding waste is always a good thing. And those clubs engage in meaningless activities, reading manga, playing mobile games, even a so-called ‘snack club’ whose activity is simply eating junk food!”
“You’re mistaken, President Bai.”
Ouyang Qianxue spoke firmly.
“I believe the greatest value of club activities does not lie in their immediate practical benefits, but in allowing students to express their individuality, to cultivate creativity. And most importantly, they bring joy, helping to relieve the immense pressure of academic life.”
“How ridiculous. Individuality? Joy? Relieving stress? What use is any of that?”
“It is absolutely meaningful!”
Ouyang Qianxue’s voice rang with unwavering conviction.
“Sakura Academy has always valued the well-rounded development of its students, and mental well-being is the most crucial part of that. If a person focuses only on what is deemed ‘meaningful,’ how are they any different from a machine? And humans are not machines, the human heart is not made of steel. Living such a monotonous life will eventually break a person.”
At this point, Ouyang Qianxue glanced at Bai Yuxuan. Though her face remained expressionless, her hand trembled ever so slightly. He remembered what she had once said on her birthday, that from childhood, her father had imposed strict expectations, forbidding anything unrelated to becoming a “perfect heir.”
“I feel that President Ouyang’s words are somewhat absolute. Excellence itself can also bring joy…”
“Perhaps others see such a person as exceptional, because they’ve invested far more time and effort than anyone else. But only that person knows the truth, never having done a single thing they truly love is unbearably painful… unbearably empty.”
“And because of that emptiness, they push themselves even harder, afraid to stop, afraid to face the fact that they’ve never once followed their own heart… afraid to face their own loneliness.”
At these words, Bai Yuxuan froze completely.
“Student Bai Yuxuan? Would you like to respond to President Ouyang’s argument?” the advisor prompted after a long silence.
But Bai Yuxuan stood there as if entranced, unable to utter a single word.
“…I’m tired today.”
After a long while, she finally spoke in a cold, distant tone.
“Ouyang Qianxue can say whatever she wants. I’ve already said everything I needed to. I’m leaving to rest.”
With that, Bai Yuxuan turned and walked straight off the stage, leaving the auditorium behind.
“Huh? Bai Yuxuan… said he’s tired?”
“He seemed a bit off today…”
“Yeah… normally he wouldn’t stop until he completely crushed his opponent!”
Watching her departing figure, the students began whispering among themselves in confusion.
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