Reborn in the 1980s: I became a stepmother in the 1980s

Part 151 Familiar Voice

Lin Sisi's lips twitched, a telltale sign of her habitual embarrassment surfacing again. She withdrew her gaze, looking down below the stage, and with an air of indifference, she casually let slip a fluent stream of English:

"Dear leaders, dear parents, and classmates, good morning everyone! Sincere thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to participate in this event."

As her words fell, the room plunged into a deathly silence. Lin Sisi's earlier self-introduction now seemed remarkably mundane.

Yet, these were trivialities. What truly mattered was her effortless fluency in English, the intonation, and the calm demeanor that accompanied it, as if this language came naturally to her.

Even those present who couldn't understand English could sense that the girl before them was undoubtedly a linguistic prodigy.

Not everyone was unfamiliar with foreign language classes, but few could speak with such fluency. Her voice was melodious, her Mandarin flawless, and the emotional nuances of her words resonated deeply.

This was a true speech, not a stilted recitation.

The audience was stunned.

Mrs. Zheng's mouth fell open in disbelief. "Si Nian is this good at English?"

She knew Si Nian was academically excellent, but she hadn't imagined it was to this extent. Fu's father beside her was equally astonished. Just moments ago, he had thought Lin Sisi was impressive, but now, hearing Si Nian, he realized the true difference between them.

Fu Yang stared blankly at Si Nian. He had always regarded her as a decorative vase, good for nothing. Despite hearing about her good grades, he had dismissed it. He had never seen any brilliance in Si Nian beyond her beauty. It was only after she left that he realized she had been shining all along. He had simply chosen not to see it.

Now, all eyes were fixed on Si Nian. If a woman had only beauty, it was a dead end. But if she had both beauty and talent, it was a winning hand. Not only were the spectators stunned, even the director was dumbfounded.

Is this the ace up Manager Chen's sleeve?

Lin Sisi was completely bewildered the moment she heard Si Nian speak.

In her previous life, Lin Sisi had heard Si Nian give speeches, but those were meticulously prepared, rehearsed countless times in private. Even then, Si Nian wasn't as impressive, and despite any achievements, she was at most just a bit better than Lin Sisi herself. Lin Sisi knew there was a gap between them, but she always believed that with a little more effort, she could catch up to Si Nian, maybe even surpass her.

But the moment Si Nian started speaking now, Lin Sisi realized that the gap between them had silently grown into an insurmountable chasm. Even if she were given another ten years, Lin Sisi couldn't guarantee she could bridge it.

Her earlier confidence was completely shattered by Si Nian, leaving her mind blank. When it was her turn to speak, she remained stunned and speechless for what seemed like an eternity.

After the initial shock from the audience, their gazes turned towards her. Seeing her silent for so long, they couldn't help but exchange confused whispers:

"What's wrong with her?"

"Why isn't she saying anything?"

"Did she forget her lines?"

"She doesn't seem like she came here to give a speech."

Lin Sisi was nudged back to reality by the host standing beside her. She lifted her head and noticed the audience's puzzled looks and the murmurs circulating about her.

Feeling flustered, she looked instinctively at the Fu family's expressions. Indeed, they were frowning at her.

Lin Sisi hurriedly tried to speak but faltered due to her nervousness, "II..."

The audience fell into a deathly silence once again, not out of surprise this time, but out of awkwardness. The principal's face, which had just been grinning broadly moments ago, turned green with disbelief as he looked at Lin Sisi. He couldn't fathom what had happened—she was fine just a moment ago, how could she forget her lines now?

Seeing the principal's cold gaze directed at her, he shivered and quickly signaled to the host. The host promptly handed the microphone to Si Nian.

Unfazed by Lin Sisi's stumble, Si Nian gracefully picked up the speech that Lin Sisi hadn't practiced. Her voice was like musical notes on a piano—soft and melodious, lingering and enchanting. It reverberated throughout the entire school field.

Meanwhile, at the back door of the school cafeteria, a large truck was parked. Zhou Yue Shen, dressed in a gray vest, bit a cigarette as he stepped down from the truck and opened the rear door. Lin Xiao stepped forward and unloaded the meat. The cafeteria workers rushed forward.

"Thank goodness you're here. We were afraid we wouldn't make it in time. There's been an announcement from above today that some leaders are coming and they want high-quality goods," the newcomer said, sounding relieved.

Yu Dong, curious, asked, "Are the leaders coming to inspect the school?"

"Not exactly. There's an event at the school today with many leaders attending. They've even invited a radio host from our city to give a speech! It's quite lively. You wouldn't believe it! If I didn't have to cook, I'd go listen myself. They say she's a beautiful radio host. I've only heard their voices on the radio before," the newcomer replied.

Yu Dong's eyes widened in surprise, "A radio host?" He recalled Fu Qianqian mentioning at the boss's wedding banquet that both she and her sister-in-law were radio hosts. Could it be such a coincidence?

Immediately, Yu Dong's mind raced, and he turned to give Zhou Yueshen, who stood nearby smoking with a cold expression, a scrutinizing look.

Inner thoughts: Should I go, should I go, should I go? Ah ba ah ba ah ba.

While Lin Xiao, who was oblivious to their conversation, finished unloading the goods and prepared to get into the truck, Yu Dong hurried over. "Lin Ge, you've been driving all morning and must be tired. Let me help you out."

Lin Xiao was surprised, "You can drive?"

Yu Dong replied, "Of course I can. I handle business, so you all wouldn't know that I can drive."

With that, he quickly climbed into the driver's seat, afraid they might be late and miss something.

Lin Xiao glanced at Zhou Yueshen subconsciously. Seeing him silent, Lin Xiao took a seat in the back.

Zhou Yueshen got into the passenger seat, the smoke swirling around his fingertips as he rested his hand on the window. The veins on the back of his hand were prominent, his fingers long and slender.

As soon as everyone was aboard, Yu Dong hit the gas and drove towards the school gate.