Even the three roommates from Dorm 208 — Marcus, Derek, and Kevin — rarely put away their playful smiles, ignited by the dean's words.
Marcus couldn't help but whisper to the two beside him, "Damn, Dean Wilson really talks with enthusiasm!"
Then they began searching for Ethan's figure again.
Damn, the school anniversary and he didn't even show up?
"Huh? Where's this guy?" Kevin craned his neck, "The spot next to me is still saved for him!"
"Yeah, such an important school anniversary — where is he?" Derek also looked puzzled. "We didn't see him just now in the dorm."
Marcus replied mischievously, "Could it be that after eating, he's currently in the bathroom undergoing the ultimate training of the 'Jet Warrior'?"
The three of them exchanged winking glances, stifling mischievous grins, their eyes still darting among the crowd of familiar figures.
At that moment, the stage lights changed again.
Two senior students from the broadcasting and communications major, dressed in elegant attire and with outstanding charisma, stepped forward on stage.
With clear pronunciation and passionate voices, they reviewed the school's glorious journey and expressed a warm welcome to the new students, using beautiful language and full of emotion.
"A century-old institution, passed down through generations; the power of youth gathers here!" The female host's voice was clear and passionate. "On this occasion of double happiness, we believe that every student at NYU will write their own brilliant chapter here!"
The male host immediately picked up the conversation, his voice loud and full of strength: "And today, we are honored to have invited a special freshman representative. He is one of the outstanding freshmen of our class of 2014, carrying the dreams and responsibilities of the new NYU cohort! Next—"
He deliberately paused, his gaze sweeping over the audience, raised his voice, and announced clearly: "Let us give the warmest applause as we invite the 2014 freshman representative, Ethan, to come on stage and deliver a speech!"
"Pfft——!!!"
The students in the front row only felt a chill down their backs!
The three roommates from Dorm 208 — Marcus, Derek, and Kevin — were all simultaneously spraying the water they'd just swallowed!
Fortunately, even if they had to bow their heads, the students in the front row would have suffered undeserved disaster!
Damn, they'd thought he'd gone to have diarrhea, but it turns out he's actually giving a speech on stage.
As soon as the two hosts mentioned Ethan's name, the audience erupted in an uproar, whispering among themselves.
Among the students of a certain school, a figure stood out even in the dense crowd.
Ashley stood tall and upright, with a cool and refined aura, like a solitary, secluded orchid in the world.
When Ethan's name came from the stage, her calm eyes lifted slightly toward the depths of the stage where the lights gathered. A barely noticeable understanding flashed in her gaze, but her face remained calm and unruffled, seemingly unsurprised.
Her roommates reacted completely differently.
"Wow! Ethan! Is it the Ethan we know? That handsome guy?" Grace excitedly grabbed Sophie's arm, her eyes instantly sparkling like stars, turning into a lovestruck girl.
"Of course it is! Oh my god! He was actually the freshman representative! That's incredible!" Sophie excitedly stood on tiptoe and stared hard at the stage. "So handsome! His speech must be super cool too! But thinking about it, it makes sense — he's the top scholar!"
Only another roommate, Rachel, instantly looked very grim.
She stared intently toward the stage, lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes a complex mix of jealousy, disdain, and a hint of regret.
During the last military training, she misunderstood Ethan for hitting on Ashley and spoke harshly, but Ashley harshly scolded her and ignored her.
This filled her with an inexplicable hostility toward Ethan.
Now, hearing that Ethan had become the most prestigious freshman representative, her resentment surged even stronger, making her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.
In another formation, Taylor was also grinning as she looked at Ethan on stage.
At this moment of intense attention and heated discussion, a tall figure calmly stepped onto the stage.
The spotlight instantly focused on him, illuminating his youthful yet unusually composed face.
It was Ethan!
Ethan stood in front of the microphone, scanning the dark crowd below who seemed endless.
Tens of thousands of eyes focused on him as if they were tangible.
He had thought he would be a bit nervous, his heart racing, and his palms sweating.
But at this moment, a strange calm enveloped him, as if he were standing at the center of a storm, yet his heart remained calm and unruffled.
He calmly adjusted the microphone stand in front of him upward to make the height more appropriate, then spoke clearly and steadily into the microphone: "Hello everyone, my name is Ethan."
Just this one opening remark made Dean Wilson, who was sitting in the front row VIP seats, feel a sudden jolt in his heart!
A sense of foreboding instantly gripped him!
He knew this student all too well!
The conversation in the office on the day of registration made him deeply appreciate Ethan's free-spiritedness and unrestrained personality.
To be safe, just before the celebration began, he had personally reviewed Ethan's prepared speech and confirmed it was a solid official template.
But now... Ethan stood there empty-handed — where could he possibly have any drafts?
Dean Wilson felt his blood pressure start to spike, and sweat broke out on his back.
He was completely stunned!
Ethan's voice continued to echo above the field, carrying an almost blunt honesty: "As usual, I should first give a detailed self-introduction, then thank all the leaders and teachers for their guidance and trust, and finally express how honored and excited it is to stand here as a representative of the freshmen."
He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the audience, and a faint, self-mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "It's an honor, indeed. But excited? Happy?"
He shook his head and said firmly, "Sorry, I really can't feel happy at all. Because there are simply too many students and teachers present today. And as for me, actually, ..."
He paused again, seemingly searching for the most precise word, then clearly uttered two words: "Social anxiety."
Social anxiety?
These two words were like stones dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring waves of shock and doubt among the dense crowd below.
Countless young faces were filled with confusion and curiosity.
This term is too unfamiliar!
What does that mean?
Ethan seemed to anticipate everyone's reaction and then explained, "The term 'social anxiety' is a precise term I came up with based on my own personality. The full name I call it is 'social anxiety disorder.'"
After a brief silence, the entire field erupted into deafening laughter!
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