Chapter 107: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

The events that took place in the hotel lobby quickly spread, and the bet between the Huaguo and M Nation teams naturally became known to the public. Although the bet was made on a whim, it wasn’t a reckless decision by Tang Xun. Even if Moore’s side hadn’t contacted the official media, the Huaguo team would have pushed for coverage.

As expected, once the media announced the bet, it caused not just an uproar among the people of Huaguo and M Nation but also excitement worldwide. With several days left before the official start of the competition, the global audience, already intrigued by the tech competition, was eager for some pre-match excitement. The live broadcasts of the arrival of contestants from various countries weren’t enough to satisfy the audience’s anticipation. They craved something more thrilling.

Unsurprisingly, when news of the bet broke, the forums and live chatrooms set up for the global audience by the tech competition organizers became incredibly lively.

Naturally, the citizens of Huaguo and M Nation were the most excited about the bet.

On the M Nation side:

“Oh, the Huaguo team is being way too cocky! Do they not remember that they were eliminated in the first round last time?”

“So arrogant. Sure, Huaguo’s tech has improved over the years, but they still have a long way to go. They’re good at making parts, but their core tech and chips are still a mess. Where do they get the confidence to make such a bold statement? The facts are clear.”

“Actually, this bet is a good thing. If they lose, they’ll exit the competition, which would save the organizers time and resources. Isn’t that great? Haha.”

“Okay, don’t get too excited just yet. Use your brain before you speak. This is a global forum; the whole world is watching. Don’t embarrass yourself if you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The fact that the Huaguo team is willing to make such a heavy bet suggests they must be at least 80% confident in their chances. Otherwise, are you calling them idiots?”

“This comment is spot on. Those who are dismissive probably don’t follow international news. Do you guys know about the chip ID card that Huaguo introduced last year? Do you understand the technology behind it and how advanced it is?”

“And that beauty serum… The introduction of these two products signifies a qualitative leap in Huaguo’s tech and medical fields. Laughing at others without understanding the situation is why people on international sites often say our country is arrogant and self-centered.”

“This bet is not to be underestimated. Everyone should be cautious and not too optimistic.”

On the Huaguo side:

“Wow, Tang Xun is so bold! That was badass!”

“What’s this about rooms being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis? It’s obviously a deliberate move to give our team a hard time. Hah, as if we can’t see through it. The organizers are really ‘considerate.'”

“As satisfying as this is, isn’t the bet a bit too rash? What if we lose? Wouldn’t that mean we really have to exit the competition?”

“They say a real man can adapt to circumstances. Even though it’s infuriating, this seems too risky. It might be better to swallow our pride for now and strike back after we’ve won the competition. Wouldn’t that be more stable and effective?”

“Are you sure that holding back would be better? Did you watch the full video? The M Nation team was clearly provoking us. If we backed down now, how could we maintain our dignity on the international stage? This isn’t just some internal squabble; it’s being broadcast to the entire world!”

“The bet may have been impulsive, but we absolutely can’t just take this lying down. And since Tang Xun had the guts to say what he did, he must be confident.”

“Exactly. Even if we lose, so what? We can take the loss. Isn’t science and technology all about constant effort and climbing higher? As long as we keep trying, there will be a day when we stand at the forefront of the world. What do a couple of competitions matter in the grand scheme?”

“Yes, our nation has a heritage spanning thousands of years. The one thing we’re not short on is patience and perseverance. No matter what decisions our team makes, I’ll support them!”

“We support this! If we don’t even have this much backbone, how will the world see us?”

“Even if we lose, it will be an honorable defeat!”

Both sides, in M Nation and Hua Nation, were highly energized.

There were both pessimistic and optimistic voices in the discussions. In today’s era of widespread education, people in different countries are no longer as ignorant as they were during the feudal period. While many people still follow official narratives, a significant portion can think critically and make their own judgments. These people won’t blindly boast; they analyze and express their opinions from a more balanced perspective.

After all, those who post on this forum, which gathers people from over two hundred countries worldwide, tend to be well-educated.

While many in Hua Nation felt the bet was impulsive and the stakes too high, criticizing their own country in front of the world was out of the question.

So, most comments were supportive and positive.

Whatever the case, it was crucial to show strength first. If too many people were pessimistic, it might add pressure on the team and cause them to make mistakes. Things had already reached this point, so why not rally behind them? They needed to trust their team. Worst case scenario, they lose and get mocked—nothing new. Hua Nation’s technology has long lagged behind other countries; that’s a reality they’ve always faced.

And anyway, after becoming the butt of the joke in the first round of the inaugural tech competition, they didn’t have any reputation left to lose.

“Failure is the mother of success; if we lose, we’ll just try harder next time!”

With this mindset, many citizens of Hua Nation became much more relaxed. It’s like the saying goes: “barefooted people have nothing to lose.”

The online discussion about this bet was lively, and people from other countries were also buzzing with excitement. Things escalated to the point where various official and unofficial platforms started setting up betting pools, drawing in countless participants eager to place their wagers.

Of course, judging by the odds, it was clear that most people still favored the M Nation team.

The odds for the M Nation team were set at 1:2, while the odds for the Hua Nation team were 1:5.

When Fang Ziyang and the others heard about this, they couldn’t help but laugh.

“Bet, bet, bet! As the participants, how can we not have confidence in ourselves? 100,000! I’m betting 100,000!”

“Hahaha, 100,000 is too stingy. I’m betting 200,000! With 5:1 odds, that’s a million! I can buy a small apartment to rent out when I get back.”

“You’re all too cautious. I’m betting 500,000! After this, not only can I buy a large apartment, but I can also propose to my boyfriend.”

Everyone started calculating their savings and spending money. Those who were more cautious bet 100,000 or 200,000, while the bolder ones went all-in, wagering most of their savings. After over a year of training and guidance from Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun, their confidence was sky-high.

Given that the techniques Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun had taught were groundbreaking, even mastering just a fraction of them was enough to outshine many in the industry. The odds of winning this bet were very high.

Since everyone else was getting involved, Fang Ziyang naturally didn’t want to miss out either.

“I heard that these major platforms have big backers with plenty of funds, so they won’t renege on their payouts. I’ll just bet a casual 10 million. I’ll spread it across five platforms, 2 million each. That shouldn’t make the bookies too nervous, right?”

Fang Ziyang mused.

Tang Xun nodded. “That amount should fly under the radar. I’ll do the same.”

“Count me in too, but I’ll bet a bit less—half as much, 1 million on each platform…”

Jin Yu didn’t want to be left out, eagerly pulling out her bank card. She couldn’t miss out on such a great opportunity to make some spending money!

Xie Zheng and Rick exchanged glances: if their spouses were in, how could they lag behind? This was about supporting their partners’ “careers,” after all.

So, collectively, their bets amounted to 9 million per platform!

Everyone else: …And you call that flying under the radar?

Indeed, the world of the wealthy is something ordinary people can’t quite grasp; being friends with the rich often makes one feel rather inadequate.

Originally planning to casually bet a few hundred thousand, Professor Yu cleared his throat and quietly pulled out a card filled with his life savings.

“Since everyone is so confident, how can your professor miss out? With me cheering you on, I believe the championship is definitely ours. Now, tell me, do you all have confidence?”

His voice boomed with authority.

Everyone: …You’ve put your life savings on the line, how could we dare to lose?

Although the total amount of bets placed by everyone was quite substantial, let’s not forget that this bet was known worldwide, and the betting pools were open to people from all over the world. So in the grand scheme of things, their contributions weren’t particularly conspicuous.

Even though there were fewer people betting on the Hua Nation team, the amount of money they wagered was certainly significant.

Seeing the situation, the platforms accepting bets started to worry about potentially massive payouts. As a result, the odds for the Hua Nation team’s victory were soon adjusted from 1:5 to 1:3, causing quite a stir among the global audience.

It’s true, people often mock Hua Nation, but Hua Nation genuinely has a large population, and there’s no shortage of wealthy individuals! Hua Nation citizens are also famously thrifty, so in crucial moments like this, they really come through!

Fortunately, these were legitimate betting platforms with set limits on the amount one could wager; otherwise, the total sum would have reached an astronomical figure.

…

Amidst this lively atmosphere, the days leading up to the competition passed quickly, and before anyone knew it, the official opening day of the International Technology Competition had arrived.

The competition venue was reminiscent of an Olympic stadium, with architecture modeled after the ancient Roman Colosseum, capable of seating a full 100,000 spectators.

The first round of the competition focused on intrusion defense technology, with computers as the primary tools. The vast open area was filled with cables and outlets, resembling an outdoor, multifunctional classroom. (The competition venue would be reconfigured for each round based on the theme.)

Each section of the grandstand was equipped with large screens broadcasting the action, ensuring that spectators had a great viewing experience.

On the day of the competition, the opening ceremony was scheduled for 10 a.m., but spectators from various countries began arriving more than an hour early, reflecting their excitement and anticipation.

This enthusiasm was hardly surprising.

The technology competition had an age limit of 30 years for participants, and given the high stakes, all of the competitors were the crème de la crème of their respective countries.

Although tech experts are often stereotyped as balding, overweight, or plain, there are always exceptions, aren’t there? Every field has its stars, right?

As a result, it wasn’t surprising that there were quite a few highly capable, good-looking young talents among the participants, leading to something of a “tech star” effect.

The opening ceremony was set to begin at 10 a.m., but the live broadcast of the entire competition started well in advance. Once all the spectators were seated, the participating teams from various countries began to enter the arena in order.

This time, the event organizers didn’t dare pull any tricks. After all, with the whole world watching, even though Hua Nation is often ridiculed internationally, its standing in the global rankings is still quite high. If they placed Hua Nation too far back in the procession, it would be seen as a significant slight and would undoubtedly spark public outrage.

However, whether intentional or not, when it was Hua Nation’s turn to enter, the host’s introduction was particularly telling:

“Next to enter is the Hua Nation team, oh, this is one of the most closely watched teams in this competition… According to videos circulating online and official announcements, the Hua Nation team has made a bet with the M Nation team. The stakes of this bet are incredibly high. If the Hua Nation team fails to fulfill the terms of the bet, they will have to withdraw from the rest of the competition.”

“What a bold and brave wager! It seems the Hua Nation team is very confident this time. Let’s hope their abilities match their courage—let’s all stay tuned.”

Unlike the serious and formal style of domestic hosts in such official settings, the host here, hailing from a culture that values freedom and creativity, was more casual and humorous. However, while the host’s words and demeanor seemed light-hearted and amusing, it was not difficult to detect an undertone of condescension.

Except for the Hua Nation spectators, many people from other countries in the audience burst out laughing.

“These jerks are too much!” Jin Yu, who had a fiery temper, couldn’t help but express her anger out loud in the procession. The other team members clenched their fists tightly as well.

Meanwhile, Hua Nation’s online community, quick to pick up on the tone, was also buzzing with indignation:

“What does this host mean? Why does it feel like there’s a sarcastic undertone?”

“He’s speaking in reverse, putting our team on the spot and setting them up for failure.”

“Let them laugh now, but they seriously think our team is just a pushover? Tang Xun was part of the team that worked on the chip ID project—let them underestimate us at their peril.”

“To those who always say the grass is greener abroad, take a good look at this. See what kind of attitude you’re met with when you step outside your own country. Go ahead, keep kissing up to them…”

Hua Nation’s online community was fired up. When it comes to understanding the nuances of language, Hua Nation, known for having one of the most complex languages in the world, is second to none. The so-called “humor” of the competition’s host wasn’t lost on anyone.

Both the online and on-site Hua Nation audience, as well as the team members, were in a foul mood. However, in such a setting, they had to hold back and were determined to stay composed, silently steeling themselves for a strong performance in the competition.

So when reporters came forward with microphones to ask about the bet, the team members didn’t say much, maintaining an air of calm and detachment:

“As the beautiful host said, let’s all stay tuned.”

This seemingly calm statement was actually quite sharp, effectively shutting down the reporters who had prepared a series of probing questions. If the reporters continued to press the issue, it would come across as overly aggressive and would make the event organizers appear petty and mean-spirited in front of a global audience.

However, if they chose not to pursue it…

It would feel like a missed opportunity, leaving a sense of frustration!

One reporter, unwilling to let it go, scanned the crowd and, upon spotting Fang Ziyang, immediately brightened up and thrust the microphone in front of him:

“Young man, what do you think of the bet between your team and the M Nation team? How confident are you in your chances of winning? You’ve stated that the M Nation team will only advance as the tenth-place finisher—do you think this might be overly confident? Or do you believe your team has the ability to dominate all other teams with absolute strength?”

The questions were full of traps, designed to trip them up at every turn.

They didn’t know about Fang Ziyang’s reputation as a rich playboy back home. Seeing his youthful, harmless appearance, and estimating his age to be just in his teens, they assumed he was an easy target. A young participant like him probably had little experience dealing with the media and might easily say the wrong thing—perfect for manipulating!

What these reporters didn’t notice was the look of pity that the other members of the Hua Nation team directed at them when they handed the microphone to Fang Ziyang.

Fang Ziyang tilted his head. “You want my opinion?”

The reporters eagerly nodded, waiting for his response.

Then, they saw the young, pretty boy in front of them break into a smile, his eyes curving into crescent moons.

“Well, of course… He can be as strong as he likes; a breeze will still caress the hills. He can be as fierce as he likes; the bright moon will still shine over the river. No matter how vicious or evil he may be, my righteousness will remain unshaken. Just give it your best shot.“

The reporters looked puzzled: What did that mean?

“You don’t understand?” Fang Ziyang asked, feigning innocence, blinking his eyes as if he were completely unaware of what was wrong. “Or do I have to answer in English? But my English is really bad. The people you interviewed before didn’t seem to be speaking in English…”

By the end of his sentence, his tone was tinged with a bit of uncertainty and confusion, like a little bunny scared by a big bad wolf, looking pitifully vulnerable.

The reporters’ faces froze. Although English is the universal language, the rules of such a global event do not mandate the use of any specific language for communication. To show respect to all participating nations, interviewees are allowed to speak in their native languages, with the event organizers providing professional translators for live broadcasts.

Since Fang Ziyang had already said that his English wasn’t good—whether that was true or not—if they insisted on making him explain in English, it would clearly seem like they were deliberately making things difficult for him. But if they didn’t get to the bottom of what he meant… how could they continue with their questions when they didn’t even understand his initial response?

The reporters suddenly realized that the seemingly weak and harmless “soft little bunny” they had cornered might actually have some sharp teeth!

Meanwhile, Fang Ziyang, not giving the reporters a chance to recover, continued in a soft voice, “Well, let me explain… I think the English word for it is… um…”

He looked genuinely puzzled, like a student struggling with a difficult problem.

Tang Xun, seeing this, sighed and knocked on his brother’s head, chiding, “Not studying is terrible. See, now you’re embarrassing yourself!”

After reprimanding him, Tang Xun turned to the reporters with an apologetic smile, politely saying, “Sorry, but we need to prepare for the competition. Could we continue this interview after the event?”

With that, he signaled the team members to start getting ready. Everyone immediately complied, closing their eyes to rest.

Fang Ziyang, on the other hand, put on a look of deep sadness. Playing the youngest card, he began to sniffle dramatically in front of the reporters who had asked the question.

“I’m sorry, big brothers and sisters. I shouldn’t have answered your question with something you couldn’t understand. Next time you interview me, I’ll make sure to use English.”

“I really didn’t mean to say something you couldn’t understand. My English just isn’t that good, and I didn’t know how to express myself. I thought you had translators, but I didn’t expect that even they wouldn’t understand. I really, really didn’t do it on purpose. I’ll make sure to study hard when I get back and become a super smart person who can cooperate well in interviews, and I won’t be such a poor student anymore…”

The young man cried pitifully, with tears brimming in his eyes, looking utterly remorseful and guilty.

The reporters: …

What a pure, innocent act! They felt a shiver run down their spines and retreated hastily.

The other participants from various countries in the rest area looked at Fang Ziyang with weird expressions.

Fang Ziyang turned around, meeting their gazes, and blinked his eyes innocently.

“Hello, big brothers and sisters!”

Everyone shuddered and, in unison, scooted their seats a step away.

It seemed that the Hua Nation team had brought along… a rather peculiar little oddball.

Previous TOC Next