After Gu Bai finished his self-introduction, Bai Yansong, as the host, immediately cooperated by asking: "Chairman Gu, I wonder if you, at the young age of 20, carrying so many titles, ever feel any pressure?"
Listening to Bai Yansong's question, Gu Bai replied with a smile: "As Teacher Bai Yansong mentioned, I'm only 20. At this age, it's typical to be fearless, so how could there be any pressure?
Compared to those titles, it's the title of Top Ten Young Leaders that truly makes me feel the pressure."
Seeing Gu Bai respond so cooperatively to his question, Bai Yansong felt a wave of relief. He feared that such a successful young leader might be rebellious, and even if he showed no respect, Bai couldn't say much. After all, hosting mishaps are numerous, and for hosts like them, reading the situation and speaking artfully in front of the public is essential.
"Why don't you explain to everyone where this pressure comes from, Chairman Gu?"
Holding the microphone, Gu Bai's gaze shifted from Bai Yansong's face to the general audience.
"This honor is indeed heavy. I think not only me, but anyone receiving this honor would feel pressured.
Moreover, there should be quite a few people who genuinely feel that I'm unworthy of this title, right?"
"Just yesterday, I was questioning myself, why am I qualified to hold this trophy? There are too many outstanding young people compared to me — soldiers giving up their prime youth to guard the borders of our country, firefighters risking their lives to protect others in peaceful cities, as well as police officers, doctors, teachers, and many others. Who among them is not more outstanding than me?
Out of shame, I even thought about rejecting this honor.
But just today, an elder told me that with great power comes great responsibility, and honor is just a superficial manifestation, which means nothing.
It was because of these words that I decided to accept this honor."
"Perhaps today, I am unworthy of this honor, but I believe, with its guidance, I will truly become a benchmark for young people in Hua Country!"
As soon as he finished speaking, applause erupted once again in the venue.
Meanwhile, in front of the live broadcast screen, comments flooded in.
"You are worthy! I say you're worthy, so you are!"
"Donating 2.25 billion, helping over a thousand hope primary schools, assisting countless impoverished students. Just for this, you are worthy!"
"He's definitely worthy!"
Everyone knew Gu Bai was being modest, but his words indeed shut down many critics wanting to take advantage, as even he claimed to be unworthy. What more do you want?
If you're going to criticize further, go criticize those bigwigs who awarded him this honor.
But these critics probably don't have the guts anymore.
Offstage, Elder Xun and Elder Tu looked at the eloquently speaking Gu Bai on stage, exchanging a smile.
"This kid, using retreat as advancement is indeed a good move. Knowing he can't satisfy everyone, he directly shifts the pressure to the official ceremony. He's a clever one."
Listening to Elder Xun's praise, Elder Tu first nodded in agreement, then shook his head and said: "It's still not enough. When I was his age, I wanted to grasp everything. This kid is smart, yes, but I'm still not quite satisfied."
"Don't rush, it's still continuing."
Hai Xia: "I believe many people want to know Chairman Gu's experience in philanthropy, and the Qian Shenggen's Torch Project initiated by Chairman Gu shares the same name as the elderly recipient of the Touching Hua Country Award, Qian Shenggen. Is there any secret behind this? Can President Gu share more with us?"
"Actually, there's nothing much to introduce about the philanthropy journey. What matters in charity is the outcome, not the process. I believe, like me, everyone hopes that more impoverished students can receive the same education as regular students.
As for narrating the process for attention, it's unnecessary."
"As for Elder Qian Shenggen, I met him several months ago when he was still unknown due to some special circumstances. The reason I decided to devote myself to philanthropy was also because I was inspired by him.
The spirit of Qian Shenggen's Torch Project is the spirit of Elder Qian Shenggen.
I once heard a saying: We cannot resist the tide, but we will always remember the lighthouse.
Poverty cannot be changed overnight, but it is precisely because of lighthouses like Elder Qian Shenggen, who sacrifices his own life to illuminate others, that philanthropy in Hua Country continues to improve.
The contribution of Elder Qian Shenggen in philanthropy is the eternal lighthouse for all of us in charity, and that's the reason I added his name to the Torch Project."
Standing beside Gu Bai, Bai Yansong could clearly feel the sincerity emanating from Gu Bai.
"What a wonderful saying: We cannot resist the tide, but we will always remember the lighthouse!
I believe after today, Chairman Gu, you will also become a lighthouse in the hearts of young people in Hua Country. The title of young leader is indeed heavy, but I believe you deserve it!"
Gu Bai's awarding time was set for 10 minutes, and to extend the duration, Bai Yansong continued asking: "The Qian Shenggen Torch Project is already halfway through. Does Chairman Gu have any new philanthropic goals?"
Gu Bai nodded slightly.
"The 1000 hope primary schools are just the foundational charitable goal of the Qian Shenggen's Torch Project. Now, with construction companies working around the clock, it's gradually nearing completion.
However, as the project progresses, our Charity Foundation has realized that the 1000 hope primary schools are far from altering the current situation of impoverished students. Therefore, on January 1st of this year, the Black Swan Charity Foundation held an online meeting.
The meeting finally set a new goal.
This year, the Qian Shenggen's Torch Project 2.0 officially starts. The details of the 2.0 plan are still being drafted, but the basic project goal has been confirmed: to increase the originally planned 1000 hope primary schools to 3000, and each primary school will be built to the quality of urban schools, and the Foundation will collaborate with governments nationwide to provide subsidies to more impoverished student families.
As the Director of the Black Swan Charity Foundation, I am personally investing another 10 billion to fund the project."
After Gu Bai finished speaking, the venue fell completely silent.
Even the two hosts standing next to Gu Bai didn't dare utter a word.
The number 10 billion was just too astonishing.
A simple number might seem insignificant, but upon reflection, the magnitude of this fund becomes evident.
A 100 RMB note weighs about 1.15 grams; from this, we calculate that 10,000 RMB weighs about 115 grams, 1 billion RMB weighs over a ton, and its volume is approximately 1.19 cubic meters; 10 billion is over 100 tons.
Anyone with 10 billion RMB could live the most luxurious life in the world and might never spend it all, yet Gu Bai quietly announced donating it all to charity.
At that moment, what everyone thought of was not how generous Gu Bai was, but how much money he actually had. How did a 20-year-old young man come up with capital amounting to 10 billion?
In this serene scene, someone lightly clapped their hands, followed by overwhelming applause like thunder.
The live broadcast's comment section instantly covered the entire screen.
"Flood the chat with fairness for the brothers!"
"10 billion! 10 billion indeed! Why does it feel like Gu Bai said it as easily as 100 bucks?"
"Ha, just a publicity stunt."
"Ridiculous, let that moron die of envy. Do you know what this occasion is? If spoken, it would definitely be acted upon; does that moron think Gu Bai is as idiotic as he is?"
Inside the venue, Yan Shen, who had been accompanying Jin Shulin, watched Gu Bai on stage, with her beautiful eyes reveling in a myriad of emotions, deeply impacted by today's Gu Bai.
Jin Shulin glanced at Yan Shen and smiled, "If you really like him, go after him. Gu Bai is a good kid, wealthy and powerful yet genuinely dedicated to charity; this alone shows his character."
Hearing Jin Shulin's words, Yan Shen couldn't help but blush slightly, forcing herself to respond in a normal tone, "Principal, what are you talking about? I'm just surprised he would go without money.
Besides, with that much wealth, wouldn't he already have many girls around him?"
Jin Shulin shook his head helplessly at the stubborn Yan Shen.
"Don't fool me, I can see the way you look at Gu Bai is different. Several male teachers from the volunteer teaching program stayed because of you, yet you weren't moved at all.
But I see a light in Gu Bai's eyes when he looks at you.
As for whether Gu Bai lacks girls around him, that's certain, but I believe you have an edge over most girls, not just because of your looks, but also because your heart is purer than most."
After saying this, Jin Shulin didn't continue the conversation, and Yan Shen, still somewhat absent-minded, kept her eyes on Gu Bai at the center of the stage and couldn't help but pull out her phone and open the photo album.
In the photo album was a photo of Gu Bai standing gently amongst children.
When the applause ceased, Elder Tu, who had been silent, turned to Elder Xun and conceded.
"I always thought that kid was smart and smooth, but now it seems I was wrong. He's stronger than any young person I know; 10 billion is a figure that even us old geezers with one foot in the grave couldn't resist, yet he donated it so easily. How many young people could do that?"
"That's why I favor him."
Without turning his head, Elder Xun nodded towards Gu Bai on stage.
If Gu Bai knew that these two elders thought of him as such a great person, he would surely refute it from the bottom of his heart.
This 10 billion wasn't something he wished to keep; the Black Swan Group expanded so fast that 20 billion was already insufficient, but this 10 billion was a charity fund provided by the system, unattainable for anything but charity use.
If he didn't complete the task and earn the system reward, he'd be like those apparent tycoons who, except for fixed assets, couldn't pull out much cash.
On stage, Bai Yansong collected his shocked emotions and said to Gu Bai, "I believe, with Chairman Gu's leadership, Hua Country's charity can certainly reach greater heights!"
Previously, Gu Bai was just a participant in the charity sector, but now Bai Yansong outright acclaimed Gu Bai as the leader of Hua Country's charity. Although it seemed similar, the real implications were worlds apart.
But after these words, not only did everyone in the venue, but even the audience watching the live stream felt it was rightfully so.
Gu Bai's award speech was nearly over, and finally, Hai Xia posed the last question.
"Does Chairman Gu, as a young leader, have anything to say to the youth of Hua Country?"
Gu Bai tightened his grip slightly on the microphone in his hand.
"As I always say, I don't have the right to tell others what to do.
However, some time ago, while helping an orphaned child in Xuyong County, she told me that she would repay me when she grew up. At that time, I didn't know how to respond; I didn't help her for the sake of repayment.
Until I returned to Shanghai and, by chance, saw a sentence. Today, I take this opportunity to tell that child and all the young people who love this nation.
May our youth protect the blooming Huaxia!
I hope that, for every Hope School our Black Swan Charity Fund establishes, this sentence can become the school motto."
After speaking, Gu Bai gently placed the microphone back on the stand, bowed slightly to the audience, and turned to walk off the stage.
Perhaps Gu Bai isn't a good person, perhaps his private morals are corrupted.
Yet ever since he obtained the system, every action he has taken has been without shame to the nation.
There may be criticisms calling him hypocritical in the future, but after today, he no longer cares.
In the live broadcast comments, praise for Gu Bai surged like a tide once more.
"Nothing more to say, a lifelong fan."
"Someone calls Gu Bai husband, Principal Gu, but after the Hua Country celebration, I think no title surpasses simply calling him Principal Gu."
"Principal Gu Forever!"
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