Godly Beggar

The science fair loomed just two days away, and the pressure was palpable. Petraling Jaya Secondary School's lab had become Jiang Han's second home, and it showed. The tables were strewn with notebooks, tools, and the prototype, which now hummed with newfound efficiency.

"This is it," Jiang Han said, his voice calm but resolute as he surveyed the scene. "We've got everything in place. All that's left is to polish the presentation."

Hui Qi nodded, already scribbling notes in her meticulous handwriting. Derek, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, tossing a pen into the air.

"Relax, Han," Derek said, grinning. "We've got this in the bag. No one's going to beat our renewable energy masterpiece."

Jiang Han raised an eyebrow. "Confidence is good, Derek. Overconfidence isn't."

"Fair enough," Derek replied, sitting upright. "Alright, let's hear your speech one more time."

Jiang Han stood before his teammates, a rough outline of their presentation written on the whiteboard behind him. He took a deep breath, letting the words flow naturally.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," he began, adopting a confident yet approachable tone. "Our project is more than just a concept—it's a solution. In a world grappling with energy crises, we present a renewable energy system that integrates solar and wind power with AI optimisation to maximise efficiency."

Hui Qi nodded approvingly, jotting down feedback as Jiang Han continued. Derek, however, raised a hand halfway through.

"Don't forget the bit about affordability," Derek said. "You know, how our design can be implemented on a small scale for underfunded communities."

"Good point," Jiang Han said, adding it to his notes. "Let's highlight that in the second section."

The three of them worked late into the night, fine-tuning their speech, practising transitions, and ensuring their delivery was seamless. By the time they called it a night, exhaustion hung in the air, but so did a sense of accomplishment.

"We're ready," Hui Qi said, closing her notebook with a satisfied smile.

Jiang Han nodded. "Ready as we'll ever be."

The morning of the science fair arrived, and the team arrived early to set up their booth. The auditorium was a hive of activity, with students from schools across Malayuna bustling about as they prepared their projects.

Jiang Han's eyes scanned the room, pausing when they landed on a familiar figure.

Chen Xun.

The prodigy stood near his team's booth, which featured an intricate display of cutting-edge biology research. When Chen noticed Jiang Han, he smirked, raising a hand in a casual wave.

"Fancy seeing you here," Chen said, strolling over. "Let me guess—renewable energy?"

Jiang Han smiled faintly. "You guessed right. And you? Some breakthrough in genetic engineering?"

Chen shrugged. "You know me—I like to keep things interesting. Let's just say my project might give yours a run for its money."

"We'll see," Jiang Han replied, his tone steady.

Chen's smirk widened. "Looking forward to it, Han. Don't disappoint me."

As Chen walked away, Derek appeared at Jiang Han's side, shaking his head.

"That guy," Derek muttered. "How do you deal with him?"

"By not letting him get in my head," Jiang Han said simply.

As the fair officially opened, students and judges wandered between booths, stopping to ask questions and evaluate the projects. Jiang Han's team fielded a steady stream of visitors, their well-rehearsed presentation earning nods of approval and intrigued smiles.

"What inspired you to create this system?" one judge asked, her pen poised over a clipboard.

Jiang Han answered smoothly, "We wanted to design something that wasn't just innovative but also practical—something that could make a real difference in communities facing energy shortages."

"And what challenges did you face during development?" the judge continued.

Hui Qi stepped in, her tone confident. "Balancing efficiency and affordability was a major challenge. We had to revise our design multiple times to ensure it met both criteria."

The judge nodded, clearly impressed.

As the day progressed, Jiang Han's confidence grew. The team's hard work was paying off, and their project was drawing significant attention.

But just as things seemed to be going smoothly, disaster struck.

During a live demonstration, the prototype's control panel suddenly shorted out, sparks flying as the system powered down.

"What happened?" Derek exclaimed, rushing to inspect the device.

"Probably a loose connection," Hui Qi said, her brow furrowed in frustration.

Jiang Han's mind raced. They couldn't afford to let this setback overshadow their efforts.

"Alright," he said, taking charge. "Hui Qi, check the wiring. Derek, stall the judges—keep them engaged while we fix this."

"Got it," Derek said, hurrying off to intercept the approaching panel.

Hui Qi worked quickly, her hands steady as she identified the issue. "Found it," she said after a tense few minutes. "A connection came loose during transport. Give me a minute to secure it."

True to her word, the prototype was back online just as the judges arrived. Jiang Han took a deep breath, masking his earlier panic with a confident smile.

"Apologies for the delay," he said smoothly. "We had a minor technical issue, but it's been resolved. Let me show you how it works."

The demonstration proceeded without further issues, and the judges seemed impressed despite the hiccup.

As the day wound down, the auditorium buzzed with anticipation for the announcement of the winners. Jiang Han's team gathered near the stage, their nerves palpable.

"Whatever happens, we did our best," Hui Qi said, her tone firm.

"Yeah," Derek added. "But it'd be nice to win."

The host stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand. "Thank you to all the participants for your hard work and innovation. The judges were truly impressed by the calibre of projects this year."

After a brief introduction, the host began announcing the winners.

Third place went to a team from Seladang City High School for their project on water purification.

Second place was awarded to Chen Xun's team, their genetic engineering research earned high praise.

"And now," the host said, pausing for dramatic effect, "the first-place prize goes to... Petraling Jaya Secondary School for their renewable energy integration system!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd as Jiang Han's team stepped onto the stage to accept their award. The trophy gleamed in the spotlight, a symbol of their perseverance and teamwork.

As the fair concluded, Jiang Han and his teammates lingered by their booth, basking in the glow of their victory.

"We did it," Hui Qi said, her voice filled with pride.

"No," Jiang Han replied, smiling. "We earned it."

Derek laughed, holding up the trophy. "Pizza's on you, Han. A deal's a deal."

Jiang Han rolled his eyes but couldn't help grinning.

From the corner of his eye, he spotted Chen Xun watching them. The prodigy gave a small nod before turning to leave, his expression unreadable.

Later that evening, as Jiang Han walked home, the system chimed softly in his mind.

[System Notification: Major Milestone Achieved.]

Reflection: True success is built on resilience, collaboration, and the courage to face setbacks head-on.]

Jiang Han smiled, a sense of fulfilment settling over him. The journey to the science fair had tested him in ways he hadn't anticipated, but it had also shown him what he was capable of.

"A little more to reach Level 2," he thought, his determination now unwavering.

With the science fair behind him and the system's next challenge on the horizon, Jiang Han knew the best was yet to come.