The main content of this experimental class was: Leading by example, leading oneself.
The class was divided into two parts: one part was theoretical knowledge, mainly introducing the significance of this experiment and how to conduct it.
The other part was the experiment itself, verifying one’s leadership ability.
“The main purpose of this class is to verify everyone’s leadership ability. When enrolling, everyone filled out their enrollment goals. This class can effectively help you achieve those enrollment goals.” Before officially starting the lecture, the teacher briefly introduced this experimental class.
In plain terms, it was summarized as: How to be a leader.
Regarding the enrollment goals mentioned by the teacher, this was also a major teaching feature of Hongru Academy.
When a student passed the enrollment assessment, the school would further divide them into classes based on the enrollment goals they filled out.
Some children already had target universities to apply for when enrolling and could accurately articulate their future career plans. These students would be grouped into one class. As learning progressed, teachers would frequently communicate with parents about the probability of achieving their goals.
Some children wanted to enter this school only for its reputation, without clear plans for what they wanted to do in the future. These students would be grouped into another class, assigned professional teachers to continuously observe them and guide them toward a clear path in the future.
Some children had extremely affluent family conditions and needed to inherit family businesses in the future. The school would focus on cultivating them in leadership thinking, social psychology, social language, and social activities.
There were also those who wanted to pursue politics or business. Depending on the reasons, they would be divided into different classes based on the required courses for cultivation.
The classes in this elite school were unique: some classes had only a few people, while others could reach the maximum of 20 people.
The basic principle for division was enrollment purpose and student characteristics.
Everything started from the students themselves, whether it was the starting point or the endpoint.
If the purpose was the same but they were in different classes, it meant the degree of desire for that purpose differed.
There was a saying: When you enter Hongru Academy, your development over the next 20 years is already predetermined.
To some extent, Xia Shuyue being in the same class as He Ying indicated that she was someone with her own ideas and would not be easily swayed.
He Ying’s goal when entering Hongru Academy was to smoothly inherit the family fortune, which deeply moved He Ying after regaining her memories.
Indeed, regardless of whether she had memories, she was herself, and her preferences remained eternal.
“A leader must become an example; this is the starting point and foundation of leadership. To become an example, one must start by leading oneself. This requires consistency in words and actions, aligning knowledge with practice. Only after establishing credibility and possessing it can one truly influence others to practice the organization’s values together.”
“As a leader, one must be able to inspire vision, indicate the direction to go, and challenge the status quo.”
“Inspiring vision is humorously referred to by some netizens as ‘drawing a big pie’ in real life. This often refers to leaders painting an exciting and attractive picture of success but failing to lead everyone to achieve that goal. This situation severely damages the leader’s image and should be avoided. Similar to the previous point: consistency in words and actions, not making promises lightly.”
“As for challenging the status quo, this is a courage that must be established. Old ideas, systems, and conventions will become your constraints. However, challenging is not blind defiance—the prerequisite for challenge is sufficient accumulation of knowledge coupled with a flash of insight. You must read the morning newspaper carefully every day. If there’s anything you don’t understand, or if you have any thoughts after reading it, you can message the teacher at any time…”
“…We must build a community of shared interests and a community of shared endeavors by deepening trust, strengthening relationships, fostering unity and cooperation, engaging in candid communication, sharing information, and sharing power.”
The teacher’s theoretical lecture was precisely timed—exactly eighteen minutes.
After spending another two minutes explaining the rules, the teacher directly used random numbers to divide the students into groups for this experimental class. Each group consisted of two students, and each group needed to enter a corresponding enclosed room to conduct the experiment.
The experiment rules were simple. For this experiment, some psychological experts from other schools had been invited. They would engage in conversations with the students, starting from the students’ weaknesses.
The students’ task was to verify the leadership content just discussed during their conversations with the psychological experts, in order to assess their own leadership qualities.
After the class ended, the psychological experts would produce a scoring report, and the students themselves would write a summary report. Based on these two reports, the teacher would assign a grade.
The scores from the experimental classes would accumulate throughout the semester and directly affect the final ranking.
As long as it affected the ranking, He Ying took it very seriously.
Soon, the groupings were announced. He Ying was both surprised and unsurprised to find herself grouped with Xia Shuyue.
Although Ying Ying was very reluctant, the teacher explicitly stated that group members could not be changed. She could only leave with a dejected expression to find her assigned partner.
As Ying Ying left, Xia Shuyue also walked over somewhat awkwardly: “Classmate He Ying, we’re in the same group.”
He Ying nodded and stood up: “Let’s go. The room we need to go to is ‘Rong.'”
Hongru Academy never spared any expense on facilities. To ensure that students wouldn’t interfere with each other during practical sessions, the rooms for each pair were completely soundproof.
Xia Shuyue had never encountered a course like this at her previous school and felt somewhat uneasy. Noticing this, He Ying reminded her: “Even if you’re unfamiliar with this environment, don’t show it. All evaluations start from the moment you meet.”
He Ying’s voice was still devoid of emotion, sounding cool and detached, yet it inexplicably soothed the panic in Xia Shuyue’s heart.
She took a deep breath, then another, as if finally feeling a bit better, and said: “Thank you.”
He Ying still maintained her aloof demeanor: “Since I’m in a group with you, I am the leader. You only need to obey me.”
Xia Shuyue was a bit confused.
Is… is that how it is?
That’s not what the teacher said earlier.
But as Xia Shuyue watched He Ying’s retreating figure, she couldn’t help but think that, indeed, compared to herself, He Ying seemed more like a leader. Even if she tried to learn, she would only be imitating clumsily.
“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
He Ying glanced at Xia Shuyue with some surprise. She didn’t seem to carry that kind of pointless pride or confrontational attitude.
The two soon arrived at the “Rong” room.
Upon pushing the door open, they saw a man who appeared to be in his thirties or forties sitting directly in front of them.
His hair seemed a bit sparse, but it was neatly combed, giving off a clean and tidy impression. His face carried no aggression, and he wore a friendly smile that felt warm and reassuring.
“Please, have a seat,” the man said, gesturing to the two chairs in front of him with a smile. His voice was low and gentle, very pleasant to the ear.
But He Ying knew this was merely a tactic to lower their guard and find their weaknesses.
Sure enough, as soon as the two sat down, the previously comfortable atmosphere instantly shifted.
The man casually clasped his hands together on the table and began by asking Xia Shuyue, “Xia Shuyue, I’d like to ask you a few questions first.”
Xia Shuyue felt nervous, but remembering He Ying’s earlier words, she steadied her voice. “Please go ahead.”
The psychological expert in front of her smiled, but this smile was different from the relaxing one earlier—it only added to Xia Shuyue’s pressure.
He extended his left hand, revealing his watch. “Do you know what brand my watch is?”
Xia Shuyue examined it carefully. She had never studied such things and naturally had no idea, so she shook her head. “I don’t know, but the purpose of a watch is to tell time. As long as it tells time, that’s enough.”
This was the most composed answer Xia Shuyue could muster at the moment.
But the psychological expert shook his head and launched his first round of attack. “Not exactly. Wearing a watch not only shows the owner’s emphasis on time but also symbolizes their economic strength and status. Discussing wristwatches in important settings is a key means of social interaction.”
“Xia Shuyue, as a leader, you should learn more about watch brands and their history.”
Without waiting for Xia Shuyue’s response, he began jotting something down in his notebook.
Xia Shuyue’s weakness was thus laid bare before He Ying, though Xia Shuyue herself remained unfazed. “My background and family circumstances haven’t exposed me to such things, but if necessary, I’ll strengthen my theoretical knowledge in this area in the future.”
The psychological expert nodded. Xia Shuyue’s response earned her points.
But He Ying suddenly spoke up. “I don’t recognize this watch either. But if it hasn’t caught my attention, that’s its problem, not mine.”
He Ying’s words made the psychological expert pause his pen mid-note.
“My economic strength and status don’t need to be proven by a watch. On the contrary, the brand of the watch I wear should feel honored.”
He Ying then turned to Xia Shuyue and asked, “Xia Shuyue, look at me sitting here, saying I don’t recognize this watch. Who should feel embarrassed? Me?”