The Tianfeng Securities Cup Debate Tournament reached its climax on the evening of Nov 23 in the Humanities Hall at Wuhan University (WHU), marking the end of a five-week intellectual journey. Autumn leaves painted the world in a golden hue as the stage lights shone brightly against the dimly lit audience. On stage, the Economics and Management School (EMS) debate team clinched their maiden championship in the Golden Autumn Debate. This victory was not merely a triumph of scores on the leaderboard – it was a celebration of love and freedom, of values that transcend quantification.

The final scene of the debate.

The EMS debate team's journey began in the crisp autumn air, fraught with trepidation. Still haunted by the previous year's near-miss, they feared an early-round exit. Second debater Jia Yiyang captured their collective anxiety: "We drew formidable opponents and an unfavorable stance." The specter of a first-round elimination loomed, but as the autumn breeze murmured tales of new beginnings, the team found a chance to turn things around.

In the first week of preparation, the team realized they needed a whiteboard – a symbol of their dedication to the competition. A playful concern was that an early elimination would render their investment futile. Captain Jia Yiyang, resolute, slapped the table and declared, "Let's use JD!" Thus, the whiteboard arrived the next day, becoming a silent companion throughout their journey.

Before the final match, the whiteboard was adorned with strategic scribbles and words of encouragement, charming floral patterns, and teachers' exhortations: "Strive together for a boundless future." As Jia Yiyang eloquently said, "Love is like the eighty-one trials on the journey to retrieve the scriptures, not the blank sutras at the Thunder Monastery." Despite a difficult start and a challenging path, what mattered most was the camaraderie and mutual support that carried them through.

The whiteboard is adorned with encouragement from teachers and classmates.

The final debate's motion was a paradox shrouded in mystery: "If love could be quantified, would it be better or not?" Taking the opposing stance, the EMS team argued that quantifying love would not improve it. Their usual approach – characterized by solid defenses and abstract reasoning – was ill-suited for a topic demanding emotional resonance. In this case, they chose to abandon their usual style. They discussed the harm that a clear and rapid method of quantifying love could inflict on those involved and how choosing efficiency might lead to losing love's inherent beauty. For once, the judges, audience, and opposing debaters heard not just facts and cold data, but a clash of values and a resonance of thoughts.

Shen Bingnan during the debate.

Offstage, the team's dedication extended beyond debating. Each Thursday afternoon, when the school was on break, the debaters would gather for meals, discussions, and preparations. They would start formulating their arguments on Mondays and refine them on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Thursdays, they often found themselves confused as complex ideas led them to rework their strategies. Yet, after the "Black Thursdays" came the "Friday Epiphanies", where the team would emerge transformed, complete, confident, and ready for the next round. Each week, they won by a single vote, a cycle of despair and elation culminating in a 6-1 victory in the final match.

This Golden Autumn Debate was distinct from other tournaments, featuring more interaction and public engagement, thanks to its relocation to the Humanities Hall. The team, with limited emotional experiences, transformed debate jargon and techniques into narratives. They conveyed their understanding of love, from the beautiful tale of Luojia Gate Umbrella to harrowing stories of domestic violence and manipulation, with the audience connecting deeply with their message. Jia Yiyang's closing remark in the rebuttal – "Love is seen because it is believed, not believed because it is seen" – resonated throughout the competition. The love off the debate stage supported those who spoke of love on it. EMS is known for its vibrant community, with practice debates before the competition, cheers during the matches, and post-victory team-building barbecues that fill four tables.

Zhang Xin, sensitive to bright stage light, found solace in his teammates' supportive presence. Li Sijing, though not participating in the final match, provided support from the sidelines, holding up cheer signs to ease the debaters' anxiety.

Shen Bingnan, the fourth debater, concluded, "The best gift of love is the feeling hidden in the small details." The team expressed gratitude to everyone who supported them, from fellow debaters to the coaches and even the security guard at the EMC building, who waited late into the night for the team to finish their preparations. Although he was unable to attend the final match, his presence was felt in the team's victory, a reminder of the love that sustained them throughout.

The security guard encourages the debaters.

When speaking of debating, the eyes of the five debaters sparkle with light. In an era increasingly focused on "utility" and "benefit," Li Sijing said, "Debate constitutes the most beautiful part of my college life." For Zhang Xin, "Debate is being yourself," and for Chen Che, "Debate is my utopia."

For them, debate has become a lifestyle interwoven into every aspect of life. They confessed their love for debate with deep affection – it shapes the people around them and the events they experience, a "Peach Blossom Spring" they long to plunge into. Participating in and cherishing debate is a way of respecting their innocent and free souls.

The champions are presented with their awards on stage.

The day after the competition, Shen Bingnan wrote on her WeChat Moments, "If my luck is to win only once in a hundred times, then I will compete a hundred times." Luck may not favor fools or geniuses, but it will favor hard-working, kind, strong, and passionate souls. Although the outcomes of debates are still quantified by the number of votes, the love and resonance conveyed by the debaters cannot be measured by numbers.

As early winter arrives and the golden autumn fades into a distant memory, the EMS debate team does not halt. They march forward, carrying the love and freedom that defy quantification.