Those words were like an extremely thin needle, gently pricking a corner of memory that had long been sealed away.
Five years ago, the final round of a university debate.
The topic was whether technological development necessarily leads to the alienation of human emotions.
As the main speaker for the affirmative side, I was fully prepared and brimming with confidence.
The opposing team's main speaker was a girl with a neat ponytail and a calm, composed expression.
During the free debate session, my teammates and I launched fierce attacks, presenting carefully prepared data and cases one after another.
When it was her turn, she didn't directly refute the statistics.
Instead, she told a story.
An elderly resident in her hometown lived alone. Her children were away, and she suffered from constant melancholy and illness.
Through a simple companion app developed by community volunteers, she learned to make video calls.
Being able to speak to her grandson daily brought smiles to her face and improved her health.
Her delivery was calm, without flowery words—just plain, sincere narration.
Yet the warmth emerging from everyday life instantly captured the audience's attention.