The ribbon on the highest level was indeed the highlight of the competition, as men and women in the same group couldn't possibly touch even a hint of the ribbon by their heights alone. Therefore, the men either held the women or carried them on their backs.
All attention focused on Xia Zheng and Lin Yuan, the leading team, who were seen with heads bowed, whispering something unknown, while those below, already impatient, began to heckle.
"Hurry up, hurry up, they're catching up to you!"
"If you can't reach, lift her up!"
"Carrying her works too, carrying her works too!"
The heckling from the spectators didn't affect Xia Zheng and Lin Yuan at all; to outsiders, with Lin Yuan looking down demurely and Xia Zheng speaking softly, the two seemed to embody the demeanor of a shy woman and a persuading man.
But only those close by would know that the two were quickly calculating something.