Chapter 15: Exceptional People
The continuous competitions were undoubtedly tiring, but Nangong Ying, accustomed to this, simply drank a bottle of mineral water, cleared her throat, and was fully rejuvenated. She had participated in national competitions much tougher than this long ago; just using her voice wasn’t a big deal. When she participated in martial arts competitions, she had to display all her skills flawlessly. Compared to those times, this was nothing.
“Miss Nangong, you’ve been winning one match after another. Are you feeling any pressure for the upcoming competitions?”
“Motivation actually stems from pressure; the two are complementary.”
After answering, Nangong Ying returned to her hotel.
She wasn’t in her city now but had flown to Shanghai. Participating in the provincial competition for the first time was a new experience for her, but not a big deal. Her goal was the national competition. Once she advanced from the provincials, obtaining the pass, she could fly to Beijing for the nationals.
At the age of twelve, she won the national women’s martial arts championship, surpassing all her competitors. She became the youngest champion of that year and even appeared in newspapers, achieving fame at a young age. Later, she left the martial arts team and started playing tennis. After winning another national championship, she began to wonder if being an athlete was her only path. From that point on, she wanted to change careers and, despite her teachers’ objections, quit the high school tennis team, determined to no longer be an athlete. Participating in the singing competition was to prove that she could do other things besides being an athlete.
Back at the hotel, Nangong Ying sat on the bed, scrolling through her phone. Alone in a foreign city, at eighteen, she was already stronger than most of her peers. With her dreams in her heart, she embarked on this difficult path.
But after being away for so long, only her mother sent her WeChat messages, reminding her to take care of herself. Her father, however, didn’t react at all. It was understandable. Nangong Ying unilaterally quit her athletic career, and it was normal for her father to be angry. He always believed she could become a professional athlete and bring honor to the country.
Nangong Ying gave up her athletic career to become a singer, for no other reason than an unfulfilled dream.
Feeling bored, Nangong Ying made a phone call. That person shouldn’t be asleep at this hour.
“Hello, Nangong?”
“Yeah, it’s me. You’re not asleep, are you?”
“Of course not, I’m browsing Bilibili. What’s up? Are you…?”
“No, I advanced. Don’t worry.”
Nangong Ying’s words eased Yu Linna’s anxiety. Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened. But it was expected. Nangong Ying was so talented; how could she be eliminated from the provincials? Her goal was the national competition.
“Linna, I miss you, so I wanted to call you.”
“Ah…”
Yu Linna’s face flushed red. What was with this confession-like statement?! Could it be that Nangong…
No, no, that’s impossible! She was a girl, and so was Yu Linna. It was impossible! Although she was a boy in her past life…
“Nangong…”
“Linna, I wish you were here with me.”
Nangong Ying leaned against the headboard, sighing.
She had invited Yu Linna to participate in the competition, but Yu Linna was eliminated in the second round, while she, overcoming all obstacles, made it all the way to the provincials. Although she knew that Yu Linna’s skill level wasn’t enough to advance past the city competition, she still wished she could be here with her. Competing alone was a bit lonely.
But it couldn’t be helped. Yu Linna was too weak to stand beside her. How she wished Yu Linna could walk the same path as her.
“I’m so embarrassed. I’m too much of a loser; I can’t compare to you at all.”
“Pfft, it’s okay, at least your grades are much better than mine.”
This was true. Yu Linna’s academic performance was much better than hers. Her grades were always the most stable. The top student of the advanced class, everyone knew her name, while Nangong Ying was just a specially admitted student in the sports program at the City No. 1 High School.
Although she had quit the sports team and wouldn’t be taking the sports college entrance exam, her student status was still in the sports program.
Even though she was talented, compared to Yu Linna in academics, there was still a significant gap.
“Don’t tease me. I haven’t been going to school much recently. You know, I can barely afford rent, so I have to find more jobs. Because of scheduling conflicts, I’ve been late many times, and two part-time jobs have already fired me.”
Yu Linna sighed as she spoke about this.
Nangong Ying, familiar with her family situation, knew that Yu Linna desperately needed those jobs. Although the pay was low, it was her only source of income.
Yu Linna was an orphan, without parents. In her early years, she bounced between several families. At first, some kind people took her in, but they never kept her for more than a month. Afterward, Yu Linna had to drift from place to place. She stayed at an orphanage for two months, but then the orphanage was demolished, and she had nowhere to go. Helplessly, she relied on donations and lived in many different places, moving constantly, without a stable home until she was fourteen.
Later, Yu Linna simply refused to depend on others and never stayed at anyone’s home again. From then on, with her meager savings, she came to this city, found a place to settle down, and at a young age, found some jobs to support herself. Life was tough, but she preferred this to relying on others. She had had enough; she didn’t want to be treated as a jinx anymore.
Nangong Ying was one of the few people who knew her situation, and she pitied this girl, helping her whenever she could. But as an outsider, she couldn’t interfere too much. That time with the competition, she encouraged Yu Linna to participate because there was prize money. She knew Yu Linna needed the money.
“How about I treat you to hot pot when I get back? I know a good place, their fatty beef is delicious.”
“Really? Then come back quickly, win the championship and show it to me.”
When it came to free food, Yu Linna was more enthusiastic than anyone. She loved free meals.
Nangong Ying smiled. Talking to Yu Linna always made her feel better. She recalled their first meeting, that bullied blonde girl, crying in front of her. She didn’t know where her anger came from, but she had stepped forward and taught those bastards a lesson with her bare hands. Afterward, Yu Linna kept crying, inconsolably.
(“Stop crying. My name is Nangong Ying, what’s your name?”)
(“…Yu, Yu Linna…”)
(“What a beautiful name.”)
From that moment on, she wanted to protect her, to prevent her from being hurt.
This crybaby cried too easily, always worrying her. Nangong Ying couldn’t do without her. If possible, she really wanted to take her along, to higher and further places.
But it couldn’t be helped. Yu Linna wasn’t on the same path as her.
No matter how much she wanted to keep her by her side, she was powerless.
“Nangong, are you listening?”
“Of course, what’s wrong?”
“When are we going for barbecue? I want to eat some.”
“Oh, you little glutton, can’t you restrain yourself? Are you taking advantage of my offer to treat you?”
“We’re friends, why would I be polite?!”
“Fine, fine, whatever you want, it’s my treat.”
“You’re my best friend!”
Nangong Ying smiled, a genuine smile even through the phone. Talking to Yu Linna made her so happy.
She didn’t need praise or compliments from others; just a few words with Yu Linna was enough. No one could replace Yu Linna’s place in her heart.
When she achieved her dream, Yu Linna would definitely congratulate her. By then, she could do whatever she wanted, and no one could stop her.
After hanging up, Nangong Ying let out a long sigh. Today was a good day. Of course, she couldn’t be happy during the competitions. What made her happiest was being able to talk to her friend for so long afterward. For her, that was true happiness.
With nothing to do now, Nangong Ying sat up and made another call, this time not to Yu Linna, but to her mother.
“Hello, Xiao Ying? Why aren’t you asleep so late? You have a competition tomorrow, don’t you?”
A gentle female voice came from the other end of the phone. It was Nangong Ying’s mother.
“Mom, where’s Dad? Isn’t he looking for me?”
“Don’t even mention it. You know your father’s temper. Ever since you gave up your athletic career, he’s been unhappy. He probably wanted you to be his successor.”
Nangong Ying lay in bed, silent for a long time.
Nangong Ying’s father was an athlete. When he was young, he participated in the Olympics and brought honor to the country. He was a star athlete. She remembered her father endorsing products when she was little, often attending national team events. She could often see him on TV. Later, her father retired due to injury and became a coach, wanting to train his daughter as his successor.
Who knew that Nangong Ying didn’t want to be an athlete at all? After “playing” for a few years, winning two national championships, she decisively quit, never touching it again, much to his chagrin. Nangong Ying wanted to be on stage, in higher and further places, not inherit her father’s position as an athlete.
“Since he’s not contacting me, I won’t say anything. Let him do what he wants.”
Nangong Ying sat up, thinking that her father was unreliable after all. It was better not to think about these things. Her father, from the very beginning, didn’t want her to be a singer, didn’t want her to get involved in the entertainment industry. After all, this circle was too complicated.
“Well, it’s not exactly like that. Your father actually went to watch your competition, the city-level one, but he refused to let me tell you.”
Nangong Ying was stunned, speechless for a long time. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to speak, but she didn’t know what to say. Even after hanging up the phone, her emotions remained unsettled.
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