Chapter 10
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Volume 2 + Chapter 10: So-Called Conviction
“Same as usual—Booth 3. Ning Caiwei, what would you like to drink?”
“Just black coffee.”
“I see. Then one cappuccino, one black coffee, and a dessert.” With that, the two entered the private booth.
“I’m sorry!” The moment they stepped inside, Ning Caiwei bowed deeply to Ouyang Qianxue.
“I caused you so much trouble this time…”
“It’s fine. I already told you not to dwell on it.” Ouyang Qianxue took a sip of her coffee.
“…Hey, Ouyang Qianxue.” Ning Caiwei’s voice trembled. “Am I… completely useless?”
Ouyang Qianxue nearly choked on her drink. “I never expected to hear you say that. Weren’t you the idol who stood out among tens of thousands of auditionees?”
“But compared to you, my talent is like a pebble next to jade. Now I realize I’m just a hollow, manufactured idol. If someone else had been given my packaging, they might’ve been even more popular.”
Seeing Ning Caiwei’s despondent expression, Ouyang Qianxue sighed and set down her cup.
“Ning Caiwei, let me ask you—is this all the resolve you have as an idol? You’ll give up after one setback? Did you never consider that someone more talented might surpass you?”
“But your skills are too overwhelming. How could I ever hope to compete with someone like you?”
“Then do you want to know why I’m stronger than you?”
“Because of your natural—”
“Talent? I don’t know if mine surpasses yours. But the effort I’ve invested? That outpaces yours by orders of magnitude.” Ouyang Qianxue’s gentle tone sharpened like a blade.
“Impossible! I practiced singing until my voice gave out and danced before dawn every day!” Even while admitting Ouyang Qianxue’s superiority in her heart, Ning Caiwei refused to let her hard work be dismissed.
“Pfft. That level of effort isn’t even worth mentioning.” A derisive smirk curled Ouyang Qianxue’s lips.
“What did you say?!” Ning Caiwei glared—only to flinch under the intensity of Ouyang Qianxue’s gaze.
“What, you think I’m all talk?”
Memories of his upbringing under Wang Shiman surfaced. Eight years ago, Wang Shiman’s talent agency housed several children handpicked for idol training. Ouyang Qianxue had merely been one candidate among many. His eventual selection wasn’t just due to innate talent, but effort that left others awestruck.
Wang Shiman’s brutal training regimen left most children collapsing into bed each night. Yet Ouyang Qianxue would sneak out alone to practice after lights-out.
“For Mother and Little Sister, I must be chosen. And if I can master Wang Shiman’s song, my chances will skyrocket.”
He devoured vocal technique books from libraries, drilling every exercise until dawn. To avoid disturbing others in the shared dormitory, he braved parks in winter’s biting cold and summer’s swarming insects. Three years of this left his arms perpetually bruised from self-inflicted pinches to stay awake.
The once-pampered young master, who’d never known hardship, secretly cried countless nights. But with his family’s survival resting on his shoulders, surrender wasn’t an option. Whenever his resolve wavered, he’d recall his father’s abandonment and ask himself.
“Will you betray Little Sister and Mother like that man did?”
This mantra fueled him until, at the three-year evaluation, he outperformed all peers—even flawlessly singing Wang Shiman’s most challenging composition. The woman herself had been moved to tears, designating him as the project’s primary candidate overnight.
Post-selection, Ouyang Qianxue’s privileges skyrocketed. Every request was granted, breeding resentment among peers who then ostracized him. The isolation compounded his stress, yet he redoubled his efforts until even veteran artists at the agency acknowledged his supremacy.
“So my effort far exceeds what you can imagine!” Ouyang Qianxue concluded his account.
“You didn’t lose to me because of talent. You lost because you simply didn’t work as hard!” His words struck like a physical blow, making Ning Caiwei slump into her chair.
“And what drove me to outwork you? Conviction.”
“People only become truly weak when they believe themselves weak and quit. I refuse to be weak—because I have something precious sustaining me. You have it too, I’ve always sensed it.”
“That precious thing is your love for being an idol!”
“But—”
“Your anger when I belittled your effort proves how much this dream means to you.” Ouyang Qianxue cut her off. “Will you really let one setback destroy everything you’ve worked for?”
“NO!” The word burst from Ning Caiwei’s lips before she could think.
Satisfaction softened Ouyang Qianxue’s features as he smiled.
[Author’s Note: Someone mentioned my lack of periods affects readability. What do you think? If enough agree, I’ll adjust future formatting.]
