Ying Huaixia thought about many things, recalling every detail she remembered from childhood to the present.
When people talk about Ying Huaixia, they mostly think of him as excellent, shrewd, and composed; but if he were to evaluate himself, the words that come to mind most are mediocre, hypocritical, and reckless.
When he was very young, he had no concept of comparison or vanity, nor did he know that people of the same age or generation would be compared. Qin Xian, Shen Xiu, and the younger Gu Yujing and Si Yehong were all good friends.
But then one night, unable to sleep, he got up and reviewed the previous day's lessons. The next day in class, he happened to be called on to review what he had just learned. That day, he received extra praise from his teacher and sparkling looks from his friends.
That was the first time he tasted the joy of having his vanity satisfied, realizing that there are differences between people, and that these differences bring different results. The more outstanding he was, the more he could experience this kind of happiness.
So he learned to learn and train faster and more than others. It was tough, but the praise and attention that came with the hardship made him even happier, especially from his family. Gradually, it became a habit for him to use hard work and genuine talent to earn recognition and praise from others.
Of course, along with praise and recognition comes greater responsibility. Ying Huaixia doesn't consider herself a helpful person, nor does she have much compassion, but after seeing the same look in the eyes of those in need, she chose to take on the responsibility.
As a result, he gradually became the most outstanding child in the eyes of others, and the backbone of his peers and the entire family.
When he saw Qin Xian, who worked so hard, being judged as mediocre, he felt no mockery, but rather a deep sadness and worry, a sense of shared experience. He knew better than anyone that his apparent excellence and talent were the result of no less effort than Qin Xian's, of absorbing the strengths of everyone around him, refining them, and accumulating them little by little.
Over time, he developed different faces in front of different people, which earned him their favor and praise. The praise grew, but when he sat alone late at night, he often felt disoriented and couldn't distinguish which side was the real him.
Until one day, he met that legendary figure, the Dragon Emperor of the Ninth District, Shen Fuguang.
When that figure, whose presence dimmed even the sunlight, easily blocked all danger, Ying Huaixia felt for the first time the insurmountable height and the helplessness that no matter how hard she tried, she could never reach.
Ying Huaixia still remembers that she smiled and exclaimed at the time, "As expected of the Dragon Emperor Fu Guang."
But beneath his sincere praise lay a deep-seated fear of discovering his own mediocrity and being exposed by others. This fear, even knowing that there are always people better than him and that his behavior stemmed from a morbid competitive mentality, remained deeply ingrained. That day, he didn't even dare go home, his mind racing with thoughts of whether his family would ask him if he thought he could surpass the Dragon Emperor.
That's terrifying to even think about.
But no one asked, so he became anxious again—did no one think I could compare to him, and had no expectations of me at all?
He wanted to test his family's attitude.
However, the parents are so accustomed to and satisfied with their own habits that they show him unparalleled trust, even when they discover the child's unease, they choose to believe him.
Your great-grandmother, who personally taught you and was extremely strict with you, set an unattainable goal for you: you can try to surpass the Dragon Emperor.
Ying Huaixia felt the imposed fear and the loneliness of being misunderstood, but his resentment also gave rise to other thoughts.
So, he used his versatile talents to try and befriend Fu Guang. But surprisingly, the Dragon Emperor was incredibly approachable. Even after bluntly calling him a "restless boy," he still waved him over and invited him to come over, allowing him to follow him and learn things that his family and relatives couldn't teach him.
Just like his name, Fu Guang taught Ying Huaixia to accept things as they were, to accept that he wasn't a unique genius. And he discovered that it wasn't something completely unacceptable; at least subconsciously, he genuinely acknowledged and recognized Fu Guang's abilities, and was encouraged rather than fearful.
Even though Fu Guang treated that wild, cub-like girl with such indifference, and claimed, like a lovesick fool, that the girl was the one who made him the Dragon Emperor he is today, it didn't stop Ying Huaixia from acknowledging him. In fact, she admired his loyalty and righteousness even more.
To find a good mentor or friend is to work with outstanding like-minded people.
Just when Ying Huaixia felt that even if she couldn't surpass this legend, she could still live her own life to the fullest, an unexpected event occurred before she could feel relieved.
Due to the deteriorating relationship between the Greater Region and the Ninth Region, the two contacted each other less, and their relationship naturally became somewhat distant.
Ying Huaixia worked hard to mediate between her family, the regional government, and the Ninth District to help Guang secure the opportunity to protect the little girl. After several years of delays, the storm still arrived unexpectedly.
A passage or treasure seemingly connecting to the outside world has appeared deep within the ancient ruins of the Northern Boundary, causing frequent anomalies in the ruins, requiring elite forces to investigate.
As for the uninhabited area of that frozen land, the only possible candidate to enter was Dragon Emperor Fu Guang, who was naturally chosen.
Ying Huaixia was panicked because he knew very well that it was a road of no return. He didn't understand why Fu Guang wanted to go. He understood the situation better than anyone else.
But he didn't have time to ask. So, he received the order, ostensibly to support Fu Guang but actually to cut off his escape route, and led his team into the old ruins of the northern border, hoping to find Fu Guang and stop him from going to his death.
But fate is cruel.
He failed to see Fu Guang, but was stopped and severely injured in the wasteland by the alien species [Strangle]. When he woke up again, he was met with two terrible news: Fu Guang had died and he had become a cripple.
That was truly devastating, like the sky had fallen.
Now all that's happened. Whether you're excellent or not, whether you work hard or not, whether you're alive or dead, it's all for nothing.
Ying Huaixia's injuries, which allowed him to get out of bed in a month, were left him bedridden for half a year, barely alive. Yet he still didn't die. Those who loved him couldn't bear to see him die, and he himself... was unwilling to accept it, but he had no strength left to be unwilling.
He drifted along in this daze for who knows how long, until one day he heard some news:
Hua Changle, the adopted daughter of the Hua family, went mad. She ruined Hua Qingyun's project, tarnished Hua Xiange's reputation, kicked Hua Yuezhi, who was almost crippled, and harmed Hua Wuyan's girlfriend. The entire Hua family was turned upside down.
Ying Huaixia was stunned for a long time before she suddenly remembered.
Hua Changle, Changle... This is the little brat that Fuguang is desperately protecting.
A surge of strength suddenly welled up within him, enabling him to get up and run to the third district to secretly peek at the little girl.
That day was foggy. He stood in a corner of the park downstairs from the Huajialunling Group building and saw a little girl curled up on a bench, sobbing. Beside her stood a boy who couldn't hide his worry and heartache.
Ying Huaixia laughed.
Chang Le hasn't forgotten Fu Guang; she's taking revenge on the Hua family and the district. Good riddance!
So, what about him? What should he do?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com