Chapter 128: You Can Be Extraordinary

“Sartre once said: Youth is truly wondrous; it radiates a crimson glow outwardly, yet feels nothing within. I have sailed smoothly through life since childhood. Yes, I could not feel my youth. From the moment I first encountered philosophy in my early years, my life had already entered old age.”

“Top of the class, first in the grade, model student of the school, exemplary student of Shanghai, international awards in piano competitions—I have achieved all these. At fifteen, I began modeling for magazines, invested most of my earnings in the stock market, and the returns were not insignificant. Last year, when ‘The Artist’ magazine invited me for an exclusive interview, I declined. Everything that others dream of was within my grasp, yet I did not know what youthful vitality truly tastes like.”

“The essence of life is desire; desire unfulfilled brings pain, desire fulfilled brings boredom. Life swings between suffering and tedium. The so-called glorious life is nothing but a prison built by desire. I stand at the threshold of this prison, unable to transcend it. I began to question whether the meaning of life is nothing but emptiness.”

“Until my brother appeared. Compared to me, he seems utterly unremarkable. Plain in appearance—you all call him ‘Creepy Bro.’ Poor grades, once ranked last in our class. Lacking athletic talent, he’s breathless after scoring just a dozen points in basketball. Perhaps his sole merit lies in his ability to compose a few flowery poems and craft some simple yet melodious tunes. Yet these small talents have only deepened the irreconcilable tension between us.” Su Yuxi smiled gently as she spoke.

The entire school turned to look at Cheng Xiaoyu, who sat quietly among the audience, calm and unruffled, as if Su Yuxi’s words were about strangers. The auditorium buzzed with whispers, and everyone realized that Su Yuxi and Cheng Xiaoyu were siblings. Though it was curious that they bore different surnames, it was not something inexplicable.

Su Yuxi glanced toward Cheng Xiaoyu, her eyes filled with a faint, warm hopefulness. Her voice softened as she continued, “There are few people in life truly worthy of envy, but those whose fate is tragic are countless. In everyone’s eyes, he should belong to the latter. Yet in him, I see faith, courage, and hope. He has never complained about life’s injustices; he quietly and steadily strives to change himself. Even when faced with countless slanders, he never argued back, responding only with a composed smile. He has never resented my coldness, only gently embracing my worldly pride. Life’s path for him is like a raging torrent—with so many hidden reefs, islands, and whirlpools, he struggles forward. Though wounded, he stirs up countless beautiful waves. In him, I see a different kind of life—small yet lived with all one’s might. I believe his is the true life, and his is the true youth!”

“Oscar Wilde once said: There are two kinds of misfortune in this world—the misfortune of having nothing, and the misfortune of having everything. The latter is the greater misfortune. That greater misfortune may be weariness toward all things. Yet youth is precisely the state of not yet possessing something; it is the state of yearning, of longing, of possibility. Before you lies a vast field of life and fear. Though you have nothing now, sometimes in your fantasies you feel as if you have everything.”

“When I was lost, he told me: ‘The night gave me black eyes, yet I use them to seek the light.’ Today, I dedicate this phrase to all of you here.”

“Finally, I want to say this: Each of our lives is like a one-way train ticket. None of us holds a round-trip. So from the day we are born, life shoots forward like an arrow. What we can grasp is this very moment. Therefore, if you have wishes, if you truly still have the strength to pursue them, I believe you must set out immediately to fulfill your dreams and minimize regrets. Life is a long journey; youth is such a precious gift. But please remember this: there are many things you do not understand when you are young, and when you finally understand, you are already old.”

Su Yuxi stood on the stage, composed and eloquent. Each sentence sparkled with thoughtful insight. Even the teachers found it hard to believe such words came from a girl not yet seventeen. Moreover, she spoke without preparation, and those who knew her well knew she never lied.

A brief silence fell over the auditorium. If these words had come from a scholar or professor, everyone would have accepted them readily. But from a high school girl’s impromptu speech, it sparked disbelief and astonishment.

Unfazed by the scene, Su Yuxi turned to leave the podium. Yet just as she stepped down, as if recalling something important, she turned back, picked up the microphone, and said, “One more important thing: If anyone wants the second button of my brother’s school uniform, you must come find me first. Because last night, while he was asleep, I quietly cut off every second button on all his uniforms!” With that, she stepped lightly down toward the crowd.

At that moment, the Fudan High School auditorium seemed to awaken, erupting into cheers and applause. Su Yuxi was simply adorable!

Student Council President Du Ming approached the podium and said, “Su Goddess’s speech was absolutely brilliant! Her knowledge and eloquence make me, as a member of the literature club, feel utterly ashamed. And I only learned today that our great poet Cheng Xiaoyu is Su Goddess’s brother. Speaking of which, I regret that we didn’t get to hear Cheng Xiaoyu’s poetry or his witty retorts today. Is there anyone else who feels the same?”

A wave of enthusiastic agreement swept through the auditorium. Everyone still vividly remembered Cheng Xiaoyu’s poetic rap broadcasts, and now that they knew he and Su Yuxi were siblings, all hostility vanished. The crowd clamored for Cheng Xiaoyu to come on stage and say a few words.

Seeing the overwhelming response, Du Ming rhythmically called out, “Cheng Xiaoyu, Cheng Xiaoyu, Cheng Xiaoyu!” The entire hall echoed with the chant for the king of witty banter.

Somewhat surprised by the students’ enthusiasm, Cheng Xiaoyu was nudged to his feet by Wang Ou amidst the roaring cheers. His expression was a bit awkward, but encouraged by his classmates, he slowly made his way through the sea of people toward the stage.

Du Ming smiled, handing over the microphone and giving Cheng Xiaoyu a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Still somewhat dazed, Cheng Xiaoyu was unprepared for such wholehearted acceptance from the school. The overwhelming youthful passion rushing at him caught him off guard.

He touched the empty spot where the missing button once was on his chest, feeling his heart race. With just a minute and eleven seconds before the bell rang, he wished to freeze time right here, to count his heartbeat clearly.

(Thanks to Heartbreak?, Dynasty, Crystal of Bubbles, Night Moon, Silver Moon Accompanies Sin, Sad Snow, Starlit Shadows, Brother Thirteen, o035, and Looking Up at the Farthest Star for their generous support. Though this chapter lacked much plot, it is truly not filler! Su Yuxi’s speech was difficult to write—writing about romance and beauty is easier, but to fully reveal a person’s character, romance alone is insufficient. I hope you all enjoyed Su Yuxi’s speech on ‘You Can Be Extraordinary,’ as well as her devoted, somewhat obsessive affection for her brother. Thank you all for your support. I will continue writing; another chapter is coming soon!)