Chapter 23: Gathering Dreams

(PS: I made some adjustments to the timeline in the previous chapter, since, as the following shows, this “Mentor’s Words” website might not be launched so quickly. By the way, “Won’t Cry” really is such a beautiful song!)

Friday night, midnight, at a computer desk in an internet café.

Xiaobai was a third-year junior high student, and with only a few months left before the entrance exams, it was hard to imagine him spending the night at an internet café. But where else could he go? The café felt like a second home to him; playing games let him forget all his worries. Even though, every morning, walking out from the café, a sense of emptiness lingered, it never stopped him from coming back.

He knew his grades were so poor that even getting into an ordinary high school would be tough; perhaps he’d have to go to a vocational or technical school. But what could he do? He didn’t want to think about those frustrating issues. He only wanted to immerse himself in one game after another; after all, his parents were away on business trips these days, so nobody was watching over him.

But just after finishing another round, he noticed a pop-up in the bottom right corner of the screen. It wasn’t an ad or a game recommendation—rather, it was an image.

A young boy stood beneath the sun, radiating boundless hope. Xiaobai wished he could become that boy bathed in sunlight. Looking closer, he saw a line of text: “Do you want to become a gaming master?” Beneath were two options: “Yes” or “No.”

Naturally, Xiaobai moved the mouse and clicked “No.” He wasn’t particularly good at games, and deep down he knew he didn’t really love them; they were just a way to kill time.

Upon clicking “No,” the computer screen shifted to the “Mentor’s Words” website.

Xiaobai stared at this unique site, intrigued, scrolling down until he saw five large characters on a green background: “What is your dream?” He fell into deep thought.

What was his dream? After a moment’s recollection, he remembered he used to love drawing as a child and was quite talented; his art teacher always praised him for being the best. But then, nothing came of it.

Thinking of this, Xiaobai clicked the “Art” category and found “Painting.” After clicking, a long passage appeared:

Painting, depending on tools, materials, techniques, and cultural backgrounds, is divided into major types such as traditional painting, oil painting, printmaking, watercolor, and gouache. Traditional painting, depending on technique, is split into meticulous and freehand styles. Printmaking is categorized by the material—woodblock, copperplate, paper, stone, silk screen—and also by production and color application techniques, such as etching, oil-based woodcuts, water-based woodcuts, monochrome prints, and multicolor prints.

He was dazzled, scrolling further down.

Then a single sentence caught his eye: “If you master painting, you can become an artist, or an illustrator, or a designer.”

The word “illustrator” piqued Xiaobai’s interest.

He clicked again, and a note appeared.

An illustrator is someone who makes a profession out of creating illustrations, mainly drawing for books, magazines, newspapers, manuals, novels, textbooks, and other publications, as well as greeting cards, posters, advertisements, spray art, cartoons, etc. There are digital illustrations and pure hand-drawn works.

Xiaobai now understood what an illustrator was; it seemed quite interesting. Suddenly, a dream of becoming an illustrator surged in his heart.

He continued browsing the page and soon found a phrase: “How to become an illustrator.” As usual, he clicked.

If you are still in school, the best way to become an illustrator is to enter an art university as an art student, pursue painting, and build a solid foundation—only then can you go further down this path.

One sentence awakened his dormant dream. The desire to paint grew stronger in Xiaobai’s heart; he felt he should reclaim his former aspirations.

He searched “what is an art student” and realized the requirements for academic subjects weren’t high. Thinking back, his grades hadn’t always been this bad; it was only when he stopped listening in class that he fell behind.

Now, he suddenly wanted to start afresh, to work hard at studying, so that he could learn to paint well and become an interesting illustrator.

Then Xiaobai discovered the mentor-apprentice system on “Mentor’s Words.” Following the instructions, he registered as an “apprentice,” posted a brief summary of himself under the art-painting category, and even found a childhood drawing in his QQ space—a vivid, lifelike Doraemon.

Would someone accept me as their apprentice?

Filled with anticipation and anxiety, Xiaobai wondered.

……

Elsewhere, in another internet café, a student named Teacher Guo, a second-year high schooler, also noticed the pop-up in the corner.

In a recently popular online game, Guo had displayed exceptional talent and skill, quickly climbing to the top ranks. His classmates affectionately called him Teacher Guo, and he was fairly well-known among several nearby schools.

Teacher Guo was decisive; from a young age, he knew he was not suited for the academic path. He was very clear that he didn’t like studying, lacked academic talent, and couldn’t compete with others.

So he was always searching for his strengths. He loved Jay Chou and listened to every one of his songs. He remembered Jay Chou saying in an interview: “I never went to university, and I regret it, but I think everyone must have their own strengths.”

Teacher Guo thought that was exactly right. Later, he discovered computers and computer games, and realized he’d found what he’d been seeking.

Reality proved his point; he possessed a gift in this area that others lacked—at least, among everyone he knew, no one was better than him.

Yet, Teacher Guo had always hesitated: Should he pursue a professional path? Was his skill enough? Could he abandon academics and stick to it?

When he saw the phrase, “Want to become a gaming master?” he couldn’t wait to click. It felt like the answer to the question that had troubled him for some time was finally within reach.

He clicked “Yes.”

The screen jumped to the Mentor’s Words website’s gaming section.

The first thing he saw were stories of renowned e-sports players from around the world—many of whom he recognized—all of whom achieved fame at a young age.

It explained that e-sports is a young industry, and its peak is exactly at his current age.

He then read about the hardships and challenges of growing as an e-sports player: hours of daily training until the games became tedious; even with effort, you might never get to compete, relegated to substitute status, forced to seize the rare opportunities to play.

Teacher Guo reflected carefully—he believed he could overcome these obstacles.

He then saw the requirements clubs had for players’ ranks and realized he already met them.

Finally, he focused on the section describing the “contract issues” for e-sports players, which he read attentively.

After reviewing everything, Teacher Guo understood the general process of pursuing e-sports and appreciated the difficulties involved.

After careful consideration, he decided to take this path, starting preparations immediately.

He trusted his talent and respected his dreams.

He would pursue the dream and chase it.

Seeing the mentor-apprentice system, Teacher Guo registered as an apprentice and uploaded his information and ranking.

After all, he was still just a kid—having a mentor in e-sports would be ideal. He believed his “resume” was solid enough.

He just hoped he wouldn’t encounter any “bad people,” Teacher Guo thought quietly, promising to use his bright eyes to judge carefully.

……

Xiaoming was a third-year high school student. Normally, students in internet cafés at this hour had poor grades.

But Xiaoming was different. His grades were excellent.

Since childhood, he had been the “model child” in every adult’s eyes.

He never understood why others found studying so difficult. Wasn’t it simple?

Xiaoming’s method was straightforward: listen carefully in class, never miss a word, complete all homework independently and thoroughly, and understand every mistake.

He never pre-studied, never reviewed, and never spent extra time on academics after class.

Yet his grades were always high—consistently among the top ten in his class. Maybe if he tried harder, he could do even better, but he saw no need.

School days were so beautiful—why spend all of youth on tedious study?

So, now, he was at the internet café playing games with his friends.

When he spotted the pop-up, “Want to become a gaming master?” Xiaoming was intrigued.

What a clever advertisement!

Xiaoming clicked “No,” and entered the Mentor’s Words website.

After browsing for a while, he found the site increasingly interesting.

The mentor-apprentice system, countless categories—the ambition behind this site was obvious. Smart as he was, Xiaoming quickly realized it would become hugely popular. He thought of his classmates with poor grades and uncertain futures; seeing this site would surely inspire them.

With that thought, Xiaoming closed the site and returned to the desktop—the pop-up was still there.

This time, he clicked “Yes.”

After browsing again, he was even more convinced of his earlier prediction.

He believed that those classmates who spent all day gaming yet dreamed of becoming e-sports stars, after seeing this site, would turn over a new leaf and find their way.

This site was truly doing a good deed!

Xiaoming mused to himself—what should he do after graduation? The college entrance exam was just around the corner.

On the homepage, he found the “Photography” category—enjoying nature’s beauty, capturing moments of life.

This was it!

Free-spirited Xiaoming registered as an apprentice, left his information in the photography category.

He decided to find a mentor, learn photography, and then travel the world!

That’s how it would be!

......