Chapter Sixty-Six: Returning Home

Unlike the lively and bustling New Year’s Day performances of previous years, this morning carried a distinctly different atmosphere. Many people found themselves pondering their own futures.

Humans are creatures who follow the crowd. Until today, most students at Qingshui No. 1 High School had never truly considered what they wanted for their futures. They simply studied together, played together, and lived out each unchanging twenty-four hours as a group.

However, Principal Zheng’s speech today, combined with Lin Nan’s endorsement incident, made every student inwardly compare themselves to Lin Nan.

Those with poor grades had often excused themselves by claiming they disliked studying or that school was useless, even though deep down, they knew they were only deceiving themselves. They had always avoided thinking deeply about what adulthood might hold for them, preferring instead to idle through their days in leisure.

But now, Lin Nan—a student whose fame had nothing to do with academics—had appeared. They could no longer avoid facing themselves, questioning what skills they possessed and what they might achieve in the future.

Upon reflection, some realized they could use a computer or play video games, but their skills amounted to more losses than wins, simply offering escape into a virtual world. They could smoke or get into fights, but even in fighting there were victories and defeats—not some unbroken string of triumphs. They dated, had boyfriends or girlfriends, but everyone knew it was just for fun, destined to end amicably.

Beyond that, it seemed there wasn’t much they were truly good at.

Those who excelled academically had different concerns. They were already analyzing the economic value of Lin Nan’s endorsement—was it tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? Millions? Maybe not as exaggerated as the latter figures, but surely a world-renowned brand like Nike wouldn’t be stingy. It was possible that, as a high school freshman, Lin Nan was already earning as much as their parents.

And what about themselves? What would they do after being admitted to university? They’d read online that nowadays, it was common for college graduates to be unable to find jobs...

“To study without thinking is blindness; to think without studying is peril.” Every student in the audience was deep in thought, and even those performing on stage were no exception.

They wondered: had years of practicing their art—singing, dancing—not been for their moment on stage? Yet Lin Nan was now publicly ranked as the nation’s second-best high school basketball player. What about them? After years of singing or dancing, perhaps they only stood out within their school, barely making a mark in their own county.

Looking back on their years of practice, had they ever persevered day after day as Lin Nan had? Could they, in all honesty, say they truly loved what they did?

Every student at Qingshui No. 1 High School was lost in thought. Even after the New Year’s performance ended and everyone went home for the holiday, the owner of an internet café along the route home found himself puzzled. He knew today was the start of the school holiday—so why was the place so empty? This defied all reason.

In previous years, students would have flocked in groups and the place would be packed. But today, there was no one to answer his question.

Lin Nan, meanwhile, was riding the bus to the residential complex where his family lived.

Earlier that morning, after finishing his training on the playground and returning to the dormitory, Lin Nan had already received birthday greetings from his parents. He was now fifteen years old, and basketball had become his whole world over the past year.

What surprised Lin Nan most, though, was that Principal Zheng had mentioned his Nike endorsement in front of the entire school over the loudspeaker. When Lin Nan first heard that Nike had chosen him as a spokesperson, he was shocked as well. It made him feel that all his effort on the basketball court was finally paying off, filling him with pride and joy.

But soon, the initial excitement faded into calm. Lin Nan remembered the story he and Si Dong had seen that had moved them both to tears.

He had always known that there were people in the world who lived in poverty and suffering, but he’d never truly grasped what that meant. So, Lin Nan had looked it up on his phone, and what he discovered stunned him. He had never imagined that so many people in the world lacked access even to clean water. In some war-torn regions, children were born without any legal identity at all! That meant they couldn’t go to school or find legitimate work as adults, because they weren’t recognized by any country or community. It was as if they didn’t exist.

Lin Nan couldn’t fully comprehend what that meant, but he knew those people must be pitiful beyond measure.

This made Lin Nan feel incredibly fortunate. He wore good clothes, ate well, had a safe home, could study in peace, and freely pursue his basketball dreams. Over this period, Lin Nan felt that his entire outlook on life and values had changed—all because of that one story.

He once thought he would play basketball for his entire life, but now he was sure that wouldn’t be the case. Lin Nan knew that if there was an end point to his basketball journey, the most perfect place to stop would be winning the NBA championship ring. He believed that as long as he kept working, maybe in five years, maybe in ten, that ring was not beyond reach.

But he also knew that it would require his complete dedication to basketball.

And yet, because of that story, Lin Nan now wished he could help those in need as soon as possible. He felt lost, though, unsure of how to begin.

As he gazed out the window at a flock of geese flying south in a V, Lin Nan knew that the lead birds were the stronger ones, making it easier for those who followed. He stopped tormenting himself with these questions, deciding he would ask his father for guidance when he got home—he was sure his dad would have the answer, just as he had when teaching him to play basketball.

When he entered the house, a delicious aroma greeted him. He sniffed, detecting stir-fried shredded potatoes, braised radish, and tomato-egg-pork soup—all his favorite dishes.

“You’re back! Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner,” called Lin Lang, who was helping in the kitchen and turned when he heard the door.

Ye Xinlan, upon hearing the voices, put down the spatula, wiped her hands, and walked over to Lin Nan. “You look like you’ve grown taller again,” she said kindly.

“Of course, Mom. I play basketball every day,” Lin Nan replied with a grin.

“Basketball won’t affect your studies, will it?” she asked hesitantly.

Lin Nan’s expression changed at once. “Mom, you promised you wouldn’t interfere with my studies. Besides, you know my grades from every monthly exam. Except for English, I’m always among the top students in the class.”

Ye Xinlan almost reminded him to work on his English, but changed her mind at the last second. “Alright, alright, I won’t interfere with your studies.”

In the end, she “compromised.” Like any mother, she wished for her son to be outstanding. But Ye Xinlan knew that compared to a year ago, Lin Nan had made incredible progress academically.

Just a few days earlier, a friend she went shopping with told her that her husband was a fan of Lin Nan. Upon learning that Lin Nan was her son, the friend’s husband vowed to treat him to a meal someday, saying Lin Nan’s performances on the court were simply spectacular.

Hearing that, Ye Xinlan had felt indescribable happiness. Among adults nowadays, everyone compared their children. In the past, she always heard others praise their children’s academic achievements, but now her own child had become someone else’s idol.

So be it—if Lin Nan loves basketball, let him play! If his English is a bit weak, so be it! Ye Xinlan had come around: it didn’t matter. Watching Lin Nan play basketball on television made her happy; the audience cheered for him; becoming an athlete wasn’t a bad future after all.

Besides, she already knew that the “Teacher’s Word” website was Lin Lang’s creation. If Lin Nan didn’t make it in basketball, he could always come home and take over the family business. And basketball certainly sounded more respectable than gaming—by a wide margin.

Lin Nan had no idea his mother harbored all these thoughts; he only knew it was his father who had convinced her. In his heart, his father was like the lead bird in the flock, always guiding him in the right direction.

“Dad, today at school, Principal Zheng announced in front of everyone that Nike wants me as their spokesperson!”

At the dinner table, Lin Nan spoke as he munched on stir-fried potatoes.

“Nike wants you as their spokesman?” Ye Xinlan’s eyes widened. She knew the brand well. But why would they choose Lin Nan?

Lin Lang immediately noticed her astonishment and said with a smile, “What, you don’t trust the son I’ve raised? Lin Nan plays basketball well, so Nike wants him—what’s so strange about that?”

Ye Xinlan was still a little dazed, but Lin Lang’s boastful tone snapped her out of it.

“I know you can teach him, and it was always me who didn’t do a good job with him before. Alright?” she shot back.

Knowing not to push his luck, Lin Lang quickly changed the topic, turning to Lin Nan. “Why did your principal announce it in front of the whole school? To praise you?”

This successfully redirected Ye Xinlan’s attention as well.

Lin Nan smiled at his parents’ confusion. “Because last night, the school launched a ‘Spring Thunder Operation’ to catch students who stayed overnight at internet cafés, so this morning, the principal used me as an example to educate everyone.”

Ye Xinlan’s face immediately lit up—her son had been publicly praised by the principal, held up as a model for the entire school. At that moment, she felt it was the happiest she’d ever been since having a son.

Of course, she didn’t ask, “You weren’t out all night, were you?” She knew Lin Nan’s routine was already exceptionally disciplined; staying out all night was something he would never do.

“Spring Thunder Operation—what an interesting name,” Lin Lang remarked, his attention drawn elsewhere. He understood that Principal Zheng likely hoped this campaign would jolt those lost and wayward students awake, like a clap of spring thunder.

He seemed to be a good principal, Lin Lang thought, though he wondered if holding Lin Nan up as a living example would actually have any effect on his peers.