Chapter 56: Young and Accomplished

The rooftop, the rain growing heavier.

The boy stood on the rooftop, rain mixing with tears streaming endlessly down his pale face.

The boy's name was Li Zhong; today he planned to jump to his death.

But now, he silently held his phone, the song from the receiver filling his ears, and for a moment he felt deeply understood.

"The TV keeps flickering, the contact info hasn't been deleted yet."

Wasn't that exactly him? Since his girlfriend was taken away by her family, he had lain like a corpse every day in his rented room.

Snowflakes flickered across the TV screen; he didn't care what was playing, didn't care at all.

He only wanted some sound to fill the empty room.

Every corner of the room had once been filled with their laughter and joy.

"But how do you endure it, day and night reversed, unable to even scrape together the down payment?"

Yes, I worked myself to the bone, three jobs a day, day and night reversed, scrimping and saving just to marry you—but in the end, I still couldn't gather enough for the house down payment…

Outside, the rain still fell; on the livestream, Cheng Chen still held his guitar and sang with deep emotion:

"I'll describe to you, in your bright future, your eyes will often turn red.

You cared for me back then—I didn't understand…"

With Cheng Chen's song, Li Zhong remembered sitting on the sofa, planning a beautiful future with his girlfriend.

She always lay in his arms, eyes wide open, listening quietly…

Sometimes he saw her secretly wiping away tears, heartbroken by how hard he worked.

In this cold city, the two of them clung to each other, striving together, dreaming of the future…

Even in the hardest times, she never gave up on me—but now?

It's because I'm poor, her family looks down on me!

They forcibly tore us apart!

But is being poor my fault?!

As the music progressed, Li Zhong's chest grew heavier, his breathing more labored!

Why? Why did it come to this?!

Soon, Li Zhong's emotions found release in Cheng Chen's song.

"If I had achieved something young, without shame, if I'd known what was precious,

The dreams I never gave you—I'd carry regret all my life.

If I had achieved something young, without shame, if I'd tasted the bitterness of regret,

I won the money, the status—but I'd give it all back…"

Li Zhong gripped his phone until his knuckles turned white, his breathing growing ever more frantic.

If I had achieved something young, without shame…

The dreams I never gave you—I'd carry regret all my life…

Thinking of this, Li Zhong tilted his head up, trying hard to stop more tears—but the more he tried to control them, the more anguish filled his heart.

Thinking of the days without her, this big boy finally burst into sobs.

He wept until his guts felt torn, wept until hearts shattered.

Hearing the boy cry, everyone in the livestream was stirred.

At first, though his voice trembled, his tone carried mostly despair.

Now, his loud weeping proved he was moved, that his suicidal thoughts had loosened?

Hearing the boy's sobs, Cheng Chen put down his guitar and spoke into the mic:

"This song is called 'Young and Accomplished.' If you truly love your girlfriend, the more you love someone, the harder you must strive—not sit here begging for death.

In my view, you haven't reached a dead end; your stubbornness is merely shame, preventing you from taking one more step forward.

Since your girlfriend was taken, you've done nothing—choosing instead the most extreme path…"

Cheng Chen stopped there, for couples torn apart by money were countless.

In his past life, a case had swept the internet: "UP Main didn't pay 500,000 yuan dowry, girlfriend dragged away by family."

Some say money isn't everything, but reality tells us:

Without money, nothing is possible!

Li Zhong's sobs continued through the mic; Xiao Yue'er and Cheng Chen said nothing, letting him release his emotions fully:

"I… ever since she left, I've been anxious every day… sob sob sob, I dare not tell anyone else, I can only bear it alone…

Even knowing she's getting married, I dare not even call… I, I can't give her the future she wants… sob sob sob, Teacher Cheng, Boss, what should I do…?"

The boy cried loudly.

He was begging Cheng Chen for help!

Everyone gathered around their radios grew excited—if he reached out for help, it meant he had abandoned his suicidal thoughts.

But if he didn't listen to Cheng Chen's next words…

Everyone held their breath, silently waiting to hear how Cheng Chen would counsel this big boy.

Cheng Chen paused, then spoke slowly:

"The brave are not those who never cry, but those who keep running with tears in their eyes.

If fate is the worst screenwriter in the world, you must fight to be the best actor in your own Renshen.

Until the very last moment, never give up!

If you choose to shine, no mountain blocks you, no sea stops you!"

Cheng Chen's words struck Li Zhong's heart like a heavy hammer.

"If you decide to shine, no mountain can block you, no sea can stop you…" Li Zhong murmured.

After a long while, Li Zhong's voice finally came through the receiver:

"Thank you, Teacher Cheng… I've decided. I'm going to her home to find her. Even if… even if we don't end up together from now on, I won't give up so easily again. Your song and the words you said to me today, I will remember them for the rest of my life. Thank you!"

Cheng Chen smiled and encouraged him: "Go for it, brave young man, don't fear the difficulties!"

"Pfft—"

After confirming Li Zhong wouldn't think of doing anything rash again, Cheng Chen hung up the phone, but his last sentence had made Xiao Yue'er cover her mouth and laugh.

Brave young man, don't fear the difficulties?

Who encourages someone like that?

"Today's Hip Hop Off-Work Road ends here. Thank you all for listening. Does Teacher Cheng have anything else to say to everyone?"

Xiao Yue'er's beautiful eyes swirled, and she looked at Cheng Chen with a smile.

Cheng Chen spoke into the microphone with feeling:

"People rush about in this world, only chasing a few taels of broken silver, yet these few taels of broken silver can dissolve ten thousand kinds of sorrow.

Still, when everyone is working hard at life, please never forget — life is more than just the humble drudgery before your eyes; there are also poetry and the fields of the distant horizon…"

Cheng Chen's blog was overrun once again. Comments refreshed nonstop on the computer screen, dazzling to the eye:

"Ahhhh, Boss is really so gentle! 'The brave are not those who never shed tears, but those who keep running with tears in their eyes' — that's really so powerful!"

"Is he really an actor and a singer? He sounds even more articulate than a proper radio host! The key is he says it so convincingly, with so much culture!"

"I think the passage at the end was even better. It not only pierced straight to the heart of the human condition, but also let people see hope — poetry and the distant horizon…"

"Brothers and sisters, charge! Tomorrow we're buying out Boss's album — get the whole family to buy, buy, buy!!!"

The reaction online was fervent, and the scene in the live broadcast room was even more lively.

Everyone looked at Cheng Chen excitedly, their faces showing ease and joy.

Cheng Chen had just stepped out of the live broadcast room when the station leader excitedly grabbed Cheng Chen's hand:

"Teacher Cheng, you're really amazing. Your words moved me deeply. You're welcome to visit our station anytime!"

…