I am a Big Player
Chapter 123 - 122. Stars Sparking the Prairie (First Update)_1

Chapter 123: 122. Stars Sparking the Prairie (First Update)_1

Mount Laojun is one of the few AAAA-rated tourist attractions in Henan Province. It was named after Laozi, the founder of Taoism, who was said to have retreated there to practice asceticism. Therefore, some also tout it as the ancestral court of Taoism for publicity.

Ren He wasn’t sure about the ancestral court, but the scenery was indeed beautiful with moist and refreshing air. That’s why Mount Laojun was home to the sole province-level sanatorium in 2006, where many high-ranking officials would retire and recuperate, and some even built villas on the mountain directly.

Of course, this wasn’t out of the ordinary.

Most importantly, the elevation difference on Mount Laojun was significant enough for Ren He to accelerate to 100 kilometers per hour on its winding roads, and since there were relatively fewer hairpin turns, he wouldn’t have to slow down too much.

Suddenly, Ren He remembered something and turned his head to ask Xu Nuo, "Do you want to go to Mount Laojun this weekend? Just tell your dad you’re going for extra classes and stay at my place."

"Mount Laojun?" Xu Nuo was startled, "I need to review for exams!"

"I’ve already covered your studies, so what are you afraid of? Rest assured, you’ll have no problem getting into our school now," Ren He said cheerfully. Indeed, he had thoroughly reviewed this year’s middle school exam questions with Xu Nuo. Using spaced repetition, Xu Nuo could now see these questions and immediately get them all right. As long as he didn’t miss the exams, he was bound to pass.

Of course, Ren He didn’t give him all the questions, but chose them to ensure an 80% scoring rate, otherwise, if Xu Nuo were to unexpectedly come out on top, his results could potentially be invalidated...

No one would believe he could be the top scorer anyway!

Upon hearing Ren He’s words, Xu Nuo’s eyes lit up, "Really?"

"Really really, don’t worry about it. If you don’t get in, I’ll cover the difference in the middle school scores for you," Ren He reassured Xu Nuo.

"Pshaw, do you think you can just cough up tens of thousands of yuan like that?" Xu Nuo started by dismissively teasing Ren He then changed the subject, "When do we leave?"

Ren He’s face darkened a bit, having been disrespected. But as a middle schooler, if he told someone he was already worth over ten million, it would probably take them a while to process it. Ren He replied, "We’ll depart Saturday morning. I’ll let you know."

What Ren He did not expect was Yang Xi’s displeasure when she learned Xu Nuo was also going. Wasn’t this just like having an oversized light bulb tagging along? She had been fantasizing about how romantic it would be to watch the sunrise at the mountain peak with Ren He. Now with plump Xu Nuo standing next to them, wrapped in a military coat and slurping noodles?

What a mood killer!

However, upon reflection, Yang Xi thought the scene she conjured in her mind might be quite amusing. She wasn’t petulant and knew Ren He and Xu Nuo were best friends. Xu Nuo was practically like an unwanted third wheel, but there was nothing wrong with a deep brotherhood.

Plus, Xu Nuo had a good personality and wasn’t annoying. When he found out about her and Ren He, he would even help her with cleaning duties in class, sparing her from the heavy lifting...

These student memories are quite interesting – someone doing a bit of cleaning for you and you’d think they’re the nicest person...

And Xu Nuo, clueless and oblivious, didn’t realize he was already considered a third wheel. He thought it was nice for three people to go out together – the more, the merrier...

...

At 8 p.m., the office of the Luo City Evening News was empty, a stark contrast to the buzz of the day. Yet, one man was still there, replaying the hottest online video over and over on the computer.

If Ren He were there, he’d be able to recognize him – it was Yuan Peng, the journalist who had tried to interview him twice.

He appeared to be quite old but was actually just past thirty – the prime of life for men, the upward phase of a career.

But Yuan Peng wasn’t doing as well as one might hope. Many people in Luo City knew him; he used to be the anchor for the evening news on Luo City television.

For a television station, the most celebrated figures are usually the anchors of the evening news, but Yuan Peng back then, in his twenties, was at the height of his vigor, displaying a youthful defiance.

One of the station leaders, less than serious, took advantage of a staff gathering to make unwelcome advances toward a female colleague—who just so happened to be the girl Yuan Peng had feelings for. So, fueled by his status as a popular figure within the station, Yuan Peng went ahead and hit the leader.

One was an anchor for the news channel, the other a deputy station manager. It was clear to see whom the station manager would favor.

After being disciplined, Yuan Peng was cast into the cold palace, faring worse than even a cleaning lady, tasked daily with the hardest, most exhausting work. Hoping to rise again was futile—the deputy station director wouldn’t retire for another five or six years.

Having no other choice, Yuan Peng called on friends, pulled strings, and spent a considerable sum to secure a transfer to the Luo City Evening News. He thought his extensive media experience would surely enable him to rise again there, but he presumably underestimated the power of the circle.

By the time he reported to the Evening News, everyone there already knew he had come because he couldn’t stay at his previous post after hitting a leader.

Who would then trust him with important tasks?

One need not fear failure in life; if one fails, one can stand up again. The very path of life is filled with thorns. Life might tear you to shreds, blood and flesh indistinct, even cast you down into an abyss to rot and rust, but it doesn’t matter—you can still rise again.

But what one should fear in life isn’t failure, it’s wasting time.

Yuan Peng at the Luo City Evening News could only work as an on-site reporter, enduring the most bitter and exhausting tasks under sun and snow, yet he could never advance further.

It was this life that felt the most oppressive.

Yuan Peng was unwilling to accept this, he had never been. So, he kept looking for opportunities. He was a top graduate from the School of Journalism, adept at working in media, and he understood deeply that society was evolving—a good piece of news might just allow him to make a comeback!

So now, he set his sights on the hottest topic of the moment: "Knight"!

This "Knight" turned out to be from Luo City! Yuan Peng wasn’t someone who hadn’t seen the world; his vision had broadened during his university days in the Capital, and he hadn’t let himself fall behind since returning to Luo City.

In his view, the most inconceivable thing about this highly hyped event was that the protagonist was from Luo City—amazing!

Could Luo City really produce such talent?

Honestly, the first time Yuan Peng watched the video, he hadn’t thought too much about it. He was purely astounded as a viewer, and it wasn’t about the technique—he didn’t understand that—but what shocked him was the look in the eyes at the end!

As a top graduate from the School of Journalism and a seasoned reporter, what he was best at capturing was precisely those pervasive details!

Through that look, he could even see the flames burning within the youth’s heart behind those eyes.

These flames didn’t scorch; they didn’t burn people. Instead, they ignited the sparks in the hearts of others who saw that gaze!

In Yuan Peng’s mind, a grand tapestry unfurled. Rather than calling it a feast on the internet, it was more like the fire within that youth’s heart, beginning to spread like stars sparking the prairie!

People’s interest in him was not merely because of his cycling skills but because the fire within their own hearts had been kindled!

This look was so captivating that Yuan Peng couldn’t get enough, yet he replayed the video over and over not to see that look again, but because he felt the figure seemed familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before!