Becoming a life winner from infancy

Meng Qing twisted her hair awkwardly, "It is... it's that, it's not because of sister! It's because... look, the fact that I can't beat you is true, isn't it?"

Fang You didn't respond directly to Meng Qing's words, but quietly took a sip of his soda, and then spoke calmly:

"I thought that after such a long period of special training, you might have made some progress, but if your determination is only to this extent, then I feel there is no need to continue with the special training..."

Fang You said and then stood up, ready to leave, when Meng Qing grabbed hold of his arm.

She pursed her lips and lowered her head, seeming to wrestle with her inner struggles, and Fang You didn't pull away. Instead, he watched her quietly, hoping she would muster the courage to speak her mind.

"Actually, at first, it was sister who dragged me to learn together."

"Sister's martial arts skills are very good, she is amazing, and the kids nearby all admire her. I admire sister as well, so when she taught me martial arts and said I also had talent, that's why I practiced martial arts with her."

"You see... I participated in this sport with an obligation, not because I liked it. So, I have always been confused about whether I truly like this sport or not."

"Even sister said back then that my eyes lacked the passion for martial arts, so I began to think that I indeed didn't like the sport that much, which is why I chose to give up later..."

"So, what are you trying to say? After all that, I still can't grasp the main point."

Fang You frowned and said, "Do you expect me, an eight-year-old kid, to comfort you, a 22-year-old big sister, saying 'It's okay, Meng Qing. You've tried your best. From now on, it all depends on me alone to save Jingji Children's Martial Arts Hall for you and your sister?' What makes you think you have the right to ask me to do that for you?"

"No, that's not what I mean, I am—"

"Then at least tell me your true thoughts."

Fang You lifted Meng Qing's chin, her gaze nervously shifting away.

"Look at me properly and say it."

"Tell me your genuine thoughts, don't hide anything from me."

"Only then can I decide whether or not to continue to help you."

"Otherwise, with that muddled look of yours right now, you won't be able to win the championship, nor do you deserve my guidance. You're just wasting my precious time."

Although he was only eight years old, at that moment Fang You stood tall while Meng Qing sat, forcing her to look up at the child who, despite his age, seemed towering and imposing like a father. Under his stern and decisive gaze, Meng Qing finally began to speak slowly:

"I..."

"I'm sorry, You You."

"There's something... I've been lying to you about from the start."

"I actually... didn't come back to martial arts just to carry on my sister's dream."

"It's because, because..."

"If I don't try to help out now, we—"

Meng Qing paused for a moment, then picked up a bottle of sparkling wine next to her and took several big gulps before ranting:

"Our family has mortgaged everything, including the house, to invest in this Martial Arts Hall. If the hall closes down, we will be homeless and bankrupt!"

...

Fang You released Meng Qing's chin, and at this moment, Meng Qing seemed to open the floodgates, drinking and muttering:

"Sister clearly knows this, knows how bad the situation is now at the Martial Arts Hall, and she still has the nerve to scold me. Do you know what she said? She even told me that I'm tarnishing the reputation of their Martial Arts Hall, that they absolutely cannot recruit students in such a way, and that those they recruit are not truly passionate about martial arts."

"She's not seeing all the students I've brought in... Is it the time to worry about reputation now? We can hardly survive, and she's still fussing over so much?"

Meng Qing continued complaining while holding on to Fang You's shoulder:

"My sister has been like this since she was young, always standing on the moral high ground to blame others, never caring about the trouble she causes those around her, nor reflecting on herself. It seems that if things go well, it's her achievement; if not, it's someone else's fault."

"And my parents are the same... always indulging her, giving her whatever she wants, never asking what I want, never noticing how hard I try..."

"I've been training so hard in martial arts, so why do they only praise my sister and not me? Wasn't it me who won the gold medal in the competition? Why, when my sister lost to me, did they only comfort her and not praise me? And they won't even let me display the medal at home? They say the gold medal wasn't earned by my own strength!"

"And you know what else? It was such a struggle for me to save the Martial Arts Hall all by myself, and just when I was about to meet the assessment targets, they go on about how they can't stand to watch my performance, telling me I don't need to come to the Martial Arts Hall anymore!"

"What is the meaning of this, huh? You You, tell me… do they see me as some sort of dog that can be called upon and dismissed at will? No word of thanks and they just start scolding me, completely unaware of how much I have given for the Martial Arts Hall…"

"Do you think I want to do this? I don't want to do it at all! I don't want to clean up this mess! I don't want to spend every day bowing to an eight-year-old kid, calling him 'master', and playing those shameful 'coach and student' games with him, okay!"

"?"

You're really spilling a bit too much truth here, girl. So from the very beginning, calling me 'Master' and all that… was it just you playing house with me?

[For the first time, you experience the feeling of a woman letting down your sincere efforts, knowledge energy +100]

But…

Being able to speak out is also good in a way…

Meng Qing has just been too repressive with herself, constantly tense like this might eventually break her down.

It's also an opportunity for her to vent properly.

Meng Qing kept on bitterly complaining about her sister's aloofness and her parents' favoritism towards her sister, itemizing the injustices she had always faced and how hard it was to constantly clean up after her sister.

After venting her frustrations like a disgruntled wife, Meng Qing seemed to relax quite a bit, babbling on to Fang You before her eyelids grew heavier and she eventually fell asleep on the dining table.

Fang You pushed her a few times, but there was no response.

Well, might as well let her sleep.

Fang You smoothly signaled to a passing waiter and said:

"Waiter, the bill."

...

The waiter was examining the amount on the bill, "The total comes to 324.5 yuan, will it be WeChat or Alipay—uh... is your mother drunk? Kid."

Fang You frowned slightly, "What mother? Does she look like my mother to you?"

"I'm sorry... oh, so she's your sister, then? How would you like to pay?"

"I'll take care of it."

Fang You opened his Smart Watch and scanned the QR code to pay the bill.

Fang You then helped Meng Qing to the street; Meng Qing was now like a limp piece of mud lying on Fang You, supported only by her body's instinctive reactions and half carried by Fang You.

Fang You didn't know where Meng Qing's house was, and it wasn't appropriate to take her directly home. If his mother saw a drunken coach being carried home by her son, he would undoubtedly be forbidden from continuing his training at Jingji Martial Arts Hall.

Of course, a hotel was even less suitable. Fang You still had to go home to sleep, and it wouldn't be right to just leave his sister alone in a hotel.

That left only one option.

Fang You hailed a taxi and stuffed Meng Qing into it, then got in himself.

"Where to, kid?"

"Hello, Uncle, please take us to the area around Gumountain Sports Park."

"Going to the park this late? Is your mother… alright?"

"We live across from the park."

"Oh, got it…"

The taxi raced through the streets, bringing Fang You and Meng Qing close to Fang You's home, near the sports park.