Chapter Eleven: My Roommate Wang Ao and Choosing the Path!

“What is it? Is there something else?” Jiang Yi asked.

Liu Xiaoyu replied, “No, nothing in particular. I just wanted to say... your two songs, I... we all really like them. Keep going, don’t lose heart. If you advance, during the following competitions, our company will arrange for professional teachers to help you improve your skills. You can slowly make up for any weaknesses.”

Jiang Yi smiled and said, “Thank you, I will.”

Liu Xiaoyu said, “Yes, keep it up. Maybe you’ll even become the champion.”

Jiang Yi shook his head. “Champion? How is that possible? With my level? I’m just here to make up the numbers. My self-assessment is clear.”

Liu Xiaoyu merely said, “We’re responsible for selecting contestants... At least among the original works I’ve heard from the candidates, personally, yours is the best.”

“Haha, thanks for the encouragement.” Jiang Yi smiled, exchanged a few words, and then left.

Although Liu Xiaoyu said this, Jiang Yi didn’t hold much hope. He knew his abilities were mediocre at best.

He was only able to participate in the show thanks to the classic songs provided by the system.

These songs were mere scraps from the strongest scriptwriting system.

More importantly, even if Jiang Yi became famous as a singer, it wouldn’t matter! He wouldn’t receive any system rewards! His ultimate goal was to become a screenwriter!

So, whether he won the championship in this competition truly didn’t matter to Jiang Yi. What mattered was whether he could gain some notoriety.

Later, would he be able to sell his scripts, secure investments, and complete the system’s tasks?

Of course!

Even if he was just making up the numbers!

Since he’d entered the competition, he still had to take it seriously.

Jiang Yi returned to the dormitory, intending to take a shower and rest well, so he’d be full of energy for tomorrow’s competition. —Though, it seemed there wasn’t much left to prepare.

After all, he was just going to sing “Those Years,” a song he’d sung so many times recently he was nearly sick of it. He really didn’t need to prepare anything else.

...

“Jiang Yi…”

But just as Jiang Yi finished showering,

The door was knocked.

Jiang Yi opened the door.

It was Liu Xiaoyu. “You again… Sister Xiaoyu, what brings you here?” After a moment’s thought, Jiang Yi addressed her as “sister.”

Although Liu Xiaoyu was young, just out of university, Jiang Yi had only graduated high school, so calling her “sister” was perfectly normal.

Liu Xiaoyu glanced at Jiang Yi. “You’re not asleep yet, right? Good! I brought your new roommate…” Behind her stood a short-haired, square-faced boy carrying a guitar.

As a newcomer, Liu Xiaoyu was currently doing all sorts of odd jobs.

“Hmm?” Jiang Yi turned and his pupils contracted instantly—he knew this person.

His name was Wang Ao, also from their high school! Student council president, president of the guitar club—a real celebrity at school!

Unexpectedly, Wang Ao had also come to participate in “The Sons of the Future”!

Liu Xiaoyu walked in and said to Jiang Yi, “Jiang Yi, he’s also a contestant. We’re arranging for him to stay with you. By the way, I noticed you’re both from the same place and the same high school, so you must know each other?”

Before Jiang Yi could reply,

Wang Ao interrupted Liu Xiaoyu. “Jiang Yi, of course I know him—top nerd of the grade, this year’s college entrance exam, his score beat mine… But if I hadn’t spent so much time on extracurricular activities, I wouldn’t have lost.”

Jiang Yi replied dryly, “Wang Ao, you’ve been saying that for three years.”

Wang Ao’s face stiffened.

But then, unfazed, he continued, “That’s only because I didn’t want to change myself just to surpass you! I have no regrets—I’ve always pursued well-rounded development in character, intellect, fitness, aesthetics, and labor. But wait, Jiang Yi, what are you doing here? How did a nerd like you get accepted for ‘The Sons of the Future’?”

He didn’t wait for Jiang Yi or Liu Xiaoyu to answer, and went on, “Man, being handsome really helps. With your lousy guitar skills, you still got through the auditions.”

Jiang Yi couldn’t be bothered to respond.

At this point, Liu Xiaoyu was surprised. “Oh, so there’s a history between you two?”

She hesitated, “But you two seem a bit... at odds? Originally, we thought since you’re alumni, it’d be good for you to room together. Should I arrange something else?” She couldn’t help but worry.

“No need! I’ll stay here!” Before Jiang Yi could say anything, Wang Ao declared, “I’m not that petty! Though Jiang Yi always beat me academically, that was my own choice—I spent a lot of time cultivating other talents. Overall, we don’t have any grudges, nothing stopping us from sharing a room. Right, Jiang Yi?”

With Wang Ao saying this, what could Jiang Yi say? Refuse? That would only make him seem petty.

“Yes, that’s true.” Jiang Yi nodded. “There’s no reason we can’t room together. Anyway, in high school, I never saw you as a rival. Each exam, I only compared myself to my last score.”

Wang Ao was speechless.

Liu Xiaoyu looked them both over, confirmed they could room together, and then left.

After Liu Xiaoyu was gone,

Only Jiang Yi and Wang Ao remained in the dormitory.

Jiang Yi hadn’t taken the initiative to speak.

“By the way, Jiang Yi, look at how fate has brought us together! Same high school, now both selected for ‘The Sons of the Future’, and roommates too!” Wang Ao approached enthusiastically. “Let’s get along, become friends, what do you say?”

He actually said this.

“Sure.” Jiang Yi was surprised, but naturally nodded and shook Wang Ao’s hand.

Originally, Jiang Yi was a nerd, always outscoring Wang Ao academically. Wang Ao was always disgruntled, unable to beat Jiang Yi, forced to accept it. Now, though, Wang Ao was likely feeling confident.

After all, the arena had shifted from the exam hall to the talent show stage!

Talent shows were about skills!

Wang Ao was active in all sorts of extracurriculars at school, president of the guitar club, versatile and talented, and believed he could easily surpass Jiang Yi here.

So now he was so magnanimous.

But Jiang Yi didn’t bother to argue.

“Come, come, such a coincidence, let’s take a photo together!” Wang Ao threw his arm around Jiang Yi’s shoulder, took out his phone, and snapped a selfie.

Jiang Yi thought Wang Ao genuinely wanted to make friends. He didn’t know anyone in “The Sons of the Future,” so he welcomed the gesture.

Afterward,

Wang Ao asked, “By the way, Jiang Yi, which track did you choose? The ‘Beauty’ track, right?” Wang Ao figured Jiang Yi must have gotten through thanks to his looks.

However,

Jiang Yi shook his head, “No, I chose the ‘Solo’ track.”

He had already made up his mind during his shower earlier.