To Be A Star - ZhanYi

Chapter - 6

The plot of the story is purely fictitious, any similarity to the reality is purely coincidental.

There stood Wang YiBo, his complexion radiant and flawless like jade. His eyebrows, sharp and defined, resembled a sword, while he wiped away his sweat with a towel. As he turned towards Xiao Zhan, there was no smile on his face, but his eyes—oh, his expressive eyes—seemed to be smiling. How could that even be possible?

"This is ZhanZhan, one of our trainers," introduced Xiao Zhan's fellow trainer to YiBo, who nodded in acknowledgement. "Laoshi hi, I'm YiBo," YiBo greeted and offered a smile. Xiao Zhan was taken aback. He hadn't expected to be greeted by YiBo, and his demeanor was refined, completely different from what he had seen in those videos. What was happening?

"Hello, Wang laoshi," Xiao Zhan greeted with a smile. As Wang YiBo was called by the trainer, he left to work out. Xiao Zhan turned to another trainer who stood next to a well-built man engrossed in his mobile. With a subtle eye gesture, Xiao Zhan silently asked what was going on. The trainer motioned for him to come closer, distancing himself from the well-built man.

"Wang YiBo has been here for five days, you know," the trainer whispered.

Xiao Zhan observed YiBo vigorously slamming the battle ropes, clearly exhausted but determined to keep exercising. Curiosity piqued, Xiao Zhan couldn't help but ask, "Why is he here?"

"He's here for a movie. Haven't you heard? He's starring in a police film called 'DaLie,' so he's preparing for his role. You should have come earlier, he's such a sweet guy—not like the others. He's incredibly hardworking and obedient. So, what brings you here?" the trainer inquired.

 Are you a fanboy?

Xiao Zhan resisted the urge to ask, instead, he responded, "I was bored at home and thought maybe one of you would be here, so I decided to come. But I didn't expect all four of you to be here."

"Oh, Mr. Tang informed Xie gege about the arrangement, and he knew I liked YiBo, so he told me. And I know DaCheng's girlfriend is a fan of YiBo, so I called him. You and Hu ge came on your own," the trainer explained.

Ah, that explains why you are praising YiBo.

As YiBo's trainer instructed him to take a break, YiBo squatted down in the same spot, taking deep breaths with his mouth. "I think you've achieved what you wanted, Wang laoshi. That's enough," his trainer, Xie gege, said.

"No, let me exercise for one more hour. This is so fun," YiBo insisted. Xie ge glanced at the well-built man who was still engrossed in his phone, seemingly unconcerned about his surroundings. Xiao Zhan speculated that he must be Wang YiBo's bodyguard. Xie ge then exchanged glances with the trainer next to Xiao Zhan, trying to convey a message that Xiao Zhan couldn't decipher.

"Wang laoshi, can you tell us how you entered the industry? I've seen many videos, but I'd love to hear it from you," the trainer next to Xiao Zhan chimed in, successfully capturing YiBo's attention.

"Oh, that," Wang YiBo shifted and leaned against the wall. Xiao Zhan now understood the message Xie ge was trying to convey. "Uh, okay. It's a bit emotional, but I'll share it," YiBo took a deep breath. "As you all know, I became an idol at the age of seventeen, but I actually came to Beijing when I was fifteen. I always had this burning desire to shine. I'm not sure when it became ingrained in my mind, but it has always been my goal."

He let out a weary sigh, as if he had grown tired of recounting the story, and continued, "Okay, it's a long story, but I'll give you a brief version. So, I came to Beijing to chase my dream, my wish, and my longing. But once I arrived here, I quickly realized that it wasn't as easy as I had imagined. At first, my primary goal was simply to survive. I faced deceit and insults from many people, but I learned one important lesson - I had no other choice but to believe in myself."

"When I first approached an entertainment company, they rejected me. But I persevered. I took on odd jobs, hopping from one dormitory to another because I had no place to live. I couldn't even afford the fees," he chuckled, although his laughter betrayed the pain he had endured. "Anyway, I finally got an opportunity at MingXing. Everything was completely new to me--"

Xiao Zhan couldn't say how others listened to YiBo's story, but he himself felt a deep resonance with his pain. He understood it because he had gone through similar struggles. Yet, YiBo had started this journey at a younger age than him, and his admiration for him grew even stronger. Just hearing a brief overview of what he had experienced evoked so much pain. Xiao Zhan couldn't help but wonder about the extent of YiBo's hardships and longed to know more.

"I had a burning desire to learn because I had no other choice. I had secured a stage that others coveted, but if I didn't continuously learn and improve, they would have discarded me. The competition was fierce. I set my goal and charged toward it like a determined horse. I didn't have exceptional academic qualifications or an extraordinary background, but I possessed one thing - my talents and unwavering belief in them," he said, his gaze fixed on the nails on his fingers.

"I gradually matured. From an outsider's perspective, it might have seemed like a sudden rise, as if I had appeared out of nowhere. But behind the scenes, I toiled relentlessly to reach my goals. I seized every opportunity that came my way, using them as stepping stones to be a star. And now, here I am. But I won't claim that everything was solely due to my efforts. It's also because of the people who believe in me, love me, and support me. I am immensely grateful to each and every one of them," he stood up and walked towards the mirror, his reflection staring back at him as he whispered, "To be a star..."

"You don't need luck to be a star. Setting goals, seizing opportunities, putting in effort, and staying persistent will bring you everything you need. But there's something even more crucial than all of that. After reaching your goal, you mustn't become complacent just because you've achieved it. You must continue to push forward and maintain the same level of dedication," he concluded.

Listening to Wang YiBo's words felt like receiving advice from his own grandmother. Xiao Zhan saw his grandmother reflected in YiBo, and at that moment, he realized something profound. He understood why he felt incomplete, why he believed he had no control over his life. It was time for him to take the reins and drive his own life. He needed to set meaningful goals and pursue them with determination.

"My grandmother gave me the same advice, but I didn't pay attention back then. It was only through my own experiences that I realized she was right. And now, here I am, sharing these words with all of you. Set a meaningful goal for yourself and work towards it," Wang YiBo said, fanning himself to cool down.

Without realizing it, Xiao Zhan blurted out, "But what if I don't have a goal? What should I do?"

"Oh, in that case, make me your goal, ge! Support me by buying the products I endorse and cheering me on as long as I'm in this industry," Wang YiBo joked and laughed.

××××××

A/N:

大猎 - Da Lie - Big Hunt (There isn't such a film)