CHAPTER 235: CHAPTER 234: EMPATHY

Chapter 234: Empathy

The next duo to perform is He Yan and Xing Ren, performing ’Eclipse’ under the theme for Rivalry, another pair which was unfortunate to have the genre that doesn’t suit them.

For the both of them who became close friends even from the start of the competition— never even had any conflict towards each other, how can they deliver this performance?

Eclipse is a song with heavy lyrics describing a deep rivalry between two Gods with different perspectives. Among the songs from the three genres, this was the heaviest and obviously needed some people who can express deep negative emotions.

A rival that tackles two Gods from an opposite stand of beliefs— the good and evil. One God believes that everything in this world is good and beautiful while the other God believes that beneath the overflowing tenderness lies all the facade filled with darkness.

And with the fact that the God of goodness was highly sought out by the world, the God of evil became jealous and spread negativity to the world. However, the story didn’t end up like the usual. Since the God of goodness is inherently gentle and soft-hearted, people would often fool him and act pitiful just to have his power. He always believed that whatever humans do have reasons and thus he wanted to give them their wants so they won’t develop negative emotions.

Yet this belief turned into a sword that mercilessly stabbed him again and again everyday.

Meanwhile, the God of evil is inherently vigilant and scheming. Because of his cleverness and manipulation, he was not welcomed by the world and was always thrown away. It was extremely hurtful as a God as humans treated him like a plague. However it was also due to his sharp intuition that he was never fooled nor manipulated and thus never been hurt by humans.

This made the God of goodness feel envious and for the first time— jealousy, a negative emotion that was born inside him.

One was jealous because he thought humans don’t want to hurt him while the other one felt hatred because he thought he will never be everyone’s choice.

A kind of misunderstanding but since that’s what they believe, a rivalry formed between them.

The God of goodness wanted to fight with the evil due to his misunderstanding why he was not targeted and the other God wanted to kill the former due to his unwillingness to be isolated.

This song is full of deep emotions that cannot be brought upon easily.

And with He Yan and Xing Ren? That’s almost impossible.

These two are known for their bright personalities. One has a cheerful and tenacious personality while the other one is a bit cowardly but full of tenderness. How can they perform a satisfactory one to achieve?

He Yan and Xing Ren were in a deadlock for how many days. They’ve been constantly seeking advice and even watching multiple rival movies but end up nothing.

He Yan couldn’t definitely imagine himself looking at his friend with hatred and determination to defeat, so is Xing Ren.

However both knew that they couldn’t stay at this level or else their stay here would definitely end.

In the end, it was actually Xu Xinyi who aided and talked to each of them privately.

"He Yan, the problem with you is you always thought about how to empathize with people too much."

The young man was stunned at her words. Was she saying that it’s wrong to empathize?

"Considering other people’s feelings and experience to either treat them well or before deciding is never a wrong action. It’s a good way of being thoughtful. What’s wrong with it? When it’s too much."

"But how can you think that it might be too much?" the young man asked with worry. Xu Xinyi looked at the confused and troubled expression of the child and sighs deeply inside her.

"When you didn’t notice that they were already manipulating you." Xu Xinyi didn’t hesitate to say these blunt words. "When you didn’t see how their experience and words are just said to use you."

"..." He Yan was speechless.

"Some of the trainees did something wrong to you, didn’t they?" Xu Xinyi saw many times wherein this young man didn’t even notice how easily he was manipulated by the people around him.

She saw him giving everything that his family sent just because others feel envy, saying their life wasn’t as lucky as him— thus, he gave it so his friends won’t feel lonely. She saw him letting others slack off during practice just because others said they were too tired from the pressure and they are not as good as his talent. And many more.

Others would think that He Yan is a great person— he is, but he was wrong.

Just because others envy your life, you are not obliged to give everything to them to satisfy their vanity. It is clearly not your fault that you are born from a privileged family more than them— unless your family did something wrong.

Or just because others said that you are more talented doesn’t mean that it also does not result from your extreme efforts to achieve things. Not only because you have the talent, right? He Yan practiced harder than them everyday— never said he was tired and never said he felt more pressure as the leader.

Yet he yielded silently for his friends just because he thinks that he needs to consider them for everything.

"... In short, you are too considerate." Xu Xinyi explained. "You don’t have to consider everything for them. What your family sent to you is for you. Didn’t you say you miss your family and wanted to treasure what they sent you? You don’t have to give them to others again and again just because they said it. You also don’t have to say yes when they try to slack off! How can they achieve things when they are just lazy? Do they think it was only because of your talent that you perform better than them? How stupid!" Xu Xinyi huffed in annoyance and squinted her eyes at the young man.

"Listen, they are just a bunch of fools who only thought about getting jealous of what others have instead of just working hard for themselves to improve!"

He Yan flinched slightly at her sudden outburst but couldn’t refute her.

... because isn’t that the truth?

He always remembers his mother’s words saying that the most beautiful emotion in the world is empathy. To be able to feel others and be with them.

Only when he tries to be in their shoes does he understand that their experience and pain isn’t easy. Only when he tries to consider the story behind their words that he will always try to be considerate.

Even if often it means disregarding his own feelings and his fate.

Is it bad? Is what he was doing wrong?

He Yan asked Xu Xinyi. The latter raised her eyebrows. "Try to say no and you will know. Remember to think about what you felt first before others."

So he did.

When a trainee asked for something he owned and wanted it, for the first time he said no.

"I-I’m sorry," he stammered, feeling anxious inside. "My Mom gave it to me so I can’t give it to you."

"He Yan?" Another trainee was also surprised by his rejection. "Didn’t he already say that he just wanted a little bit? You know that his family is too poor unlike yours. We just wanted to experience it because we are not as lucky as you."

Facing their reasons, his mind wavered and almost wanted to take back his words. But remembering what the mentor said, his heart suddenly firmed.

"What about it? Just because it is, do I have to give everything for myself? What about me?"

"... but you can still have another one when you go home."

He Yan lowered his eyes and stared at the bracelet that his mother sent him. This was actually her gift a long time ago. He had always worn it back at home because he really liked it. But just like they said, indeed if he asked for another one, his family would surely give it to him. But is that really a reason for him to give way?

Just because they couldn’t ’afford’ it, he has the obligation to give it? For what enough reason? Because they are friends? Is that what friends are for then?

Then why didn’t Qin An nor others he was close with asked him for this? Why didn’t they even ask for something he owned? Or do they just dislike what he has?

That’s not true. Even Qin An and Han Suwen agreed that this bracelet is very beautiful, for sure they like it too, but did they ask? No. Never.

Because they knew that he owned it. Because they knew that it was never for them. Even if they can’t have something like that, so what? Do they have to be like others too?

At this moment, He Yan finally realizes something.

Empathy is alright. It was really a beautiful emotion. But that’s it.

Empathy doesn’t mean to sacrifice everything you have to consider others. One can only be a support or a friend but there must never be a reason to be like him, a fool.

*****