In one of Nandu University's classrooms, Yue Zhao was doing his homework carefully.
Buzz, Buzz, Buzz… His cell phone started to vibrate. Yue Zhao checked the screen and saw that it was Dai Li. He left the classroom with his cell phone immediately, then answered the phone.
"Hello, Coach Li. What can I do for you?" Yue Zhao asked.
"I want to tell you the good news. The national team is planning to recruit you for the training camp for the Asian Games!" Dai Li continued, "But you will be specializing in the 200m sprint!"
"I was recruited by the national team?" Yue Zhao was surprised. He didn't expect the national team to still want to recruit him when he was already twenty-six.
"You are surprised, right?" Dai Li smiled and continued, "I am afraid you will not get an opportunity in the 100m sprint. If you want to stay on the national team, you have to specialize in the 200m sprint."
"I know!" Yue Zhao also knew that a 26-year-old athlete had no advantage in the 100m sprint; he wouldn't stand a chance against young competition. He might as well focus on the 200m sprint. With his technique and experience, maybe he could stay with the national team.
But the next second, Yue Zhao's parents popped into his mind. They didn't want him to be an athlete anymore.
"Coach Li, thank you! But I don't want be an athlete anymore. I want to study hard, obtain my master's degree, and find a stable job," Yue Zhao said.
"Are you going to give up?" Dai Li was surprised. He had helped Yue Zhao get such a good opportunity, and it had not been easy; but he had not expected that Yue Zhao would want to give up.
"You had a hard time recovering from your illness and returning to the field. Why do you want to give up? Because you are too old?" Dai Li asked eagerly.
"Not because of my age. It's because…." Yue Zhao hesitated, then finally said, "My parents don't want me to continue my career as an athlete."
"Their worries still stem from the misdiagnosed bone cancer, right?" Dai Li sighed deeply.
"My parents are getting old; they can't take a hit like that a second time," Yue Zhao said slowly.
"What about you? Are you willing to give up now? I remember you said you suffered a lot in the United States just for your leg treatment. What was the point of you doing so? Wasn't it so you could return to the field? Wasn't it to elongate your professional career? If you give up now, the hardships you have endured and your persistence will all have been in vain, right?" Dai Li continued trying to persuade Yue Zhao.
Yue Zhao said regretfully, "You are right. I want to continue my athletic career. However, people can't just live for themselves. My parents raised me, and have made so many sacrifices for me. I don't want to make them worry anymore."
"But this is your only opportunity! Moreover, this is the training camp for the Asian Games, which should be a heaven-sent chance for you. If you perform well, you would have a chance to participate in the Asian Games. This is an opportunity many athletes look forward to for their entire life. Do you really want to give it up?" Dai Li asked eagerly.
"I—I don't know! I really don't know!" Yue Zhao said bitterly, "Coach Li, please leave me alone! Just leave me alone, OK?"
Dai Li could sense the dilemma going on in Yue Zhao's heart. Yue Zhao was having trouble making a decision.
"OK. I guess the notification of the training camp for the Asian Games will be sent to Nandu University next month. Whether you come or not, it's your call."
A quite popular reality show was being played on TV. Yue Zhao's father was sitting in front of the TV and enjoying the program.
"Raise your legs!" Yue Zhao's mother commanded. Yue Zhao's father raised his legs immediately. The mop in Yue Zhao's mother's hands slipped under Yue Zhao's father's feet rapidly.
"Zhao, do you think something is wrong with our Little Yue Zhao these days?" Yue Zhao's mother said as she was mopping the floor.
"Yes, something is wrong with him. He is quite depressed." Yue Zhao's father continued, "I guess the examination is drawing near, and he's stressed out because of his studying. Don't worry, our son is grown; he will be OK."
"Agreed. Our son is not a small kid anymore. It's time to find him a girlfriend." Yue Zhao's mother said when she walked into another room with the mop.
"Right now we are in bad shape, though. We don't have an apartment; we don't have money, and we owe a great debt. No girl wants to be his wife," Yue Zhao's father said regretfully.
Then, Yue Zhao's mother suddenly said, "Zhao, come here and have a look at this!"
Yue Zhao's father stood up immediately and walked towards Yue Zhao's mother. On the desk in Yue Zhao's room, there was a notification that had been sent by the national team, offering Yue Zhao the opportunity to attend training camp for the Asian Games.
"I found this when I was cleaning the desk of Little Yue." Yue Zhao's mother said, "Zhao, did our son tell you this training camp for the Asian Games?"
Yue Zhao's father shook his head, "No, he didn't tell you either, right? Now I know why he was so depressed the last few day days. This is the reason!"
"We can't let him go! What would we do if he gets some disease again from training?" Yue Zhao's mother said firmly.
Yue Zhao's father didn't say a word. Then, after a moment, he said, "These last couple days I've been wondering whether our decision to prevent our son from continuing his athletic career is right or not."
"Of course we are correct!" Yue Zhao's mother said immediately. "Our son's athletic career got him bone cancer. His leg was almost amputated. Why should we allow him to continue?"
"But it seems like Little Yue Zhao is not happy." Looking at the notification for the Asian Games training camp on the desk, Yue Zhao's father continued, "Little Yue Zhao definitely wants to attend this training camp, but he hasn't told us yet. Our son is very sensible; he knew we would oppose him."
Both of them were silent. Recently, Yue Zhao's smile had indeed become rare. Yue Zhao had been especially depressed the last two days, which could easily be sensed by his parents.
"I think we have made the wrong decision," Yue Zhao's father said suddenly.
After the dinner, Yue Zhao stayed in the classroom for two hours before going back home.
"Mom, dad, I'm home." Yue Zhao entered his house and found that his parents seemed to be waiting for him. The next second, he saw the enrollment notification for the Asian Games training camp on the desk.
"Mom, dad, this is…" Yue Zhao felt like he had been caught red-handed. For a second he wasn't sure how to explain things.
"It is nothing but a notification. I wasn't planning on going," Yue Zhao said against his will.
Yue Zhao's mother said, "If you want to attend this Asian Games training camp, just go!"
"Mom, what did you just say?" Yue Zhao couldn't believe what he had heard. His mother had always opposed his wish to continue his athletic career.
"Your mom and I all know you are reluctant to give up after so many years of sprint training. You also want to go back to the national team. Just go and attend this Asian Games training camp. Work hard with the national team and try to attend the Asian Games," Yue Zhao's father said.
"Why?" Yue Zhao did not understand what was going on. "Don't you always hope that I don't continue my athletic career?"
"Silly boy; we don't want you to be an athlete because we are afraid you could be injured again during training. But we also want you to be happy," Yue Zhao's mother said sincerely and earnestly.
"My son, your mom and I know the Asian Games are only held once every four years. Training camp for the Asian Games is a rare opportunity; we don't want you regret not going. Just go—this time your dad and mom support you!"