Chapter 286 No One is Born Victorious

Song Ni did not expect Huan Yuan's thoughts to be so quick. She asked, "Do you wish for him to make a comeback?" Huan Yuan had no hesitation, he nodded. "Yes." He dreamt of being able to compete with Tan Zheng on a true racing track. Song Ni did not answer directly but looked up at the warm sun in the sky. "Look, gloomy days don't last long; the sun always arrives." Having accompanied Tan Zheng to the training grounds these past few times, she clearly felt that Tan Zheng was much happier than before, more energetic, as if he had aged several years. She liked this version of Tan Zheng very much. Doing what he loved, with such unrestrained joy, made him seem to glow with happiness. Tan Zheng walked over, and Huan Yuan wisely went to find Sheng Jiang. "What are you talking about?" Song Ni pointed to the warm sun in the sky. "Discussing today's good weather." Tan Zheng: ... Song Ni shrugged slightly, tilted her head to look at Tan Zheng sitting beside her, and asked, "Until when are you training today?" Tan Zheng loosened his protective gear. "Impatient?" "No, it's just that your hand cannot withstand such high-intensity training." Otherwise, the medicine applied every night would be in vain. Although Tan Zheng intended to return to the racing circuit, he was no longer as reckless. He now had Song Ni, and he needed to train moderately and cherish his body. Song Ni also noticed that Tan Zheng had been smoking much less since he started training. It was understandable; the five years of guilt were gone, the heavy burden lifted, and there was no longer a need for cigarettes and alcohol to drown his sorrows. During this time, Song Ni had also asked the hired aunt to start preparing meals for Tan Zheng, wanting to nurse his stomach back to health. The day of Sheng Jiang's competition was approaching, and they needed to travel to France two days in advance to acclimatize. It was Sheng Jiang's first time participating in an international event, and he was a bit nervous. Abroad, besides the people he knew from the club, the one he trusted the most was Song Ni. "Sister Ni, are you coming with us this time?" Seeing Sheng Jiang's rare display of nervousness, Song Ni asked, "What's wrong? Scared as soon as you're competing abroad?" Sheng Jiang touched the back of his head. "It's not that, it's just... I don't know anyone, and I don't understand what they're saying. I feel uncertain." Song Ni's brows furrowed. Sheng Jiang was, after all, just a young boy who had recently turned eighteen. He got along well with people in China and had a group of friends. Here, apart from training, he could only talk to her. However... "I can't these two days; I have to accompany my teacher to a show. But I will be there on the day of the competition to cheer you on." "Oh, I see." Sheng Jiang was a little disappointed, the light in his eyes dimming slightly. Song Ni nudged him with her elbow. "I know you want me to go with you, but I can't help it. Your Brother Tan will be with you all. You can talk to him if you need anything." Sheng Jiang chuckled. "In that case, forget it. I'm afraid he'll scold me if I talk to him." Song Ni burst out laughing. "It's not that exaggerated. Your Brother Tan is very soft-hearted and gentle." Sheng Jiang's eyes widened instantly. "Sister Ni, do you hear what you're saying?" Brother Tan is soft-hearted? Brother Tan is gentle? Although he was naive, he wasn't stupid. He had never seen Brother Tan act gentle. Ha, could he compare to Sister Ni? No, if softness and gentleness were concerned, they were just illusions to them! Seeing Sheng Jiang's disbelief, Song Ni repeated, "I'm serious." Sheng Jiang rubbed his nose, unsure how to respond. "If you don't believe me, go and test him yourself. See if your Brother Tan is a gentle person." Sheng Jiang followed Song Ni's suggestion. "How do I test him?" Song Ni recalled her interactions with Tan Zheng. Whenever she showed a little weakness or revealed any unhappiness, Tan Zheng would gently coax her. "Just say you're too nervous about the competition to sleep." Sheng Jiang was also curious. Was Brother Tan's gentleness only for Sister Ni? "Okay." Sheng Jiang went to find Tan Zheng and returned three minutes later with a dejected expression. Song Ni: ... "What's wrong?" "I asked Brother Tan as you suggested. He said if I can't sleep, I should go do a few more laps. If you get this nervous over a competition, how can you win a championship?" Song Ni: ... "I'll go talk to him for you." Song Ni went to find Tan Zheng and returned three minutes later with a frown. Sheng Jiang looked confused. "Did Brother Tan scold you too, Sister Ni?" Song Ni shook her head. "He said this competition isn't top-tier, it's the same as domestic competitions, so there's no need to be nervous. If you want to win, you have to learn to adjust your emotions and state before a race." Sheng Jiang blinked. "And then?" Song Ni looked at Sheng Jiang, her finger resting on her chin. "I think what he said makes sense." Sheng Jiang: ... He felt like he had been played by this couple, and he had proof. Song Ni laughed. "I was teasing you. You're still young, and it's understandable to be nervous. However, you do need to learn how to adjust your emotions and state. Xiao Jiang, to win a championship, you must achieve this step." Sheng Jiang understood the logic, but there were so many principles in the world, and how many could be acted upon according to logic? Even if it were possible, it would take time. Song Ni had clearly considered this too. "How about this, I'll take you for a ride. You taught me how to ride a motorcycle before, now let's have Coach Sheng inspect the results." Young boys need recognition the most. Song Ni's calling him Coach Sheng instantly made Sheng Jiang feel less dejected. "Okay." Song Ni informed Tan Zheng. Tan Zheng was a bit occupied. He glanced at Sheng Jiang. "Remember to be safe." Song Ni made a gesture of assurance. "Don't worry, we won't go far." The road sections where motorcycles were allowed to ride were not long. After changing their clothes, the two set off. Sheng Jiang rode very fast, and Song Ni couldn't keep up, so she followed at a distance. Wherever Sheng Jiang rode, Song Ni followed. About half an hour later, Sheng Jiang finally stopped. When he took off his helmet, the worry in his eyes had dissipated. He looked at Song Ni, who had just stopped. "Sister Ni, it seems you still need to practice." Song Ni took off her helmet and casually shook her head to fix her hair. "How can I compare to you? I only learned not long ago. It's normal to have difficulty catching up to you." Sheng Jiang was stunned and pondered Song Ni's words repeatedly. Seeing his serious expression, Song Ni smiled and continued, "No one is born a winner, no one is born to win championships, not even your Brother Tan. You all say his talent is exceptional, but before competitions, he also undergoes numerous training sessions. When he first started, he couldn't compare to seasoned racers, but people improve. As long as you are willing to put in the effort, you will eventually get closer to what you desire." "Xiao Jiang, do you really think you can't compare to Huan Yuan?" Song Ni saw everything clearly. Ever since Huan Yuan joined the club, Sheng Jiang had become less confident. Huan Yuan was only three or four years older than him but had already participated in many competitions and won numerous championships, even earning the nickname "the second Tan Zheng." In comparison, it was normal for Sheng Jiang to doubt his abilities, especially after competing with Huan Yuan. Sheng Jiang's eyes drooped, his heart touched by Song Ni's words. He asked, "Sister Ni, can I be better than him?"