A journey with hardship

Episode : 3

The apartment itself barely had enough space for all three of them comfortably.

The wallpaper peeled near the corners.

The kitchen sink leaked occasionally.

During winter, cold air slipped through the old windows no matter how many blankets they used.

But Xiao Chen loved this place fiercely.

Because it was home.

Because every exhausting day ended here.

Because his mother smiled more here than she ever did after his father left years ago.

Xiao Chen grabbed his backpack before checking the small clock near the door.

Late again.

Perfect.

“I’ll work after class tonight,” he said while putting on his shoes.

His mother frowned slightly.

“You barely slept yesterday.”

“I’m young. My organs still believe in me.”

“That’s not how health works.”

Xiao Chen grinned before kissing her cheek quickly.

“Trust me.”

Then he looked toward his younger brother.

“And you. Study properly.”

Xiao Jun rolled his eyes dramatically.

“You sound forty.”

“Respect your hardworking older brother.”

“You ate my dumpling.”

“That’s unrelated.”

Another laugh escaped their mother softly.

Xiao Chen memorized that sound without realizing it.

Years later, he would miss mornings like this more than anything.

—

University classes ended at four.

His supermarket shift started at five.

And afterward he still had dance practice near midnight for backup performance work.

Most days felt endless.

The supermarket manager liked yelling.

Customers liked complaining.

The pay barely covered rent and bills.

But Xiao Chen never complained seriously.

Because he had already promised himself something years ago.

One day—

he would give his family a better life.

A real home.

A kitchen that didn’t leak.

A bedroom for his brother.

Medicine for his mother without checking prices first.

And maybe…

maybe someday…

his own name on a movie screen.

The thought alone kept him moving forward.

Even during exhausting nights.

Even during rejection after rejection.

Even when casting directors barely looked at him during auditions.

“Next.”

“Too inexperienced.”

“We’ll contact you later.”

Nobody ever contacted him later.

Still, Xiao Chen kept trying.

Because dreams were stubborn things.

And so was he.

Late that night, after finishing supermarket work, Xiao Chen arrived breathlessly at a small underground dance studio.

Sweat already clung to his shirt.

His legs ached horribly.

But the moment music started playing, something inside him changed.

Alive.

That was the only word for it.

Under cheap fluorescent lights, surrounded by exhausted dancers chasing impossible futures, Xiao Chen smiled brighter than he had all day.

The instructor shouted counts loudly.

Bodies moved in rhythm.

Mirrors reflected ambition endlessly.

This world was hard.

Cruel sometimes.

But Xiao Chen loved performing too much to let go.

After practice ended near one in the morning, he remained behind alone briefly.

The empty studio reflected quietly around him.

He stood before the mirror breathing heavily.

Then softly—

“One day.”

Not arrogance.

Not fantasy.

Just determination.

One day people would know his name.

One day he would stand beneath real stage lights.

One day his mother would never worry about money again.

Xiao Chen smiled faintly at his own reflection.

Tired.

Hopeful.

Still dreaming.

Outside, distant city lights glowed against the dark night sky.

And somewhere far ahead in the future—

someone named Wang Yu had not yet realized this bright, stubborn boy would eventually become the most dangerous thing in his life.

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