Chapter 171: Shoot Oneself in the Foot (2/2)
”Your father is right, you are really gifted.” Dai Li suddenly remembered Sijie Yang was an A-level athlete, so he asked, ”Is your dad a retired athlete?”
Sijie Yang shook his head.
”Then he must be a coach!” Dai Li said.
Sijie Yang shook his head again and responded, ”He is a scientist.”
”Scientist? Like sports science?” Dai Li was a bit shocked.
”Biology. My dad studies biology,” Sijie Yang said.
”Oh!” Dai Li nodded. Biology was something he knew nothing about. He did not want to attempt to discuss it and embarrass himself.
”So you're saying that you didn't choose to be an athlete, your dad did?” Dai Li looked at Sijie Yang. Sijie Yang didn't reply, but nodded his head in silence.
”You don't like the idea of sprinting or being an athlete. Did you tell your dad about this?” Dai Li asked.
Sijie Yang shook his head. ”No.”
”Why not?” Dai Li asked anxiously.
”It is not necessary. He is always right. He makes decisions for me all the time. I just need to do what he tells me.” Sijie Yang sounded calm, but also a bit sad.
”No one is always right,” Dai Li argued.
Sijie Yang lowered his head. He seemed like he didn't want to argue with Dai Li about this.
Dai Li could tell Sijie Yang's dad was an aggressive guy who got pleasure out of controlling others. His father had arranged everything for him, and Sijie Yang was used to arrangements being made by his father.
Suddenly Dai Li felt sympathetic for Sijie Yang. Maybe his father was right, and Sijie Yang could become a successful athlete by just doing what he was told. But he had lost himself. You could say he was a good son who did as he was tod, but you could also say he was a toy controlled by his father!
Dai Li inhaled deeply, then changed his tone and told Sijie Yang, ”Sijie Yang, look at me. Listen carefully.”
Sijie Yang raised his head and looked at him in the eyes.
”Sijie Yang, you are nineteen now. You are an adult. You have to make your own decisions. You can't depend on your father all the time; you have to think and act independently. Maybe your father is was right, but that doesn't mean you are wrong.”
”If you have your own dream, you need to fight for it! Dreams should not be buried deep inside you; they should be put in front of you to remind yourself to chase it with your actions!
”This is your dream, and your life. Your dad might be able to help you find a shortcut in your life, but he cannot determine your fate! You have to understand, you are a person, not a toy. You have to make things happen on your own. You have to walk by yourself and control your own life.”
Sijie Yang opened his mouth. There was an excitement in his eyes for a second, but it disappeared quickly. He said sadly, ”I completely understand what you're saying. But if I listen to you and do what I want—become a photographer—the first thing I need to do is stop practicing sprinting and quit the track and field team, right?”
”Well…” Dai Li suddenly hesitated. He realized he had made a huge mistake and shot himself in the foot.
He had been talking about dreams, but it had sounded like he was trying to persuade Sijie Yang to quit the track and field team.
What have I done? I wanted to ask him to give it his all in practice. How did it end up like this?