The Night Was Still Calm (Part 2)

"Fang Ran."

At some point, Yota had put his large black-rimmed glasses back on. He looked at Fang Ran on the reef, hesitant and somewhat awkward, seeming sad yet hopeful as he asked directly:

"How can I become like you?"

From that sentence alone, Fang Ran heard all the young man's expectations and unease.

He scratched his head and gave a helpless laugh. Bracing his hands against the reef, Fang Ran looked up at the starry sky with a happy smile.

"That's why I've been telling you, Yota, you need to take a proper look at yourself and stop being so hard on yourself."

"You're clearly a teenage hacker genius. Your family runs a big company in Magic City, your parents do international business, you know foreign languages, you can write novels, and you've got the face of a pretty boy who'd shine if someone just wiped off the dust."

"Becoming a fool like me should be easy."

"But I think it's hard."

Hearing him say that, Yota still hugged his knees, his voice as soft and downcast as ever.

"Yoshi! Then let me tell you a secret! A super easy trick!"

The instant he heard those words, Yota—who had not expected much but had suddenly received an answer—instinctively raised his head, his eyes slowly widening beyond his control.

He saw the young man atop the reef, dazzling stars behind him, smiling gently at him.

"Whenever you feel that you absolutely have to do something, just find the courage."

"Don't forget, Yota. You're a participant too."

Find the courage.

Yota stared at him blankly, lost in thought. Before he could understand what those words meant, he suddenly heard voices from nearby.

"Ah, found him! Found him! Yota, Yota! Magician just made an insanely delicious French dish!"

"Say, Xiao Dun Jia,