Chapter 20: I Have a Dream!

Wang Chen recalled that, throughout his life, he had occasionally overheard classmates discussing the strange and fascinating traits of various nonhuman races. Yet he himself had never had much interaction with them; at most, when passing an exotic-looking foreigner on the street, he might glance twice out of curiosity.

Who would have thought that nonhumans living among humans endured such a turbulent fate?

He fell into deep thought. Seeing his silence, Na'er continued speaking.

"There are always nonhumans who, for various reasons, become displaced, beginning a wandering that lasts centuries. Those among them who possess long lifespans receive no blessing for it, but rather suffer torment for even longer!"

Her voice grew faint, colored by sorrow.

"Yet even as they are swept along by misfortune, they find no pity from the intelligent beings around them—only continued mockery and abuse. Are we not all sentient creatures? Is there truly not a shred of compassion to be found?"

"How many desperate nonhumans have come here, willing to abase themselves just for a corner to rest in, a bowl of food to fill their stomachs? There is no light in their eyes, as if they have already died, leaving only empty shells behind in the world of the living!"

Wang Chen gazed silently at Na'er.

Her words were misty and indistinct, as if accusing someone or something, but with no clear target.

Still, he understood. He could feel Na'er's helplessness, her confusion, her anger at a world she could not change.

"I understand how you feel," Wang Chen said at last, his voice low.

"How could you?" Na'er scoffed. "You're human. Isn't your people thriving these days?"

"It won't be long before humanity may become the only intelligent race left—maybe two hundred years, maybe less!"

"I truly do understand," Wang Chen said earnestly, "but it seems you don't quite understand me."

Before she could reply, he went on, "This isn't about race. The feeling of being despised and trampled on has nothing to do with what you are—it only depends on whether this society is just and compassionate."

"Do you know? I grew up alone. In the orphanage, the older kids always bullied the younger ones. They took our food and toys, even if it was just coarse dry bread or plastic soldiers missing arms and legs."

"When I went to school, the rich and powerful kids mocked my patched clothes and forced the other kids from ordinary families to shun me."

"When I went to the marketplace, I was treated coldly for not dressing well enough."

"Every day, I endured this kind of scorn and treatment. How is that different from what you describe? In this harsh world, those without support—how are they any different from nonhumans?"

Wang Chen clenched his teeth, exposing the deepest wounds he'd hidden beneath his careless façade.

He didn't know why he was telling all this to a woman he'd just met—perhaps it was the three pints of beer he had actually drunk. His tolerance was embarrassingly low. Or maybe, hearing Na'er insist that only nonhumans could understand such suffering, he felt a sudden, inexplicable anger.

To be discriminated against, to be abused, has nothing to do with race. Sometimes, those who look just like you are the first to stab you in the heart.

His grief and indignation were too deep.

Na'er stared at him, eyes wide, lips parted in astonishment, speechless at his thunderous words.

"But I will never yield!" Wang Chen declared, voice steady, his face burning with unyielding fury.

"In the orphanage, I waited until those bullies were alone, then took a brick to each of them, beating them until their faces were bruised and bleeding. Even when I was punished afterward—locked up, left without food—it didn't matter. If they dared try again, I'd do the same!"

"After that, they always made way when they saw me coming. They never dared take my things again!"

He stood up, excitement surging.

"In school, I studied every subject with all my might, wringing out every drop of effort to excel."

"Because I knew: when it rained, others had umbrellas. I could only run through the storm."

"My first year of high school, I met classmates from privileged families—they'd enjoyed the finest resources since birth, their experience and grades far outstripped mine."

"But a year later, I was ranked first in the entire school. I had witnessed the faintest glimmer of dawn every morning!"

He thumped his chest, his pride unconcealed.

"This is how I live. I will never run away. I will never wallow in self-pity or blame the world as you do!"

He raised his right hand high, pointing at the ceiling. "I will climb, step by step, to the very top—not for revenge on this world, but so that there will be no more discrimination, so no poor child will ever be bullied again!"

"I have a dream. A dream that one day, children will see no difference between rich and poor, but treat each other as brothers."

"A dream that one day, this society rife with prejudice and injustice will become a promised land of freedom and equality!"

"A dream that one day, people will be judged by their character—not by their race or origin!"

Wang Chen raised his arm high, as if addressing a multitude. "That day will come! The valleys will rise, the mountains be made low, crooked roads become straight!"

He turned to Na'er, eyes blazing with determination.

"Then, whether human or nonhuman, all will say this is a land of equality and compassion!"

He gazed into the void, as if beholding a vision of Eden.

"Let the voice of freedom and fraternity ring out from the forty-nine provinces of the Yao Long Empire!"

"Let the voice of freedom and fraternity resound from the vast deserts and steppes of the Yuè Empire!"

"Let the voice of freedom and fraternity echo in the drifting cherry blossoms of the Sakura Empire!"

"Let the voice of freedom and fraternity fill the lofty, solemn cathedrals of the Holy Empire!"

Wang Chen’s tone dropped to a hush.

"After that, there will be no more lost girls wandering the night as you do."

...

Na'er lowered her gaze, her hair cascading like a waterfall over her neck, her shoulders trembling as she wept softly.

After pouring out his heart, Wang Chen calmed down, but seeing Na'er like this, he didn't know whether to stand or sit.

"Miss Na'er, I'm sorry. I got a little carried away and said too much. Please don't mind me."

He pulled a few tissues from the coffee table and handed them to her.

Na'er shook her head, her reddened eyes meeting his directly.

"No, you spoke beautifully!"

"You are the one I've been waiting for!"

She wiped her tears and stood before him. Before Wang Chen could react, she removed the tassel earring from her ear.

The moment she took it off, a surge of violet light burst forth, dazzling Wang Chen's eyes.

When he blinked again, Na'er looked entirely different.

Her ears, once rounded and smooth as jade, had grown noticeably longer, their tips delicate and pointed.

Her features had become even more refined and striking, with a hint of exotic allure. Her once brown eyes now shone emerald green, like two precious cat’s-eye gemstones.