CHAPTER 182: CHAPTER 181: CAO MING

Chapter 181: Cao Ming

In another matter, Cao Ming went back to the training camp but instead of sending good news on his arrival, he welcomed his team with his unexpected news— he will leave the competition.

Qian Jin looked at the young man in front of him with a worried face. "Are you sure of this decision?" he couldn’t help but ask again. "Classmate Cao, I think there’s still room for negotiation to this. Even after what happened, many still want to support you. They believe you can prove yourself on stage. And what about your dream, right?"

"Dream?" Cao Ming pauses for that word for a second before smiling a bit. "I joined the competition to prove that I can do better than him. You should know why."

Qian Jin didn’t know what to say after hearing that. They knew that he only joined to prove Bai Yue wrong about himself. Now that he found out that his brother is fake, what’s the purpose?

Maybe even being on stage wasn’t his dream.

Realizing this, Qian Jin exhales a deep sigh and knows that he can’t do anything anymore. After agreeing, Cao Ming was given some time to pack his things and bid farewell to the trainees.

When the trainees, especially his teammates learned about his decision, they quickly ran for an explanation.

"Cao Ming, isn’t this unfair to us?" His former member of the team couldn’t help himself anymore and express his thoughts.

Cao Ming and others stopped and looked at the one who voiced out and others.

"You decide to leave the competition but what about us? Do you think it’s too easy for us too? What about the team? What about our performance if you leave the group?"

Hearing the continuous questions from them, the crowd went silent and looked at Cao Ming for his response.

The young man paused but didn’t speak which made the trainees feel enraged even more.

The trainee scoffed and looked at him sarcastically. "You are really heartless." Then he left after bumping Cao Ming’s shoulder as he passed to leave. The other members also decided not to speak anymore after seeing his reactions and left with a disappointed look on their face.

"..."

Some trainees who were close to Cao Ming also advised that it’s better for him to continue the competition as it’s a bit of a pity for what he started already but they also knew about his decision so they didn’t think that could make him stay.

Instead, Han Suwen came forward and told him these;

"Won’t your conscience hurt that you’ll leave them hanging?" That left them stunned.

Han Suwen never cared about Cao Ming’s discord in the past. Even when the young man would speak unpleasantly in front of him, Han Suwen wouldn’t care but that also doesn’t mean that it’s fine.

Cao Ming knew that he certainly knew he was one of those people who drove Han Baiwei’s hatred to him even deeper but the latter just didn’t care.

It was unexpected that he would say anything today. Even if those words were blunt and harsh, the words spoken were real.

Would his conscience hurt to leave his team hanging? Of course indeed.

Cao Ming spent some time with them the most. They strive hard to work and perform well on stage together.

But his mind was in a state of confusion right now. He didn’t know what to decide.

"Or you can leave after this round." Xing Ren decided to speak an alternative. "Just perform with them, Cao Ming. It’s not that bad, right?"

Cao Ming went silent after and finally nodded after a few seconds. That made his friends sigh in relief and quickly inform Qian Jin about his decision.

The members of his team were also relieved but unfortunately, his decision had already created a gap between them so for the last days of practicing, there was never a proper conversation between him and them.

It was Cao Ming’s first time to be isolated but he knew this was the consequences. Aside from that, he had already expected this kind of treatment after everything. Even the fans outside were disappointed and decided to leave so he was not that surprised with this.

Truthfully, he didn’t know what to feel. He didn’t know what to do next.

When he went home and met that despicable family, his father had already dragged Bai Ruan to the prison for an interrogation. And when it’s already confirmed that the fake Bai Yue killed the original and his wife was even an accomplice, he went crazy and swore to never let the two out from the prison for the rest of his lives.

He did look like a loving father who sought justice for his dead son, doing everything that he could to punish all the evil doers even if it was his own wife.

But he knew. Cao Ming knew tha facade behind this.

He had seen his own father talk to the people and acted pitiful just for the sake of power and money. Isn’t that what he actually truly loves? Cao Ming knew that. And he knew that if it weren’t for the fact that Bai Ling’s crime went public, he would dare to hide the truth because his fake son was truly something he can use to climb higher.

The real Cao Jun is full of greed like Bai Ruan and Bai Ling.

But of course, Cao Ming didn’t actually feel that he was the only ’good’ inside the family. He himself has his flaws. He manipulated people for his needs. Even if it’s just to survive, it was his own fault.

Cao Ming had learned many things after what happened. Now that he realizes this, he is now left in confusion and lost.

Where is he even going or what are his plans after leaving the competition? He didn’t know.

For the first time, Cao Ming doesn’t have any plans for his future. There was no fear like what he had constantly felt because of Bai Ling, no anxiety, no doubts— everything, even joy.

He didn’t even know if he could perform as usual after this.

"Okay, we’ll take a break and practice again after 10 minutes."

Unlike before when they’ll invite him, the members left the practice room without a word for him.

Cao Ming didn’t say anything about their attitude and just continued wiping his sweat.

But when the door closed, he stopped his actions and quietly clenched his fist.

He doesn’t care.

He does not... right?

Cao Ming took a deep breath and calmed himself before deciding to practice again. He disregarded the tiredness and sweat on his body and focused on practicing.

Unknown to him, the real Bai Yue was in the corner of the room and looking at him.

After asking permission from Qin An, Bai Yue followed him to the house and witnessed everything. He watched Bai Ling and his own mother inside the prison to pay for what they did. When he saw their appearance behind the bars— dirty and completely crazy, Bai Yue had mixed feelings.

He never resented what they did when he was still alive as he felt that it was him who hadn’t done enough for them. Bai Yue felt back then that it was his own fault for not meeting his mother’s expectation of him so maybe it was just right that he chose Bai Ling and abandoned him.

Because as she said, he was too useless.

But looking at their situation now, which was the result of what he did, he felt relieved.

Especially when an unexpected thing happened.

Bai Ruan actually slapped his favorite son hard.

That was very shocking for him because as far as he remembered, Bai Ruan loved this son so much, how could she do that? But in the next second, her words awakened him.

’It’s all your fault! How could you do such stupid thing?! Such a useless thing! If I knew this would be the outcome after what I did for you, I would’ve chosen you!’

Those words clearly convey her real intentions. It’s not that he cared for Bai Ling, but it was all because he did better than him. And now that he destroyed her life, how could she still remember their memories together? It shows that she never cared about anyone other than herself.

When Bai Yue saw the shock on Bai Ling’s face, he finally realized how foolish he was to believe that she loved Bai Ling more than him. Even if that’s because the latter was more skilled, he thought that maybe because Bai Ling is more obedient she loves him too.

But it’s clear that she did not.

She loves no one other than her own greed and selfishness.

Other than that, he also saw his father’s facade... and Cao Ming’s loneliness.

Bai Yue actually felt his soul getting lightened as if all the burden inside him had faded away. When he asked Qin An, it was because the resentment inside him disappeared and it was only his voluntary decision to leave this world.

Does he feel he’s willing to leave now? Probably yes, after talking to Cao Ming.

****