So Benny left home and went far away, tying a yellow balloon to its tail. It told its friends that when the day came it could stand on the highest stage and sing, it would release this yellow balloon into the sky, and no matter how far, its friends would definitely be able to see the yellow balloon. Benny entered the city and ran to the theater. The theater owner asked Benny what it could sing, and Benny stood up straight and sang seriously, “Ah, mouse!” The owner said, no one likes mice, you should sing, “Ah, cat!” Benny said, no, I will never sing about cats, I hate cats the most. The owner said, “Ah, cat!”

Benny said, “Ah, mouse!” They started arguing, and the owner kicked Benny out of the theater with one kick. It tumbled for a long time, finally hitting a wall, and the balloon on its tail popped with a “bang.” Benny cried for a long time, not because the owner didn’t like its song, but because it felt that maybe its good friends would never see that balloon again. Zoe Young’s expression turned gloomy as she told the story, and the audience was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. “Children, time’s up,” the host gently reminded. “But I haven’t finished yet,” Zoe Young calmly looked at the host and spoke into the microphone. The audience suddenly burst into laughter, followed by enthusiastic applause. With a stubborn look, Zoe Young didn’t even glance at the audience, only stared at the farthest back door of the theater, earnestly continuing her story, telling how the little mouse named Benny finally found appreciation after running into walls everywhere. “On the day of the performance, the owner asked Benny if it was ready. Benny said, I have one more request.” The owner asked, what request? Benny said, please buy me a yellow balloon, and when I sing, release it. My friends will see it, and they’ll know I’ve achieved my dream.” Zoe Young suddenly felt like crying again, not knowing why she was acting so strange in front of everyone. “Thank you, my story is finished.” She bowed deeply and left the stage with her seriously overtime story. Behind her was an unprecedented round of applause, lasting for a long time. “You did really well.”

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14. Happiness Comes Unexpectedly

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When Zoe Young returned backstage, only the last four contestants were left on the sofa. The children who had finished telling their stories, whether proud or disappointed, had all returned to the audience to wait with their parents for the final results.

Number 42 went on stage, and the remaining three were all contestants from the youth group, a few years older than Zoe Young, already looking like teenagers. One of the older girls smiled at Zoe Young and said, “We heard your story. Even though you went over time, it was very interesting.”

Zoe Young blushed a little. Just now on stage, she was like a runaway bull, leaving the host aside and getting lost in her own story. Only now did she realize what she had done. In a barely audible voice, she said, “…Thank you… Good luck, sister.”

There were no relatives of Zoe Young in the audience, so she had nowhere to go and just sat on the sofa waiting for the competition to end. The applause from the audience had made her very excited, but now, as it slowly cooled down, she felt a bit uneasy. She didn’t know what the result of going overtime would be, but it would definitely have a big impact on her score. Maybe the audience would remember this girl with a lot of personality, but when the competition ended and the crowd dispersed, she would be nothing again. She wouldn’t get a certificate, couldn’t report back to her school, and would fall back to square one.

She couldn’t exactly explain to the team counselor that she actually did pretty well, could she? But—she was still very happy. It was worth it. She sank into the sofa, and after the competition, no matter the result, that feeling of relaxation was so good that she even felt a little sleepy, her eyelids starting to droop. She vaguely heard the host announce a ten-minute intermission, and that the final results would be announced after the scores were calculated. The audience gradually became noisy, but she slowly drifted into a daze.

“Zoe?” She opened her eyes and saw Alan Carter standing in front of her.

Zoe Young hurriedly stood up, wanting to say something modest, but after thinking about it, felt it wasn’t necessary, so she just nodded, “Thank you.”

Alan Carter peeked out through the curtain, “Did your mom and dad come?” “No. She… they had something to do.” “Oh, it’s a pity they couldn’t see your wonderful performance.” Alan Carter was still the same, even saying these routine polite words made him seem incredibly sincere.

Zoe Young suddenly realized that they weren’t just ordinary acquaintances; they knew each other because Alan Carter’s grandmother was her mother’s client. Thinking of this, she suddenly lowered her head and blurted out, “Mom changed jobs, she… she works at a trading company now.”

She vaguely remembered that trading companies seemed to be very good companies, and anything with the word “trading” seemed high-end.

She couldn’t say why she suddenly said this. Was it for her own vanity, for her mother’s pride, or just a child’s unconscious showing off? But as soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it.

Because it only made her not-so-obvious inferiority complex even bigger. She shook her head, smiled awkwardly, and didn’t dare look up at Alan Carter. When she suddenly felt a warm hand on her head, her heart finally settled down. “Mm, that’s great. My aunt also works in trading, she’s very busy.” Alan Carter half-squatted down and smiled at her, “So Zoe, you must listen to your mom and not make her worry.” Zoe Young gratefully looked up. He had resolved her embarrassment, even if it was in the way one would treat a little kid—of course, compared to him, she really was an immature child. “I know, I’ll be good.” She added at the end, “Thank you.” “Mm, Zoe told such a good story and is so polite, I’m sure you won’t make your mom work too hard, I know it.” He stood up, put his hand on her shoulder from behind, “Your parents didn’t come, so how will you get home after the competition?” “I told my uncle the competition would end around twelve thirty, so he’ll pick me up at the main entrance of the Children’s Palace.” “That’s good. Don’t stay backstage by yourself, come with me to the audience. I forgot to mention, my aunt’s little cousin just told me she knows you.” “Oh?” “Her name is Claire Daniels.”

“Ah, yes, she’s your cousin? I know her.” “Mm, my aunt’s whole family is in the audience, let’s go together, okay?” Zoe Young felt a bit nervous. She didn’t know that the feeling overflowing in her heart was actually called happiness, a more hidden kind of happiness.

“Okay.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the two hosts carrying the list, walking through the empty backstage to the microphone. “Would all audience members please return to your seats, we are about to announce the competition scores and final results.” Zoe Young instinctively grabbed Alan Carter’s hand. Her small hand was icy cold, as if it had instantly chilled at the words “final results.” Alan Carter’s hand was quite big, warm and dry, and when Zoe Young’s cold hand touched his, he shivered slightly, then opened his hand to wrap hers, half-squatting again beside her, saying, “Don’t be nervous, I have a feeling the result will be great.”

“Really? But I went over time…” What a silly question. She even sounded like she was about to cry. “A good story deserves more time,” Alan Carter said seriously. Zoe Young turned her head to look at the boy beside her, with a faint dimple on his left cheek, his eyes like the gentle sea after rain, even though she had only seen sunny coasts on TV. So please give me more time, Zoe Young thought, I will tell even better stories, for sure.

First announced were the 25 Excellence Awards—all the eliminated contestants would get this, so it basically meant nothing. However, they heard the name of Claire Daniels from Yuxin Primary School.

Zoe Young and Alan Carter exchanged a glance, saying nothing.

The host read the names very slowly, as if torturing them. Ten third prizes, five second prizes, three first prizes. Zoe Young never heard her name. She looked at Alan Carter in panic, as if calling for help. Alan Carter just smiled, a very happy smile, and squeezed Zoe Young’s hand, half-hugging her from behind, whispering in her ear, “See, I was right? Wait, the magic moment is coming.” Magic moment?

“Finally, we will announce the Grand Prize!” the host said with a beaming smile. Zoe Young seemed to see the second and minute hands of the magic clock gently coming together. “Youth group, Haicheng Primary School, sixth grade, Rachel Yule.” “Children’s group, Normal University Affiliated Primary School, Zoe Young.” Zoe Young stood there in a daze, the stage before her a field of shining light, happiness arriving so suddenly, without warning.

She forgot to lift her skirt and bow gracefully, only able to stand there, looking at the happiness fluttering toward her, stammering, “You, why are you here? You, are you really here for me?”

Are you really the happiness that belongs to me?