Otaku Translation: Literary Genius: This Kid Was Born Smart C59

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Chapter 59: Farewell, For Now

[Dad, when are you coming back?]

[There’s another parent-teacher meeting coming up. Do you think you’ll have time to come?]

[It’s Jiayu’s birthday soon. If you can, remember to call her.]

[Dad… I miss you.]

[…]

Gu Lu had read the message history before. The messages came at a steady pace—roughly one every week or two.

Two things struck him as odd. First, the original owner of this body had sent plenty of texts but never once complained about being hungry. Second, despite forgetting his own birthday, he remembered the birthdays of his parents and younger sister with perfect clarity.

Gu Lu thought to himself, “Crying kids get candy, kid. Don’t you know how this works? Wait, no—that’s not right. Even if he wanted to cry, it wouldn’t matter; no one would care… Except for his little sister, maybe. But he’d never let her see him break down.”

People who’ve been rained on tend to react in one of two ways: either they rip apart someone else’s umbrella, or they become like the previous owner of this body—quietly enduring while keeping their pain hidden.

As Gu Lu’s father read through each message, a sharp pang of guilt stabbed at his heart. Without warning, Gu Lu’s dad slapped himself hard across the face.

SMACK! The sound echoed loudly in the room.

Gu Lu couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Was that supposed to be it? Why stop after just one slap? Go ahead, give yourself another couple for good measure.

“Son, I’m so sorry,” his father said, voice trembling with remorse. “From now on, I’ll answer your calls. I promise to raise you properly.”

Gu Lu believed the apology was genuine—at least, for the moment. But expecting this guilt to last longer than a week? That was wishful thinking.

The future? You’ve got to be kidding me, Gu Lu thought bitterly. What kind of ‘future’ do you think we’re talking about here?

The plan had always been simple: once high school started, he’d move out, rent his own place, and cut ties completely. Life was something you lived for yourself—not for anyone else. After all, twenty-four years of experience from his past life had taught him one thing: never trust the words of drunks or gamblers.

“I’ll make you your favorite meal today,” his father declared suddenly, taking a deep breath before rushing out the door as though fleeing from his own shame.

Gu Lu chuckled quietly, shaking his head. Did his dad really think he was still the same person—the type to suffer in silence without saying a word? A faint smile lingered on Gu Lu’s lips.

Whether it was pity for the original owner of this body or simply disdain for these neglectful parents, Gu Lu decided it was time they understood what their child had gone through—and what they had missed.

“No. 8 High School… I wonder what high school will be like compared to middle school?” Gu Lu mused aloud, feeling a flicker of anticipation for the days ahead.

“No wonder I felt like I forgot something important,” he muttered, smacking his forehead lightly.

He’d promised Zhao Juan he’d look up his birthday, but nearly half a month had passed, and he still hadn’t done it.

Where did the family register go again? Rummaging through drawers and cabinets, he finally found it.

“Ah, February 6th—it’s his birthday. Got it. Next year, I’ll make sure to celebrate my birthday,” Gu Lu murmured, half to himself and half to some invisible audience.

“I should find time to get an ID card. Once I have that, I can open a new bank account. At sixteen, I should be able to handle it on my own.” His mind turned to the next task.

What gift should I give Zhang Yudong? He decided quickly, then added, And I need to pick out a graduation present for Fan Xiaotian too.

If he asked his parents to buy him Sherlock Holmes stories, he must have an interest in detective fiction. In that case… The Tragedy of Z it is.

Gu Lu resolved to visit Xinhua Bookstore tomorrow during lunch. As for his best friend Fan Xiaotian, well, the guy seemed to spend most of his time either gaming or eating.

I can’t exactly gift him snacks, can I?

The evening passed uneventfully.

Tomorrow would be the final day. The students sharing books had yet to see the book corner materialize. With the high school entrance exam looming over them, teachers spent the day drilling reminders into their heads: what to bring, where to go, how to prepare. Despite their efforts, there were always bound to be students who messed up somehow.

“Waaahhh!” Fan Xiaotian approached Gu Lu, sniffling pitifully.

It was clear the boy was heartbroken—but between his dirty hands wiping away tears and the resulting black smudges under his eyes, he looked more like a character from Peking opera than a grieving teenager.

“What happened to you?” Gu Lu asked, trying to keep a straight face.

“I-I broke up! She dumped me yesterday!” Fan Xiaotian wailed, his voice cracking with emotion. “We were laughing and joking just a few days ago!”

Gu Lu bit his lip to stifle a laugh. Poor kid—he truly looked devastated. Still, the combination of snot, tears, and dramatic sobbing made it hard not to crack up.

“How far along were you two?” Gu Lu asked cautiously.

Fan Xiaotian froze mid-sob, his crying abruptly stopping. After a long pause, he muttered, “…We held hands.”

A faint blush crept onto his cheeks as he spoke.

Ah, young love, Gu Lu thought wistfully. At this age, holding hands feels like conquering the world.

“You did great, buddy,” Gu Lu reassured him. “Look at you—you managed to hold hands in middle school. By high school, you’ll probably be hugging. Seriously, you’re doing better than me. I didn’t even date anyone in three years of junior high.”

Fan Xiaotian nodded slowly. “Yeah, but I’m not sure I’ll even pass the exams. Compared to Einstein, I’m still a bit behind.”

I only mentioned Einstein as a joke, and you’re bringing it up now? Gu Lu coughed awkwardly, then pulled out a small package.

“Here, this is for you,” he said, handing over a book.

How to Improve Your Grades? Fan Xiaotian stared at the title, his expression screaming, Do you really think this is going to help me?!

---

June 22nd to 24th—a seemingly ordinary stretch of three days for Gu Lu and the perpetually lazy sun.

But for the ninth grade students facing the high school entrance exam, these days felt endless, almost unbearable. Before the results came out, no one knew how they’d performed.

For Class 5, however, the graduation banquet offered a brief reprieve from the anxiety. Or perhaps not—given the bittersweet nature of farewell feasts, it might only heighten the tension for some.

Regardless, reservations had been made at Zeng Hot Pot, and the event was set to proceed. Out of forty-two expected attendees, forty-five showed up—including Ms. Yan, Mr. Li, and Ms. Tai.

“Take a look at this,” Mr. Li said before the meal began, pulling out a small booklet.

No. 37 Middle School promotional brochure? Gu Lu glanced at it curiously.

“Check the last two pages,” Mr. Li prompted.

Flipping to the end, Gu Lu spotted his name—

[Gu Lu is a creative, detail-oriented student with a strong sense of empathy. He also possesses a wealth of knowledge about history.

“One day in class, Gu Lu told the teacher, ‘This ending is different from the version I read before.’”

...]

The praise left Gu Lu slightly embarrassed—it barely sounded like him. And that anecdote about correcting the teacher? Pure fabrication.

“This is the new edition of our school’s promotional material,” Mr. Li explained. “Principal Chang specifically requested your name be included.”

“Oh,” Gu Lu replied, genuinely pleased to be recognized as an outstanding graduate by his alma mater.

Still, he didn’t boast about it during the banquet. Today wasn’t about individual achievements—it was about shared memories, about celebrating the journey they’d all taken together.

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