Otaku Translation: Literary Genius: This Kid Was Born Smart C60

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Chapter 60: The Curtain Falls

How long will Gu Lu’s alcoholic father manage to stay sober this time?

Gu Lu pondered the question idly, though it didn’t really matter. He was just bored.

Earlier that day, he’d finished devouring The Canon of Sherlock Holmes. That’s right—after reading The Sign of the Four, Gu Lu had gone ahead and bought the entire collection.

Sixty-four yuan—a hefty sum for him these days!

In the afternoon, Gu Lu went to apply for his ID card, opting for expedited processing. Afterward, he headed to Xiaolongkan near No. 8High School to scout for a nearby place to rent during his high school years.

“This area hasn’t developed much yet,” Gu Lu mused as he surveyed the surroundings. “I remember that in a few years, they’ll build Longhu Jinsha Tiandi here.”

He was already familiar with the location from a visit in 2023. Back then, Xiaolongkan Square was bustling with snack stalls—Zhengxin Chicken Cutlets, Juewei Duck Neck, and more—but none of those existed now. Instead, the livelier spots were underground, where a three-story mall thrived.

Considering value for money, Gu Lu narrowed his options down to Shaziqu Cultural Village and Jiafu Garden.

“Think about it—I’ll be living here for three whole years. I can’t skimp on comfort, but I also need to act fast. Honestly, I don’t want to spend another moment in that house.” With that in mind, Gu Lu resolved to move out over the summer.

In the process, he uncovered several useful tidbits:

First, there was a nearby farmers’ market, making daily life convenient.

Second, the proximity of a police station and veterans’ service center added a layer of safety.

Finally, the light rail line had recently opened, ensuring easy commutes.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was time to head back to school to collect their diplomas.

Once this trip ended, they’d no longer be students of No. 37 Middle School. Aside from visiting teachers, there wouldn’t be many reasons to return…

“HAHAHAHA! I only have to retake two subjects! Just two!”

As Gu Lu approached the classroom, Wang Wenjun’s boisterous laughter greeted him.

It turned out that Bai Xiaohua needed to retake three subjects, so Wang Wenjun, who only had to redo two, felt triumphant by comparison.

Well, Gu Lu thought, retracting his earlier sentiment—students needing to retake exams still had reasons to come back to school.

Fan Xiaotian had failed math and would need to retake it, though the process was little more than a formality. Pay a fee, show up, and you’d pass—it was, after all, compulsory education. Everyone got their diploma eventually.

Most of the students were eager to leave once they received their certificates.

“Hold on, don’t rush off yet,” Chen Na called out, blocking the doorway. “We’ve got one last activity planned.”

“What kind of nonsense activity?” Wang Wenjun grumbled, itching to escape the classroom.

This impatience wasn’t limited to struggling students; even average or top performers felt the same way. Take Wang Han, for instance—he wanted to get home to binge-watch historical dramas, though he hid his eagerness better than others.

After spending three full years cooped up in school, no one wanted to linger any longer.

Wang Wenjun and several others bolted anyway, leaving behind seven or eight classmates. They couldn’t stand being in that “godforsaken dump” a moment longer. But while they walked away with swagger now, perhaps when they grew older, no amount of money could ever bring them back to Class Five…

The activity Sister Nana mentioned involved singing a farewell song—"Those Years," the theme from the hit movie You Are the Apple of My Eye. Many students had brought their phones since no teachers were supervising, allowing them to take group photos as keepsakes.

Released just last year, both the film and its soundtrack had taken the country by storm. While taking photos sounded fine, the idea of singing a farewell song? Well, there was one problem—they hadn’t practiced at all, and most of them couldn’t carry a tune if their lives depended on it.

Zhang Yudong muttered under his breath, “How dumb is this? There’s not even background music. Who’s actually going to sing?”

“Back to the starting point, memories of your youthful face…” Zhao Juan bravely took the lead, her voice trembling slightly. After all, she was the one who’d chosen the song.

They’d picked from three options: "Bougainvillea Blooming at the Crossroads," "The First Dream," and "Those Years."

Chen Na joined in next, followed by the girls, who started belting out the lyrics. The boys soon chimed in too—not singing, per se, but shouting enthusiastically.

“Combing my hair like a grown-up, wearing a stylish suit…”

While catchy, “Those Years” wasn’t exactly the ideal graduation anthem. It was meant for adults reminiscing about their school days, not current students wrapping up middle school. Still, songs are vessels for personal emotions, and each singer poured their own meaning into the melody.

By the time they reached the chorus—“The heavy rain we missed those years, the love we lost those years”—many of the girls’ eyes had grown misty.

It wasn’t the song itself that moved them but the flood of memories it evoked. Ren Jie thought of the time she’d impulsively run into the rain on the playground, drenched to the bone, with Zhou Lin steadfastly staying by her side.

There were countless moments like that: splitting a bag of spicy gluten among friends, playing pranks on each other climbing stairs, sneaking between dorm rooms to evade the watchful eyes of the dorm supervisor. So many shared experiences.

Zhang Yudong sang louder, almost yelling, “Back to our seats in the classroom, teasing you just to hear your gentle scolding…”

Xie Fangqi, hearing this line, whipped around to glare at Zhang Yudong. Her hair had been cut twice already because of his antics!

Class Five’s voices echoed through the hallway—loud, raw, and unpolished.

When the song finally ended, so did junior high. From now on, they wouldn’t see each other every day anymore.

Sobs broke out across the room. Some students hadn’t cried during the graduation banquet, but now, the weight of separation hit them hard.

Songs don’t make people cry—it’s the memories tied to them.

Students with phones began snapping photos.

“Nana, can you take a picture of me with the blackboard?” Zhao Juan asked.

Chen Na gave her an OK sign and pressed the shutter button, capturing Zhao Juan’s figure against the backdrop of other classmates standing behind her.

One by one, groups of students left Class Five.

“Gu Lu, can you do me a favor?” Chen Xue hesitated, approaching him cautiously.

“What is it?” Gu Lu asked.

“It’s my birthday today,” she whispered, her voice growing quieter with each word. “Can you help invite Zhou Lin to dinner at my house tonight?”

Birthday? Dinner? Fan Xiaotian perked up at the mention of food. “You’re having a birthday and didn’t invite me?”

“I’m definitely inviting you and Gu Lu,” Chen Xue reassured him. “We’re all buddies here. Don’t worry about it. But I need to talk to Gu Lu privately first—can you step aside for a bit?”

“What secret conversation is this? Are you confessing to Gu Lu?” Fan Xiaotian teased, showing no intention of leaving.

“Shut up or I’ll strangle you!” Chen Xue snapped, raising her voice. Like a rat fleeing from a cat, Fan Xiaotian scampered away.

“It’s just my birthday, and I want to treat Zhou Lin to dinner,” Chen Xue explained. “Can you help me invite her?”

Why doesn’t she ask herself? Gu Lu wondered, but before he could voice the question, understanding dawned.

Empathy kicked in—if he were a struggling student trying to invite someone he rarely interacted with, he’d feel just as nervous and insecure, fearing rejection.

“Why do you want to invite Zhou Lin specifically?” Gu Lu asked instead. From what he remembered, the two didn’t seem particularly close.

“She helped me once,” Chen Xue replied simply.

“All right, I’ll give it a shot,” Gu Lu said. “But I can’t guarantee anything.”

Under Chen Xue’s anxious gaze, Gu Lu walked over to deliver the invitation, then returned shortly after.

“Well? Did she agree?” Chen Xue asked anxiously.

“Who am I? A master of persuasion,” Gu Lu grinned confidently. “Of course Zhou Lin agreed.”

With that settled, the Park Alliance crew—five members strong—and Zhou Lin followed Chen Xue to her home in Dayan Residential Complex.

“Grandma, I’m home!” Chen Xue called out as she entered.

She’d already informed her grandmother that she’d be bringing friends over, so lunch was already underway in the kitchen.

“Help yourselves to some snacks for now,” Chen Xue said, placing sunflower seeds, peanuts, and other treats on the table. She turned on the TV before heading into the kitchen to assist.

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