Otaku Translation: Literary Genius: This Kid Was Born Smart C63

Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.

Thank you.

Everyone from Otaku Translation

Chapter 63: Wishes

The weather was perfect.

With a buoyant mood, Gu Lu thought about taking a stroll outside to admire azure seas and endless skies. Wait, no. Chongqing didn’t have azure seas, just the Yangtze River winding through the city like an ancient serpent.

But Gu Lu hadn’t stepped out for a walk anyway. He’d been bustling around the house since early morning.

KNOCK KNOCK.

A sharp rap at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Opening it, he found his younger sister, Gu Jiayu, standing there—a rare sight without her usual assortment of bags dangling off her arms.

“Ta-da! The Snow Goddess has arrived!” she announced with theatrical flair as she swept into the apartment, brimming with energy.

Of course, Gu Lu had texted her the new address beforehand; he didn’t want her wandering aimlessly to their old neighborhood by mistake.

“Don’t worry, big bro,” Jiayu said proudly, tipping her head back in that exaggerated way she had when fishing for compliments. “I made sure Uncle Xiao dropped me off at Lockmouth Hill first, and then I took a cab here all on my own. No one knows where you live now.”

“As expected of the future martial arts heroine. Your anti-tracking skills are top-notch,” Gu Lu replied with a grin, indulging her need for praise.

“Go watch some TV while I finish cooking,” he added, tying on a plain blue apron he’d picked up cheap at the supermarket. It hung a little too long on him, nearly covering his shins.

“I can help wash the veggies!” Jiayu offered immediately.

But Gu Lu had already prepped everything earlier, so within twenty minutes, the dishes were ready. Jiayu hadn’t even managed to roll up her sleeves before it was time to eat.

They sat side by side at the small dining table.

Gu Lu had prepared three modestly portioned dishes and a soup—to avoid waste—and the soup was his favorite: cucumber and century egg. Many people couldn’t stomach century eggs, but for those who could, the flavor was nothing short of divine.

“Hey, did you hear? Xiao Yang didn’t get into Bashu High School,” Jiayu said between bites. “I really wanted to brag about how you got accepted into No. 8 High School without even trying, but I held back. You’re welcome.”

She paused, then asked, “By the way, you moved without telling Mom and Dad. What if they can’t find you and start worrying?”

Gu Lu chuckled. “Trust me, they’ve mastered the art of ignoring me. They won’t notice or care if I disappear for weeks. Look—it’s been over twenty days since I moved, and have they noticed yet?”

Jiayu frowned inwardly. During the school term, she was only allowed to visit her older brother once every two months. However, summer and winter breaks gave her more opportunities to see him. This trip, though, came just a month after her last visit.

She couldn’t help but think bitterly how unbelievable their father was. How clueless did he have to be, not to notice his own son had been gone for so long? Idly, she wondered what expression would cross his face when—or if—he finally discovered the truth.

Shaking off the gloomy thought, Jiayu brightened. “Big bro, guess what? Mom agreed to let you come celebrate her birthday the day after tomorrow!”

For Gu Lu’s former self—the person whose life he’d inherited—this would’ve been monumental news. Enough to make him jump for joy right there in the living room.

Why? Simple. Because the original Gu Lu missed their mother.

Jiayu must’ve worked hard to secure this invitation, considering he hadn’t attended last year’s celebration.

But Gu Lu simply ruffled her hair affectionately. “Thanks, but I’m not going. You guys enjoy yourselves.”

He was no longer the old Gu Lu; he would never willingly stay in the same room with someone who couldn't stand the sight of him.

“What?” Jiayu gasped, panic rising.

“It’s better this way,” Gu Lu explained gently. “Seeing me will remind Mom of Dad, and thinking of Dad makes her unhappy. Birthdays should be happy occasions.”

“Oh…” Jiayu slumped slightly, disheartened. Her closest family members still couldn’t reunite to celebrate together.

After a moment, however, she rallied. She didn’t want her sadness to drag Gu Lu down too.

“Big bro, do you know why I didn’t bring snacks today?” she teased, eyes sparkling mischievously.

“Because I’ve got money now!” Gu Lu declared confidently. “From now on, I’ll buy the snacks.”

“Nope, wrong!” Jiayu giggled, shaking her pigtails. “Try again.”

“Alright, oh wise warrior, enlighten me,” Gu Lu said, playing along.

“I saved enough money to fulfill your dream!” Jiayu exclaimed triumphantly.

“My dream?” Gu Lu echoed, puzzled.

“The amusement park! We’re going to the amusement park!” she cried.

If Jiayu hadn’t mentioned it, Gu Lu might never have remembered. Yes, visiting an amusement park had been a childhood dream of the original Gu Lu—a memory buried under years of neglect.

The full version of the dream included their parents and Jiayu, reliving happier times. The last visit happened when Gu Lu was in sixth grade, and Jiayu was in third. But after their parents’ divorce in middle school, the dream faded away, forgotten even by its dreamer. Yet here Jiayu was, clutching the memory tightly, saving secretly to make it happen.

“Really? Tickets aren’t cheap,” Gu Lu said.

“It’s fine! I saved enough. Let’s go this afternoon!” Jiayu insisted.

“Well, since you invited me so sincerely…”

Before Gu Lu could finish, Jiayu cut in dramatically. “Then I shall graciously accept! To protect the world from devastation, to unite all peoples within our nation—we are the charming sibling duo, Jiayu!”

She turned to Gu Lu expectantly, clearly channeling Team Rocket from Pokémon, inviting him to play along.

“Gu Lu!” Gu Lu groaned internally but decided to humor her. “We are travelers of justice… err, thrill-seekers in the land of fun!”

After tidying up quickly—they had an amusement park to conquer—Gu Lu felt a flicker of genuine excitement. It had been ages since he’d done something purely for fun.

---

Nanping Amusement Park wasn’t like Happy Valley, where entry fees granted unlimited access to rides. Here, tickets cost fifty yuan per person for ten attractions. Children between 1.1 and 1.5 meters tall paid half price, and kids under 1.1 meters entered free. Though Gu Lu wasn’t particularly tall, he surpassed the height limit, while Jiayu, a seventh-grader, qualified for a discounted ticket.

Total cost: seventy-five yuan.

To a thirteen-year-old girl, that amount represented months of careful saving—not to mention the occasional treat she bought for her brother.

As they walked uphill toward the park entrance, stone carvings of the twelve zodiac animals lined the path, weathered green with age. Inside awaited classic attractions: carousel, roller coaster, bumper cars, log flume, giant swing, flying elephants, and more.

The roller coaster proved tame, lacking both speed and dramatic drops. But the giant swing…

“Are you okay, Jiayu?” Gu Lu eyed his pale-faced sister worriedly.

“I’m fine! Totally fine! Not scary at all. Let’s move on,” Jiayu stammered, her voice trembling.

“I think I need a break,” Gu Lu said, stretching his neck. “My limbs feel rusty from staying indoors too much lately.”

“Tired? That’s you being tired, not me,” Jiayu emphasized. “I’m totally fine to keep going.”

Gu Lu smirked. “Sure thing. Meanwhile, I’ll rest.”

Jiayu rolled her eyes but led them to a shaded bench nearby. Once seated, she glanced at him curiously.

“Was it fun?” she asked.

“So much fun,” Gu Lu replied earnestly.

Relieved, Jiayu nodded. Spending her entire savings hadn’t seemed worth it at first, but seeing her brother smile erased any lingering regret. For the first time in ages, she felt truly content.

During their break, Gu Lu fetched two ice-cold sodas. Sipping the chilled drink after sweating felt heavenly.

“Want to try something else?” he asked, noticing Jiayu eyeing a shooting game booth nearby.

Her eyes lit up instantly.

https://www.novelupdates.com/series/literary-genius-this-kid-was-born-smart/

If you like this project, please vote for this novel through the above link, thank you.

Join our discord you will receive update notification

If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.

All the tiers provide an off-line reading experience

Tier 1: 10 Advance chapters

Access fee $3.00 Monthly