Otaku Translation: Literary Genius: This Kid Was Born Smart C76

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Chapter 76: What Makes You Stand Out?

No. 8 High School currently had eleven classes divided into distinct categories:

- Qingbei Class: Class 1

- 2+4 Program Classes: Classes 2 and 11

- Innovation Classes (Competition Track): Classes 3 and 10

- Experimental Classes: Classes 4 and 7

- Regular Parallel Classes: Classes 5, 6, 8, and 9

Following the doctor’s advice, Gu Lu skipped military training and arrived at school on the morning of September 1st.

The school had four gates—east, west, south, and north. The main entrance was near an overpass, flanked by a stone statue that seemed to commemorate the Red Rock Spirit, though Gu Lu didn’t pay much attention to it.

As he stepped inside, Gu Lu took in his surroundings. There was a football field, a basketball court, and plenty of greenery—a pleasant sight, though the main gate itself looked rather shabby.

“Where’s Class 10?” After wandering around for a bit, Gu Lu finally found his classroom.

He was mildly surprised. The campus terrain was relatively flat, so the first floor really was just the first floor, and the third floor stayed firmly as the third floor!

Yes, Gu Lu had been assigned to one of the Innovation Classes—a mix of students excelling in Olympiad math, sports, arts, and those admitted through special recommendations.

The school had carefully considered how to divide the classes. For instance, while both Class 3 and Class 10 were competition-focused, Class 3 leaned more toward Olympiad math, physics, and chemistry competitions, whereas Gu Lu’s class had more athletes and art students.

Just as Gu Lu approached the door, he heard loud voices from within—

"Zeng Ha'er brought an electric pot and tried cooking hot pot in the hallway last night. Luckily, he ran fast when the drill instructor showed up; otherwise, he’d have been caught."

"Not bad, but Guyuan said he got punished with two laps around the track."

"Standing in formation all day made me want to go home after the first day of training."

"The drill instructor for Class 9 is terrifying—they make us do extra drills every day!"

Even at the start of the term, small cliques were already forming. Students who bonded during military training naturally gravitated toward each other.

Each class had about fifty students, scattered across the room in small groups. At the center of the classroom sat a quartet—Lü Ping, Ma Xuanyou, Zeng Jie, and Li Guyuan—whose booming voices dominated the space, almost as if they couldn’t be contained by the large room.

Gu Lu quickly deduced that this small group was deliberately drawing attention. By occupying the middle of the classroom and speaking loudly, they ensured everyone noticed them. But most people wouldn’t admire their antics—they’d just find them annoying. Gu Lu fell squarely into the latter camp.

“...There are hidden talents everywhere in high school!”

Why did Gu Lu think this way? Because as he scanned the room, he spotted something unusual: a student kneeling by the wall?

Finding a seat near the front door, Gu Lu settled in quietly, observing like he would while lurking in online chat groups. He noted that the central group consisted of athletic students—tall, muscular, and imposing.

For about ten minutes, chaos reigned until a forty-something woman entered the room. Gu Lu, seated near the door, noticed her immediately. She was slightly plump, with curly brown hair—an unmistakable presence. The homeroom teacher had arrived.

“Please find a temporary seat for now,” she said calmly but firmly. Her voice carried enough authority to quell the noise within seconds.

Picking up a piece of chalk, she wrote [Gao] on the blackboard. “I’m the homeroom teacher for Class 10. We’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other later. For now, I need a few volunteers to fetch textbooks from the administration office.”

As soon as she finished speaking, hands shot up eagerly. Lü Ping shouted, “Me! Me! Teacher Gao, let me go!”

It wasn’t about moving books—it was about escaping the teacher’s watchful eye for some freedom. Any activity away from direct supervision felt liberating.

“All right, you, you, you, you—and the one who shouted the loudest just now,” Teacher Gao selected twelve students.

“We’ll be back in no time!” Lü Ping, the athletic figure Gu Lu had observed earlier, wore a Lakers jersey with purple and gold accents, paired with shorts and sneakers. His arms and legs bulged with muscle.

With great energy, the group dashed out of the classroom.

Under the teacher’s watchful gaze, the remaining students grew significantly quieter. Without the rowdy ones around, Class 10 settled down almost instantly.

[Zeng Jie: Graduated from Chongqing No. 94 Middle School...]

Teacher Gao flipped through the thick stack of documents in her hand. From these records, she could easily identify which students were recommended or specialized talents.

Several profiles stood out to her. First was Lü Ping, whose performance in the national middle school athletics championship broke Chongqing’s record for the 100-meter sprint among male students. Though not yet at the elite athlete level, he still had room to grow.

Then there was Lu Yi, who achieved excellent results in the national middle school physics competition. And then—Gu Lu.

“This file is unusually long,” Teacher Gao thought to herself. Gu Lu’s profile was nearly twice as lengthy as the others’.

What made him so exceptional? Surely not his lumbar disc herniation—oh wait, that wasn’t mentioned. She scrutinized further.

[2008 Chongqing City Primary School Essay Contest, Third Prize

2012 Dockside District “Long March Spirit” Essay Contest, Outstanding Work

2012 14th National Youth Bingxin Literature Award, Sichuan-Chongqing Region, First Prize (Junior High)

2012 9th Ye Shengtao Cup National Middle School Essay Contest, Sichuan-Chongqing Region, First Prize (Junior High), National First Prize (Junior High), Top Ten Young Writers

Young Literature Contracted Writer...]

“He’s been a literary prodigy since childhood,” Teacher Gao mused. It wasn’t just his writing skills—it was remarkable that someone his age was already a contracted writer for Young Literature.

Both Young Literature and Children’s Literature were top-tier publications in their respective fields. One emphasized storytelling, the other literary merit. To be signed by either was an accomplishment—but Gu Lu was affiliated with both.

What else was this?

The printed file included handwritten notes in black ink: Signed Writer for Chronicles of Mystery.

“...” Whoever added that note must’ve recognized Gu Lu’s talent. Being signed by such prestigious magazines spoke volumes about his abilities.

Looking at the photo, Teacher Gao guessed Gu Lu was the boy sitting near the door. She resolved to observe him closely later.

About seven or eight minutes passed before Lü Ping and the others returned, each carrying stacks of textbooks wrapped neatly in white paper and tied securely.

Teacher Gao retrieved scissors from the office and instructed the students to distribute the books evenly to everyone’s desks.

“Put your books in your backpacks for now,” she said, stopping students from placing them in their desk drawers. “We’ll rearrange seats shortly.”

Currently, students had chosen their own seats. If she let them stay where they pleased, classroom discipline would likely suffer.

“Let’s begin with introductions,” Teacher Gao announced. “The first person in the first row, come up to the platform so everyone can see you clearly.”

That person happened to be Gu Lu, the self-appointed guardian of the classroom door.

“My name is Gu Lu. ‘Gu’ as in ‘look left and right before speaking,’ and ‘Lu’ as in ‘bizarre and colorful,’” Gu Lu introduced himself calmly, then prepared to step down.

“That’s it?” Teacher Gao asked. “Tell us about your hobbies and what you’re good at.”

“My hobbies are reading and taking walks,” Gu Lu replied. “As for what I’m good at—I don’t think I’m particularly skilled at anything.”

No sooner had Gu Lu spoken than a male voice rang out from below: “So if you read while walking? Wouldn’t it be double the fun, huh?”

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