Otaku Translation: Literary Genius: This Kid Was Born Smart C81

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Chapter 81: Where’s That Big Talent?

"Gu Lu, should we come back later? I’ve got a thing about crowds," Dou Ke said, his left hand hanging awkwardly by his side while the right clutched his arm—a textbook pose of discomfort.

Dou Ke was trying to edge out of the situation without outright retreating, hoping Gu Lu would suggest it first. Unfortunately, the noise level drowned out his attempt, and Gu Lu didn’t catch it.

"What are you staring at so intently?" Tian Xiao followed Gu Lu’s gaze.

"I’ll be right back—I’m going to say hi to my old desk partner," Gu Lu announced casually.

Desk partner? Tian Xiao's mind lit up with question marks. Isn’t he standing right here?

Zhou Lin wasn’t interested in cooking; she was after the free food. In between asking questions, she’d already sneaked two slices of watermelon. It seemed everything tasted better on school grounds.

Her sharp eyes spotted her former classmate first. Zhou Lin waved enthusiastically. "It’s been a whole summer—looks like you’ve grown taller."

"And you’ve put on a bit of weight," Gu Lu blurted out instinctively.

He wasn’t lying. Zhou Lin used to have a sharp jawline, but now it had softened noticeably.

Oh no! Back in school days, girls were notorious for their pinching-and-twisting tactics. How many boys had suffered under such attacks?

But Gu Lu was prepared. He dodged instantly and shifted the conversation to deflect any potential retaliation. "So, what club are you planning to join?"

"The teacher suggested I join the music club—learning traditional instruments could boost my college application," Zhou Lin explained. "But I really want to join the Hanfu Club. The seniors say they wear traditional costumes during every activity. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?"

Their exchange caught the attention of Tian Xiao, who was utterly astonished.

"Wait... this genius is actually Gu Lu’s middle school desk partner?" Tian Xiao recalled something from a few days ago.

"What’s going on? What’s with Wheel over here?" Dou Ke chimed in urgently, shocked that Gu Lu knew someone so popular.

The difference between Tian Xiao and Dou Ke became clear at that moment. Tian Xiao, aware that Gu Lu disliked being called "Wheel," avoided using the nickname entirely. Dou Ke, however, remained oblivious.

More students from Class 10 gathered around, giving Dou Ke and Tian Xiao an opportunity to join the conversation. Yet, both stood frozen in place, waiting for Gu Lu to return.

Though Tian Xiao had seemed confident chatting up Gu Lu earlier, it was only because he viewed Gu Lu as even less noticeable than himself—a true classroom ghost. That tiny shred of superiority made him feel comfortable. But now, seeing Gu Lu chatting with a top-tier student from the Qingbei track, his confidence wavered slightly.

"So, what about you? What club are you joining?" Zhou Lin asked curiously.

"The Tree People Literary Club," Gu Lu replied.

"Ah, makes sense," Zhou Lin nodded approvingly. Her former desk partner’s essays were legendary—it was natural for him to choose literature.

"No. 8 High School’s literary club is pretty impressive," she added. "They once staged Romeo and Juliet and even got featured in the Chongqing Evening News, I think?"

"No. 8 High School has something like that?" Gu Lu sounded intrigued.

"Let’s talk more later—someone’s calling me."

Hearing her name, Zhou Lin excused herself but threw one last longing glance at the chicken rings before leaving.

As time passed, the gymnasium filled with more freshmen.

"Have you guys decided yet?" Gu Lu asked Tian Xiao and Dou Ke.

"I’m thinking of checking out the anime club," Tian Xiao said hesitantly.

"I… uh, want to see the Etiquette Modeling Club," Dou Ke mumbled slowly.

Gu Lu raised an eyebrow at Dou Ke. Who would’ve thought this dark-skinned, bushy-browed guy harbored such interests?

Still, Dou Ke had ambition but lacked courage—he’d probably never act on it.

"Hey, Gu Lu, was your ex-desk partner some big shot at No. 37 Middle School too?" Tian Xiao asked eagerly. After all, everyone was curious about smart, attractive girls.

"Not really," Gu Lu shrugged. "If anything, I was the standout at No. 37 Middle School."

Tian Xiao and Dou Ke simultaneously let out skeptical scoffs.

With that, the trio split off to explore different clubs. Gu Lu headed toward the Tree People Literary Club booth.

Each club had flashy signs touting their appeal. For instance, Lü Ping’s basketball club banner read: [No Brothers, No Basketball! Join No. 8 High School’s Basketball Club—Ignite Your Youth, Fuel Your Hoops Dreams!]

Gu Lu breezed past sports clubs like volleyball and basketball without a second glance. Laziness kept him far from anything physical.

"Wait… maybe I should consider doing something athletic to help with my height."

Changing course, Gu Lu approached the basketball club line. It was long—popular clubs like this set high entry barriers due to limited resources, a testament to their prestige.

"President, can we give him a chance? He’s from my class. I saw him during training camp—he’s not bad," Lü Ping whispered to Shangtong Lu, the club president.

Since No. 8 High School didn’t have a track and field team, Lü Ping joined the basketball club based on interest alone. His athleticism caught the eye of senior Shangtong Lu.

"Him?" Lu Shangtong scrutinized Gu Lu.

Why did Lü Ping vouch for Gu Lu? Simply because they were classmates—he didn’t actually know him well. A subtle hierarchy existed within Class 10’s social circles.

Among the boys, the “F4” included Lü Ping, Zeng Jie, Li Guyuan, and Ma Xuanyou. Among the girls, Qi Caiwei led her own clique.

Gu Lu, Dou Ke, and Tian Xiao formed the bottom rung of this hierarchy. Lü Ping felt like he was helping out a junior by speaking up.

The recruitment event lasted over two hours—an unusually generous window provided by the school since it happened only once a year.

Popular clubs maintained strict standards, while smaller ones showcased unique perks. Take the niche baseball club, for example—they set up makeshift batting stations to let newcomers try their hand.

Understandable, considering most Chinese students likely hadn’t touched a baseball before.

Every club had a faculty advisor responsible for teaching skills and supervising the use of funds. The Tree People Literary Club’s advisor was Wu Du, a graduate of Shanghai Normal University in his early forties.

Wu Du had published articles and books, though none achieved major success. Last year, he’d finally joined the China Writers Association through seniority. As a writer, he was neither brilliant nor mediocre—adequate enough to get by.

Accepting No. 8 High School’s offer to guide the literary club was mostly for reputation. While Wu Du cared little about hourly wages, he certainly expected fair compensation.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Tree People Literary Club. I am your faculty advisor," Wu Du greeted warmly.

This year, the club recruited over twenty new members, including three from Class 10: Qi Caiwei, Wei Jiao, and Li Guyuan.

The freshmen formed a circle around Wu Du as the current president stood nearby. Though many might drop out due to academics later, Wu Du was pleased with the turnout.

"Our first welcome session will be held next Wednesday. Feel free to bring any creative works you’ve written to share," Wu Du said cheerfully.

"No problem!" "Got it, teacher!" "Understood, teacher!" came enthusiastic replies.

Li Guyuan’s response was particularly loud.

Wu Du’s cheerful demeanor stemmed from advance knowledge: a supposed “genius writer” was joining the club. This news had lifted his spirits significantly.

October 19th marked No. 8 High School’s anniversary celebration. The administration requested that the literary club stage an original play this year—a step up from last year’s acclaimed performance of Romeo and Juliet. Original scripts weren’t easy, and advisors could offer only limited help. Wu Du had been fretting over this challenge.

Now, with a “genius writer” onboard, the task seemed less daunting. Even if they hadn’t written a script before, crafting a story shouldn’t be an issue—and formatting tweaks were manageable.

Wu Du flipped through the new member registration forms, his smile suddenly freezing. Where was the name?

Where’s my “genius author”?

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