Otaku Translation: Literary Genius: This Kid Was Born Smart C130

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Chapter 130: A Reliable Adult

As the journalist's words hung in the air, the situation now boiled down to this—did Gu Lu trust his former middle school classmate Zhao Juan?

Chen Na wanted to jump in and say, “Juanzi would never lie, blah blah…” As her best friend who knew her inside out, Sister Nana was absolutely certain of it. But before she could speak, Zhao Juan tugged her sleeve, mindful that this was about someone's reputation.

Gu Lu noticed the subtle gesture. Even after what had happened to her, Zhao Juan was still thinking of others. Though perhaps a little naive, her kindness shone through.

"Of course I believe her," Gu Lu said firmly. "So, Uncle Ji, you can go ahead with your plan."

Reporter Ji nodded reassuringly. "Don’t worry. With the ratings Daily 630 pulls in, we’ll definitely find witnesses. We won’t let Xiao Zhao suffer unjustly."

"I just think good people shouldn’t be held at gunpoint," Gu Lu muttered, recalling how he’d always hated such unfairness. Back when he was falsely accused of lying by an English teacher after helping an old man pick up oranges, he’d quickly brought in witnesses the next day.

Hearing this, Reporter Ji paused thoughtfully. When everyone assumed he was moved by Gu Lu’s words, he chuckled and slapped the table lightly. "Ah, Let the Bullets Fly, right? Hahaha, I’ve seen that movie too."

No one could have guessed that the 2010 film Let the Bullets Fly would become increasingly iconic over the years, even reaching meme-worthy status in this parallel world.

With the main issue resolved, Reporter Ji shifted to lighter topics. "Do you know why we have a segment on Daily 630 dedicated to good deeds?"

Every night, Chongqing’s news highlighted acts of kindness from locals. "Because they’re rare," Reporter Ji explained. "The world runs not on love, but on indifference—you don’t bother me, I don’t bother you. People need to protect themselves first. Let others handle the good deeds."

He leaned forward slightly, adopting a tone of experienced wisdom. "If you didn’t know Gu Lu, do you think any newspaper or TV station would’ve reported this incident?"

Zhao Juan kept her head down, her expression unreadable, but it was clear her worldview was being shaken.

The meal was nearly finished, and Gu Lu stood up to pay the bill. But Reporter Ji stopped him immediately. "No way. You gave us the story—it’s my treat. Besides, as an adult, I can’t let students pay."

Reporter Ji wasn’t being polite. He held Gu Lu back while jogging to the counter, turning around briefly to give him a look that said, You better not try to fight me on this.

"Where do you live? I’ll drive you home," Reporter Ji offered. He’d come in a Volkswagen Passat—though Gu Lu had no idea how much it cost; his knowledge of cars extended only to knowing he couldn’t afford one.

Gu Lu, Chen Na, and Zhao Juan all declined politely. It wasn’t late yet, and besides, some commuting students didn’t get home until ten o’clock after evening study sessions.

"It’s already past eight. My car makes it convenient," Reporter Ji insisted. Eventually, the three relented and got into the car.

Chen Na and Zhao Juan lived closer together, so they were dropped off first. Gu Lu’s place in Shapingba District was farther away.

"Gu Lu, you really know how to play your cards—living in Shapingba but coming all the way to Dockside District," Reporter Ji remarked casually during the ride.

"Just a short distance," Gu Lu replied without much thought.

"How are your humanities subjects?" Reporter Ji asked, steering the conversation toward grades—a topic unavoidable for any student.

"The last time I asked the principal, he hemmed and hawed, saying he wasn’t sure," Reporter Ji teased, clearly enjoying himself. Everyone knew this implied Gu Lu’s other subjects weren’t as stellar.

Despite his early fame and mature demeanor, Gu Lu was still just a teenager. Reporter Ji couldn’t resist poking fun at him.

"My humanities aren’t bad. I recently participated in a writing contest in Chongqing," Gu Lu said calmly.

"Hahaha, our essay champion strikes again!"

They chatted idly for another twenty minutes before arriving near Xiaolongkan Bridge. Gu Lu thanked Reporter Ji warmly before heading home.

---

There’s nothing like returning to your own space, no matter how humble. For Gu Lu, his room was where he could truly unwind—not because of its furnishings or whether his parents were there, but simply because it felt like home.

Just then, a message popped up on his phone:

Long Skirt In Wind: Big brother, I can only come next week. We’re having parent-teacher meetings this week.

Got it. After parent-teacher meetings, kids weren’t allowed to wander freely. Gu Lu couldn’t help but tease:

Orange Chief: Did your grades drop again?

...

Later, he exchanged messages with Zhao Juan, who expressed heartfelt gratitude, though her sentences were jumbled from excitement. Should he echo Reporter Ji’s advice—"Doing good deeds comes with risks"?

In the end, Gu Lu decided against it.

Orange Chief: Get some rest. Things will work out. Try to relax.

After finishing the chat, Gu Lu turned to other tasks. There was plenty to do: writing a congratulatory note for New Reading’s revamp, discussing publication plans for his short story collection with Director Wang, and brainstorming titles.

Should he follow tradition and use the title of one of the stories? Options included Park of Yesterday, The Bus Driver Who Wanted to Be God, A Souvenir of Hell, and Moon Stone.

Meanwhile, Ms. Gao had handed him two forms earlier that week: applications for Outstanding Student and Outstanding Student Leader. The latter baffled him—he wasn’t even a representative in the class! But drawing on his past life’s experience and hints from Reporter Wang, Gu Lu suspected these honors might pave the way for larger awards at the city level.

---

Monday rolled around—not ideal for studying but perfect for travel, if superstition were allowed.

"Help me! Help me! Unit Two is impossible—I’ll never learn it!"

This cry for help came from a classmate pleading with Lu Yi. With midterms looming, Class 10 was in full panic mode. And yes, that included Gu Lu. But he wasn’t anxious about failing—he was waiting for the right moment to prove just how far he’d come in geography, politics, and history.

Even during breaks, few ventured outside. Some stayed seated to finish homework; others napped immediately. High schoolers and office workers alike carried their burdens differently but equally heavy.

"Why does anyone miss high school?" Gu Lu wondered as he walked down the hallway. His own memories of vocational school were lackluster—he rarely attended classes—but he certainly didn’t miss those days either.

For now, the answer eluded him. But he’d find it eventually, because here he was, living it.

While wandering the corridors, Gu Lu turned a corner—and ran straight into Zhou Lin, the powerhouse girl.

Oh, no. Gu Lu thought.

"Look, I’m not petty," Zhou Lin began. "So what if I thought of you as a bro but you saw me as more of a daughter figure? Why avoid me for a whole week over something so trivial?"

"I wasn’t avoiding you," Gu Lu replied. "The campus is big, and there are lots of people. Not running into each other is normal."

Zhou Lin didn’t press further. The two strolled across the playground.

"Aren’t you overwhelmed with assignments? Why are you out here?" Gu Lu asked.

"Just getting some fresh air. The elite class is suffocating. Yesterday, my desk mate slapped herself because she couldn’t solve a problem," Zhou Lin said, kicking at leaves that fluttered harmlessly away.

"If your ranking drops below fifty by midterms, you’ll be moved from the Rocket Class to the Express Class."

She added, "Rocket Class is the elite track, Express Class is experimental. That’s what our homeroom teacher calls them."

"What about regular classes?" Gu Lu wondered silently. He could feel the mounting pressure compared to middle school.

Each elite class had only thirty-five students, leaving fifteen spots for competition among two Innovation Classes and eager Experimental ones. Fifteen slots wouldn’t cut it—not when falling behind meant facing disappointed gazes from teachers, parents, and peers.

"Do you feel confident?" Gu Lu asked.

"Not really," Zhou Lin admitted glumly. "I think I might slip out."

Gu Lu found that hard to believe. Zhou Lin had always excelled effortlessly.

"Actually, I came to tell you something," Zhou Lin said, pulling out a homemade poster.

No. 8 High School Model United Nations

President: Mi Zan

Vice President: Song Yu’an

Literary Advisor: Gu Lu

Members: Zhou Lin…

October 28th – Battle of Bashu High

Featuring Super Debater Mi Zan, Super Scholar Zhou Lin, Super Brain Song Yu’an, and Super Genius – Gu Lu!

Venue: Shapingba District Cultural Center

Gu Lu raised an eyebrow. "So many supers? Isn’t that awkward?"

"Not at all!" Zhou Lin laughed. "This is what we posted on the bulletin board to boost morale. We didn’t even make the regional MUN list initially—it took a big shot to get us in."

"And since when am I the literary advisor?" Gu Lu asked.

"You’re too important to be a regular member, but you can’t be VP or president either. So we created this role especially for you. Pretty cool, huh?" Zhou Lin grinned.

"Do I have to show up for the competition?"

"If you have time, come watch. See how awesome we are."

Zhou Lin seemed determined to win. Gu Lu wondered if her focus on extracurriculars had affected her grades—but then again, she’d always managed top marks effortlessly in middle school.

Maybe she was just that talented.

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