Otaku Translation: Literary Genius: This Kid Was Born Smart C163

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Chapter 163: Must-Watch Video Upon Entry

Zhou Lin recounted a great deal of information, and it was genuinely useful.

"All right, it's about to start," Gu Lu said.

"Oh—" Zhou Lin fell silent, then cautiously glanced at Gu Lu’s expression out of the corner of her eye.

He wasn’t angry anymore? Yes, definitely not angry. Reassured, Zhou Lin leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs as she prepared to watch the play.

This particular play had significant popularity within theatrical circles but remained relatively obscure to the general public. Most people hadn’t even heard of it.

It was a product of the post-U.S.-China honeymoon era, with much of its plot drawn from the documentary A Heart Dedicated to Friendship—Stilwell and China.

The story itself wasn’t particularly engaging—at least, that was Gu Lu’s impression—but Stilwell was no stranger to Chongqing. For one thing, there was the Stilwell Museum located at No. 63 Jialing New Road in Liziba, which also served as Stilwell’s residence during his time in Chongqing.

As the performance ended, Gu Lu rose from his seat feeling somewhat disappointed.

"It was amazing!" Zhou Lin stretched lazily, cracking her neck and back.

Gu Lu was puzzled. Amazing? Where exactly?

"There are several parts in the play with strong biographical undertones," Zhou Lin explained. "You can tell it was crafted for propaganda purposes back then, but honestly, it’s kind of interesting." She went on to describe a scene where Stilwell helped a Chinese child.

"Considering this script was written in the '90s, you can see how protective we were of children during that period," Zhou Lin added.

"Overanalyzing much?" Gu Lu smirked. "This is a story set in the 1940s."

"The play’s setting might be the '40s, but the script was written in the '90s, aiming to reflect the U.S.-China honeymoon period of the '70s and '80s," Zhou Lin countered. "When analyzing a work, it’s more important to consider the context in which it was created than the historical backdrop of the story itself."

"That’s incredible. If Qi Caiwei had your reading comprehension skills, I wouldn’t have to worry so much," Gu Lu remarked.

"Who’s Qi Caiwei?" Zhou Lin asked.

"A classmate of mine," Gu Lu replied. "She tutors me in science subjects, and I help her with humanities. Her reading comprehension needs some work."

"Oh, I see," Zhou Lin nodded.

The two walked out side by side when suddenly, a three-year-old child darted past them, tripped over their own feet, and burst into tears.

Gu Lu instinctively moved to help, but Zhou Lin stopped him.

"Don’t. The kid’s parents are probably nearby. If you go over now, things could get complicated."

Complicated? Did she mean they’d accuse him of making the child cry? Gu Lu thought about it. With unreasonable parents, such accusations weren’t entirely out of the question.

About thirty seconds later, a young woman rushed over, grabbed the child, and began scolding and spanking them. "Why were you running around? Even if you run, you’ll still get punished! What made you think it was okay to pee in someone else’s fridge?"

"Huh?!"

The mother’s anger was palpable as she berated and spanked the child—though she targeted areas like the buttocks, where there was plenty of padding.

Serves them right, Gu Lu and Zhou Lin thought as they quietly left.

Zhou Lin, despite her immense strength, was surprisingly rational… quite different from Zhao Juan.

"Hahaha, next time something fun like this comes up, call me again!" Zhou Lin said cheerfully. "Badminton, video games, plays—anything except studying, really."

Gu Lu couldn’t help but wonder: Did she actually answer her own questions on the high school entrance exam? How could someone like her possibly be considered a top student?!

"Do you think you’ll reclaim the title of top scorer in the grade this final exam?" Gu Lu asked diplomatically.

"Stop, right there! I left my brain at home when I came out to hang with you," Zhou Lin quickly interjected.

Since they were heading in the same direction, they walked part of the way together.

Along the way, Zhou Lin seemed unusually happy—it was her first time watching a play, and the novelty and unpredictability of the stage captivated her…

Meanwhile, Gu Lu felt a sense of awe participating in what he privately referred to as a "national project."

The very next day, ripples appeared online.

"Poetry preserves three thousand years of profound history and culture. Writers traverse time to engage in dialogue with poetry, penning article after article."

"Drinking with Li Bai, Why Do We Picture Du Fu as an Elderly Man?, Sheltering All Scholars Under Heaven, What If There Were No Li Bai?... Tang poetry takes root deep within our hearts." — Xinhua Net

The source of the news was Xinhua Net, a website backed by China’s largest news agency, Xinhua News Agency. Known for its speed and reliability, Xinhua Net far surpassed outlets like People’s Daily, which occasionally published misleading reports.

Xinhua Net was, without a doubt, the most crucial news platform in the country.

Large-scale events always garnered attention from major media outlets, and this story was no exception. Several prominent web portals gave it prime coverage, dedicating special sections to the topic.

Though Gu Lu’s name didn’t appear directly in the article, the attached links led straight to his work.

Moreover, the report included 34 promotional links provided by the authors themselves.

"Huh? Something seems off here..."

"What’s this?"

"There’s even a video version?!"

...

Most writers linked to their blogs—a golden age for blogging in 2009, though Weibo would soon arrive the following year, defeating blogs with its 140-character limit.

Still, many writers clung to their blogs and harbored resentment toward Weibo.

In the past, becoming an "opinion leader" required lengthy essays, deterring 90% of internet users. Now, with just over a hundred characters, anyone could voice their thoughts.

Among the 34 provincial-level contributors, the average age was 47.

Writers aged 40 and above used blogs (27 individuals).

Writers aged 32–39 used Weibo (6 individuals).

And then there was Gu Lu, aged 16, who used Bilibili.

Something about that seemed… off.

First, his age; second, the platform he chose.

Gu Lu’s submission, My First Recitation, unintentionally marked the first time Bilibili was mentioned in mainstream media. It would forever remain etched in Bilibili’s “must-watch videos upon entry” list.

There was plenty happening today, including developments abroad.

In Tokyo, convenience stores and bookshops began displaying the biweekly issue of Faust. Phone orders were also available.

Faust primarily sold through convenience stores, reflecting its unique vibe...

The magazine was well-known in Japan thanks to editor Katsushi Ota leveraging his connections to invite renowned authors to serialize their works in its pages.

Niche yet stable readership ensured brisk sales upon release.

Additionally, Katsushi Ota single-handedly edited the entire publication under Kodansha’s banner—an impressive feat for one man.

With only one editor, the magazine’s layout was rather freeform, consisting mostly of serialized articles and lengthy author interviews padded with filler content.

However, readers purchasing recent issues noticed something different…

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