"What do you say, want to play?" Wu Xiaomeng continued when Gong Ju Ren didn't respond.
Unexpectedly, Gong Ju Ren shook his head repeatedly: "I concede, you cultured folks can play among yourselves."
He wasn't an idiot. This woman was the most formidable person present. Rather than be embarrassed, it was better to concede. Besides, he wasn't part of this circle, so refusing wasn't shameful.
"I'll play with you," Shen Chun said, smiling and standing up when he saw Gong Ju Ren backing down.
The crowd erupted in cheers again.
Shen Chun versus Wu Xiaomeng was definitely the peak showdown among the younger generation.
Gong Ju Ren opened his mouth, then shook his head.
"Want to show off?" Su Yu furrowed his brow and asked him in a low voice.
How could they gang up on their little Gong?
Was it because Little Gong had no backing?
Sorry, I am his backing.
"I can't beat them," Gong Ju Ren was a very pragmatic person.
"Bring out your unyielding spirit, and I'll help you," Su Yu said, smiling and ruffling his head. How could he let his own people suffer a disadvantage?
Upon hearing this, Gong Ju Ren blinked, and then his eyes shone with dazzling light.
"I'll face you!" he exclaimed, standing up abruptly.
He didn't even consider whether Su Yu could defeat Wu Xiaomeng.
Nor did he think about the embarrassment if he lost.
Because he trusted Su Yu unconditionally.
Just as he had believed Su Yu when he said he only knew a little about composing poetry, he now believed Su Yu could help him save face.
Gong Ju Ren's life motto was: Those who believe in Brother Yu will never have bad luck.
"Good, that's the spirit."
Seeing his absolute trust, Su Yu felt a pang of emotion.
If they dare to bully such a good kid like Gong, then don't blame me for cheating.
"System, can you customize skills?"
[Master-level couplet composing skill has been prepared for the host. Given it's the first customization, it's at a 10% discount.]
"Customize it."
Su Yu nodded. He had also received a 10% discount the first time he customized songs and piano pieces.
[Ding, master-level couplet composing skill has been customized for the host, automatically enhanced, and a charitable donation of three million has been made for the host.]
Su Yu was customizing his skills.
Meanwhile, Lin Yanyu, standing nearby, said enviously, "Susu, I've noticed, he trusts you even more than I do..."
She had just doubted Su Yu's ability to write poetry, but Gong Ju Ren's unconditional trust and immediate action upon hearing Su Yu's offer were remarkable.
No, how could she be outdone by a mere follower!
She, Lin Yanyu, also believed in Susu unconditionally!
"Little Gong has always been this simple," Su Yu said with a sheepish smile.
Why did the little fairy sound so strange?
At this moment, the livestream became lively.
"Haha, this is interesting."
"Stirring up trouble, I like it."
"The ancient style talent Ting Yu battling the talented woman Wu Xiaomeng, it's getting heated!"
"Isn't Ting Yu setting up Gong Ju Ren? Can he really compete with Wu Xiaomeng?"
"I finally know how Gong Ju Ren became Ting Yu's favorite. This execution ability is beyond our reach!"
"With just one word from Ting Yu, he charged forward without a second thought. True unconditional belief, right?"
Since Gong Ju Ren was livestreaming, his words were clearly heard by the viewers.
The audience was thrilled by this sudden turn of events.
Furthermore, they gained a new understanding of Gong Ju Ren's execution ability.
"Alright, then I'll start with a simple couplet to test your skill." Wu Xiaomeng hadn't expected Gong Ju Ren to agree so suddenly. After a moment of surprise, a playful smile flickered across her lips.
"Bring it on!" Gong Ju Ren said, nostrils flared, his unyielding spirit evident.
With Brother Yu backing me, what am I afraid of?
"Listen carefully, the upper line is, 'Because of the lotus, one gets the root.'" Wu Xiaomeng said with a smile.
Gong Ju Ren feigned contemplation, Su Yu's voice reached his ears. He paused for a moment, then placed his hands on his hips and casually uttered, "The lower line is, 'With the apricot, the plum is unnecessary.'"
After he responded, there was a moment of silence, followed by thunderous applause.
"Amazing! 'Because of the lotus, one gets the root,' 'With the apricot, the plum is unnecessary!'"
"Who is this little pageboy?"
"How could he instantly come up with such a brilliant couplet without even thinking?"
The experts present immediately grasped the meaning of the couplet.
Wu Xiaomeng's upper line could be read as "yin hé ér dé ǒu" (because of the lotus, one gets the root), or "yīn hé ér dé ǒu" (because of what, one gets a match). Gong Ju Ren's lower line could be read as "yǒu xìng bù xū méi" (with the apricot, the plum is unnecessary), or "yǒu xìng bù xū méi" (fortunate without needing a matchmaker).
It was a homophonic couplet.
Wu Xiaomeng saying she'd start with a simple one was clearly to mislead and secure an early victory.
Seeing that Gong Ju Ren had answered correctly, Wu Xiaomeng was surprised and unconvinced. "I'm getting serious now. The upper line is, 'Face reflects peach blossom red, peach blossom red reflects face.'"
In just five seconds, Gong Ju Ren replied calmly, "Wind sways green willow, green willow sways wind."
Holy crap!
He got it again!
"You!" Wu Xiaomeng was shocked.
This was unbelievable.
This little pageboy was actually this formidable!
Her upper line this time was a palindrome, reading the same forwards and backward, yet Gong Ju Ren had answered it in such a short time!
"'Hook above is old, hook below is test, old tests the student, student tests till old!'" Wu Xiaomeng's brows furrowed, and she began to pick up the pace.
Gong Ju Ren remained unfazed, feeling ecstatic inside: "'One person is Great, two people are Heaven, Heaven is benevolence, benevolence surpasses Heaven!'"
...
The competition continued.
Everyone present was utterly stunned.
Was this even human?
The lower line was produced mere seconds after the upper line was presented.
Moreover, this little pageboy looked completely unfamiliar.
Inside the Lanting Pavilion.
Wu Tian, the president of the Poetry Association, couldn't sit still. Such couplets required him to think for a while, yet this person was so formidable. "This person is terrifying!"
"That's too exaggerated," Shen Lingyun of the Calligraphy Association said with a look of horror.
And the viewers in the livestream.
They exploded.
Others might not know, but they saw clearly that after the opponent presented the upper line, Su Yu would take only a second to think before delivering the lower line.
This speed was simply astonishing!
Some remembered what Su Yu had said earlier: he only knew a little about composing poetry.
At this point, they completely lost it.
"You call this knowing a little?"
"This is your 'knowing a little'??"
"Tell me, what is 'a little' in your eyes?"
"Damn it, I believed your nonsense!"
"Are you cheating? How can anyone be this fast at couplets?"
"Ancient style talent from the entertainment industry battling the Kyoto talented woman, holding his own. I can predict what the Weibo hot search will be after the exchange meeting."
"Haha, seeing these cultured people stunned by Su Yu, why do I feel so good?"
As the number of comments increased.
The popularity of the livestream soared.
It had grown from around eight million to thirty million.
The official platform had also pinned Su Yu's livestream to the homepage, even adding a banner.
"Ancient Style Talent Ting Yu Battles Kyoto Talented Woman in a Feast of Talent!"