Nearly ten couplets had been answered correctly.
Wu Xiaomeng’s face grew increasingly grim.
Shen Chun, standing beside her, fared no better, his jaw almost hitting the floor in surprise.
As for Zhou Sisi, she was like a devoted fan, her eyes shining with adoration as she looked at Gong Juren.
Because they were standing a little further away, they couldn't hear Su Yu’s soft reminders at all.
Gradually.
As Gong Juren became more and more audacious, the speed at which he answered the couplets increased.
Wu Xiaomeng could no longer stand it: “I’ll give one last upper couplet, but I’ll admit upfront that this isn’t my own creation. If you can answer it, I’ll concede defeat on the spot!”
Upon hearing this, Gong Juren subtly glanced at Su Yu. Seeing him nod, his face lit up with a smile.
“Go ahead, let me make you concede defeat with a convinced heart.”
He had thoroughly enjoyed his boastful display, but he wasn’t entirely carried away, as he was being broadcast live. While those present were unaware, many viewers already knew that it was actually Su Yu competing against Wu Xiaomeng.
Therefore, he only said “let me make you concede defeat with a convinced heart,” without including “I” in the statement.
Even so.
Looking at the astonished expressions of these cultured individuals, Gong Juren felt that coming here was truly worthwhile.
Meanwhile.
The prominent figures seated in the Lanting were no longer calm.
Especially Wu Tian, Wu Xiaomeng’s father and the president of the Poetry Association.
He knew which couplet his daughter was referring to, as it was a timelessly absolute couplet he had collected in his early years. He had studied it for many years but still couldn't find a suitable lower couplet.
He hadn't expected Wu Xiaomeng to resort to this timelessly absolute couplet in order to win.
Just then.
An assistant-like figure carrying a tablet approached the Lanting.
He presented the tablet to Wu Tian.
The screen of the tablet displayed Su Yu's live stream.
The entire screen was filled with comments praising Su Yu.
Some were analyzing how well he had answered the previous couplets.
After a half-second pause, Wu Tian understood the situation.
“Hiss… It’s actually him answering the couplets!”
Upon learning the truth, he gasped.
“Old Wu, what’s wrong?” Shen Lingyun, who was nearby, leaned over.
“The one who was answering couplets with Xiao Meng just now wasn’t this page boy, but Su Yu.” Wu Tian handed the tablet over.
Shen Lingyun was immediately startled after taking it.
Hearing Wu Tian’s words, the surrounding dignitaries gathered around.
The old president of the Opera Association, seeing the comments on the screen, chuckled so much that his wrinkles bunched up: “Haha, I knew it! How could this little page boy be so skilled? So it’s Su Yu helping him, that makes perfect sense.”
“What do we do now? Should we stop it?” Wu Tian said softly.
Seeing his daughter pushed to such a degree, a father’s heart felt uneasy.
“Why stop it? Don’t you want to know the lower couplet for that timelessly absolute upper couplet?” the old president said with a smile.
Shen Lingyun also added, “Su Yu isn’t cheating. He just prefers to be low-key, which is why he’s having his page boy speak.”
Of course, he had to support Su Yu.
This was because he still wanted Su Yu to write a song for the Calligraphy Association, and this was the perfect time to build goodwill.
“You guys!” Wu Tian wanted to retort but found no reason.
That’s right, although Su Yu was using his page boy to compete with Wu Xiaomeng, he had indeed answered correctly, and at such a speed. Under the live broadcast cameras, cheating was even more impossible.
Therefore, stopping it now would be unreasonable.
“Do you all really think Su Yu can answer that lower couplet? That’s something we’ve all researched for years without finding the most suitable answer,” Wu Tian said somewhat unwillingly.
“We’ll know soon enough if he can answer it,” the old president’s voice was full of anticipation.
Shen Lingyun also chuckled, “If Xiaomeng loses the couplet challenge, she can win back respect through poetry. Don’t be too pessimistic.”
“Hmph, your son Shen Chun is skilled in calligraphy, so it’s easy for you to speak so casually,” Wu Tian said gloomily.
Shen Lingyun’s son, Shen Chun, was most proficient in calligraphy, and if he lost in the poetry and couplet round, no one would criticize him.
But his daughter losing in her area of expertise would not only damage her reputation but possibly affect her state of mind.
“Don’t worry, being too sharp at a young age isn’t a good thing. Su Yu doing this is also helping Xiao Meng temper her character,” Shen Lingyun thought, brimming with joy, but his face remained composed as he offered comfort.
Wu Tian’s brow twitched, and he stopped talking.
…
While the cultural elite were in discussion.
Wu Xiaomeng uttered her upper couplet: “My upper couplet is, Shui Shui Shan Shan Chu Chu Ming Ming Xiu Xiu.”
After she finished, she looked at Gong Juren.
A murmur of discussion immediately arose from the crowd.
Judging by this upper couplet, it was clearly a repetitive word couplet. However, since Wu Xiaomeng called it a timelessly absolute couplet, it was likely more than just a simple repetition.
Everyone present tried to answer it.
They all had some potential answers in mind.
However, in the end, all eyes turned to Gong Juren.
Because this time, he was Wu Xiaomeng’s opponent.
This time was different from before.
Upon receiving the upper couplet, Su Yu did not immediately provide the lower couplet.
This was because the couplet was indeed formidable, and answering it too quickly might attract other complications.
After a wait of nearly half a minute.
The audience in the live stream was getting impatient.
“Can’t answer it?”
“Isn’t this upper couplet quite simple? I can answer it too. It’s just turning a few words into two words, like ‘Wo wo zhen zhen mei mei you you qian qian.’”
“I’ll try one too, ‘Na na ni ni qu qu chi chi tu tu.’”
“Chi chi ni ni ma ma ge ge bi bi.”
“Haha, the two above me have entertained me.”
“This upper couplet seems simple but actually hides a secret. It’s normal for Su Yu not to be able to answer it.”
“Wu Xiaomeng said that this wasn’t an upper couplet she came up with, so even if she wins, it won’t matter.”
Just as netizens thought Su Yu couldn't answer it either.
He smiled and softly uttered the lower couplet to Gong Juren.
And Gong Juren, under the gaze of so many people, showed no sign of being intimidated, still with his hands on his hips, defiant and unyielding.
After hearing Su Yu’s lower couplet, his face bloomed with a smile: “Qing Qing Yu Yu Shi Shi Hao Hao Qi Qi.”
After he finished.
The usual gasps of astonishment did not erupt from the crowd.
Everyone wore a solemn expression, contemplating his lower couplet.
However, the dignitaries in the Lanting suddenly all stood up!