"Your actual education?"
Hu Xiaoyu lowered his eyes and thought about it. Strictly speaking, he didn't have a human-world diploma — but since he was walking around using the original host's identity, then the original host's education was…
The staffer heard the boy beside him answer very seriously, "Middle school."
At the same time, the livestream chat froze for half a second — and then detonated.
The live chat exploded:
"Wait, he actually SAID it??"
"Middle school?? And he just dropped it like that???"
"Bro, how are you not embarrassed 😭"
"What kind of show invites a middle school dropout to talk about CULTURE 💀"
"LMAO pretty face, zero degrees."
"ILLITERATE."
"Wasted on that face fr."
The staffer wanted to help him out and asked gently, "Did you have to stop studying that early because of… some difficulties at home?"
A lot of artists in the industry didn't have high degrees. When questioned, many of them would tell touching stories — family troubles, poverty, training, all of that. If Xiaoyu wanted to, he could have done the same.
He thought of the original host being bullied by Yang Kai in middle school, and of Grandma Cui being sick all the time. The fact that the original host had even finished middle school had taken a lot of grit.
But those were dark memories for the original host. If he were still alive, he probably wouldn't want them brought up again.
So Hu Xiaoyu shook his head calmly. "No. I just didn't want to study anymore."
This time the staffer really didn't know how to pick it up.
Awkward silence filled the car — luckily, they arrived at Master Qi Duan's old courtyard in the capital, and everyone got out, breaking the mood.
The livestream, however, was already lopsided — comments flooded in calling him an empty vase, saying a kid who quit school was only in showbiz to grab quick money.
Occasionally someone would type that the boy standing in front of that ancient northern courtyard in a simple white shirt and jeans looked like he'd stepped out of a painting — but they were immediately drowned out by people "informing" them that he was uneducated and shameless.
The live chat exploded:
"Okay, but real talk, people go to school to make money later right? If he chose a different way that's on him."
"Yeah, but this is a CULTURE show, not a dance app. Why is a middle school dropout here??"
"Facts. Look at the other guests — all the proper arts schools."
"Agree. Btw go, Stan Li Yu, actually studied abroad, THAT'S elite."
"Li Yu vs Hu Xiaoyu… one 'fishes', one gets 'eaten' 😂 brutal"
"Lowkey true tho"
"I'm betting 1 dollar he's going to embarrass himself later."
"+1"
"+1"
Hu Xiaoyu, on his end, felt his forehead warm again.
Probably being scolded. Again. And harder this time.
But his spiritual energy intake hadn't really been affected, so it was fine.
He was the smallest name on the show, so he arrived earliest.
Since filming couldn't start until everyone was there, he took his time looking around the building. It was an old-style courtyard, with carved beams and calligraphed plaques — familiar and comforting.
A staffer noticed him staring at the wall and asked curiously, "Xiaoyu, are you looking at the characters? It looks like a poem, but it's all classical script — the calligraphy's all connected, super hard to read."
The live chat exploded:
"Not the staffer asking HIM that 😭"
"Bro set him up 💀"
"Why would you ask the middle school guy to read ancient poetry LMAO?"
"Those are basically all cursive characters, bet he can't even read 3."
"Three is generous 💀"
"lol"
Hu Xiaoyu glanced at the staffer and, out of kindness, said, "It's not hard. It's a Tang poem."
"... Is it?" the staffer said weakly.
The live chat exploded:
"Here we go, he's pretending again 🙄"
"Say the poem then— WAIT HE'S ACTUALLY READING IT???"
"Bro— he's reciting it off the wall???"
"...sounds accurate???"
While the chat was still scrolling with disbelief, Xiaoyu finished reciting the whole poem. Then he added the poet's name — and two or three little anecdotes about the man's life.
A century ago, the Yu family had an entire loft for books. Yu Tan had liked to spend time there, so he had followed.
A yao was born with a perfect memory. Ten years was enough to read through most of that loft — and that wasn't even counting what Yu Tan had explained to him.
The live chat exploded:
"I just googled it — he was RIGHT."
"Hold up, the wall is in cursive and there's no author name on it tho???"
"This is middle school level???"
"Hi, linguistics major here, that poem is OBSCURE and the calligraphy style is killer. I could barely recognize 5 characters, I feel shame 😭"
"So like… which way should I kneel to apologize to him???"
"Y'all are so naive. Obviously, the show fed him the answer. They want to boost him."
"Yeah it's scripted af."
"Thought he was a noob… guess I was too young 😂"
In the director's room, everyone stared, stunned.
The assistant director looked worried. "Director, I swear no one leaked the test. Should we… change the format?"
This was supposed to be a "talked-about" guest. How had he suddenly turned into a bona fide literist? That poem on the wall had been set as the first test of the episode — and he'd just… cleared it.
The director watched his split screen and decided on the spot, "Don't change it."
He had a feeling — this episode's biggest highlight was going to be this boy. Real jade didn't fear the fire. If he was actually that good… they could have him back next episode. A guest with looks and brains, on a culture show? The audience would eat it up.
Half an hour later, all four guests had arrived.
Excluding him, there were three others. Xiaoyu had been briefed by Chu Yin and recognized them from photos. He greeted each of them politely.
What he hadn't expected was… Li Yu was there too.
Chu Yin hadn't mentioned that.
Li Yu greeted the senior guests politely, and even smiled at Xiaoyu — but when the camera wasn't on them, he shot him a provocative look.
He'd pulled strings to join this episode, for one reason: to make things hard for Hu Xiaoyu.
Before, he might've stayed away because of Yu Tan's warning. But now? Yu Tan had admitted owing him a favor. Even if he got mad, he'd only scold him.
In front of the whole country, Li Yu swore to himself, he'd drag this little stray fish through the mud. And if Yu Tan was watching — even better. He'd get to see that his "little treasure" was just an empty vase.
On the way over, he'd had the cameras turned off for a few minutes and secretly checked with his assistant about Xiaoyu's livestream — the water army was doing work, and the idiot himself had admitted his education. Serves him right.
Hu Xiaoyu, for his part, was just confused.
When yaos disliked someone, they either challenged them head-on or walked away to their own quiet place. Voluntarily swarming around someone you don't like? That was… odd.
Forget it. He'd pretend not to see him.
Once everyone was present, the host arrived.
After the opening, he announced the first task: to enter the house and meet Master Qi Duan, everyone needed to identify and read the poem on the outer wall. Ten characters minimum. Guessing was allowed.
The live chat exploded:
"So he has already passed, huh 💀"
"Don't tell me that wasn't leaked, c'mon"
"Maybe… he actually knew it?"
"Xiaoyu-stans have the thickest filter omg"
"Read the characters on the plaque then. If he can do THAT I'll shut up."
"CALL THE PRODUCERS OUT"
"That plaque is mad messy, IDK which side to read 💀"
All the guests started thinking hard.
Thanks to having had calligraphy teachers as a kid, Li Yu managed to piece together ten characters first — two of them guessed after several tries.
The live chat exploded:
"LI YU LET'S GOOOO"
"Brains + face, we win again 😌"
"He's from a rich fam right? If acting fails, he just goes home to inherit. Must be nice."
"King's behavior"
After passing, Li Yu walked over to Xiaoyu. "How many have you got? I can tell you two in secret. I don't think production will kick me out for that."
He looked all warm-hearted. A lot of viewers were moved.
The live chat exploded:
"Is it just me or is this kinda awkward???"
"Same, like… Xiaoyu has already read the whole thing, bro 💀"
"I smell a little tea ☕"
"Li Yu was being NICE tho!"
"Yeah, they're not even close, and he still helped the rookie. That's sweet."
Xiaoyu looked at him. "No need."
He didn't even bother saying thank you. He just recited the entire poem again, smoothly — and got the pass.
Li Yu: "…"
He took a deep breath, reminding himself they were filming. Hu Xiaoyu must have bribed production. Or Yu Tan had pulled strings. Fine. It was calligraphy and painting — once they actually had to write, the truth would show.
The other guests all used different tricks.
Actress Zhao Qingshuang called for outside help.
Movie king Liu promised "signed photos" to staff for hints.
Muscle actor Li Xiang did twenty pushups on the spot to get a clue.
Lots of laughs for the show.
Once everyone passed, the host led them inside.
Right at the door, prompted by the director, the host mentioned the plaque.