The Heartless Omega: I Only Want My Daughter - Chapter 22

“What kind of literary test is it?” Gao Nianke asked the director.

Most of the guests on the field were graduates from film and drama academies; their general education classes usually weren’t their strong suit. Gao Nianke and Song Mu, in particular, were singers who had entered the industry mid-career. The only “literary” skills they could flex were used for writing lyrics, which often involved heavy research just to find the right words.

The director explained, “Each family will send one representative. Each person must recite a line of poetry containing the word ‘flower’ or the name of a specific flower. The first person unable to come up with a line will be in last place. We will change the topic afterward and continue until a first-place winner is decided.”

“Huh? Flowers? And it has to be poetry?”

“That’s a bit too hard. I’ll be lucky if I know two lines.”

“Quick, think of something to say!”

Before the official start, each family huddled together to brainstorm lines about flowers—except for Pei Zhiyun and Wen Ying, who stood still.

Wen Ying noticed the other families discussing and turned to ask Pei Zhiyun, “Aren’t you going to ask me anything?”

Pei Zhiyun replied, “I trust you, of course.”

The words were half-certain and half-casual.

Wen Ying frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. She leaned over, shifted her body, and gently rested her chin on Pei Zhiyun’s shoulder. She didn’t say a word, simply leaning against her.

Pei Zhiyun froze instantly. Her arms, which were folded across her chest, didn’t dare to move.

Wen Ying rarely acted like this. Whether in the past or now, aside from their wedding night, the most physical contact they’d had was during the previous competition. Moreover, Wen Ying wasn’t typically the type to act spoiled or clingy. How could she…

“Alright, now that everyone has finished discussing, we can begin the competition,” the director called out through the megaphone, signaling everyone to gather.

Wen Ying straightened up from Pei Zhiyun’s shoulder and stepped forward.

Only then did Pei Zhiyun lower her hands and let out a faint sigh of relief. Acting as if nothing had happened, she looked down and stroked the head of Little Doubao, who was hugging her leg like a cute little ornament.

Each family sent their representative.

For Pei Zhiyun’s family, it was Wen Ying. When the others saw Wen Ying step out, they almost doubted their eyes. After all, Pei Zhiyun looked much more… reliable than Wen Ying in this department.

For Li Dai’s family, it was Li Dai herself. For Gao Nianke’s family, it was Song Mu. For Xu Yi’s family, it was Xu Yi. For Lu Zhou’s family, it was Sheng Feng. As a screenwriter, his range of knowledge was expected to be a bit broader.

As the five stood ready, the director pulled out a small white pointer. He pointed it first at Wen Ying. “Teacher Wen, you start.”

Everyone turned to look at her.

Wen Ying recited, “In the world of men, the April blooms have all faded; in the mountain temple, the peach blossoms are just beginning to bloom.”

“Good.” The director immediately pointed to Li Dai.

Li Dai said, “As if a night of spring breeze suddenly came, thousands upon thousands of pear trees bloom.”

“Next,” the director said.

Song Mu nervously raised her hand and waved it in the air. “Fallen red blooms are not heartless things; they turn into spring soil to protect the flowers.”

“Next,” the director said.

It was Xu Yi’s turn. She said tensely, “Mountains multiply and streams double, one doubts there is no path; then through the shade of willows and bright flowers, another village appears.”

“Teacher Sheng,” the director said.

Sheng Feng was relatively calm and replied, “The colors of spring cannot be locked inside the garden; a single branch of red apricot reaches out over the wall.”

“Good, pass.” The director pointed back to the first person.

It was Wen Ying’s turn again.

Wen Ying spoke slowly, “No need for light greens or deep reds; this is surely the first class among flowers.”

Hardly anyone had heard this poem before. A staff member nearby searched for it on their phone and told the director, “It exists. It’s Li Qingzhao’s ‘Zhegu Tian’.”

“Good, pass,” the director said.

After Wen Ying, it was Li Dai’s turn again. She nervously spat out her second known line: “When the Double Ninth Festival arrives, I shall return for the chrysanthemums.”

If the round didn’t end here, she would truly have nothing left.

“Teacher Song,” the director called on Song Mu.

“Oh no, that one was taken!” Song Mu had wanted to use that chrysanthemum line. She stammered to buy time, “Uh… well… you see…”

The director didn’t rush her but gave her time to think. “Three, two, one…”

“Uh, flowers fade and flowers fly, flowers fill the sky!” Song Mu blurted out on the final count.

“Fine, pass.” The director pointed to Xu Yi.

Xu Yi wasn’t nervous at all. She replied slowly, “Only the peony is truly a national beauty; its blooming moves the capital.” She was currently reading a script that happened to include this line, so it came in handy.

Director: “Teacher Sheng.”

Sheng Feng replied, “Wild flowers begin to dazzle the eyes; shallow grass can barely hide the horse’s hooves.”

After two rounds, the director marveled, “Not bad, everyone! You actually made it through two rounds. Now we start the third. We begin again with Teacher Wen.”

By now, everyone had used up the common verses. If the turn came back to them, they would truly be stuck. Li Dai stared fixedly at Wen Ying, hoping the game would end right there.

Not only Li Dai, but everyone behind her hoped the game would end before it reached them so they wouldn’t be in last place.

All cameras and eyes were focused on Wen Ying. The tension was palpable, but Wen Ying replied unhurriedly, “The spring grows late in the lonely, empty courtyard; pear blossoms cover the ground, but the door remains closed.”

It’s over. Li Dai mentally sentenced herself to death.

The director pointed at her. “Teacher Li.”

Li Dai pressed her lips together and shook her head at the director. “No more. I only knew those few, and everyone has already said them.”

Hearing this, Gao Nianke let out an unabashed sigh of relief. “Thank goodness it didn’t reach me, because I didn’t know any more either.”

Even though she couldn’t answer, the director counted to three according to the rules before announcing the result. “Alright, Teacher Li takes last place. Now, let’s move to the second question.”

Li Dai stepped back, and the remaining four continued.

The director announced the theme for the second round: “This time, it’s still poetry, but it must be about love. The line must contain the word ‘love.’ We start with Teacher Wen.”

Wen Ying: “A cluster of peach blossoms blooms without a master; should I love the deep red or the light red?”

“Next, Teacher Gao,” the director said.

This time Gao Nianke answered lightning fast, “Stopping my carriage, I sit and love the maple forest at evening; the frost-covered leaves are redder than February flowers.” This was the only one she knew.

Xu Yi had wanted to say that one. When it was her turn, she pressed her lips together and thought for a long time but came up empty. Finally, time ran out.

Director: “Teacher Xu takes second to last.”

Now only three remained. Before the next question, the director asked, “Do you three want to switch positions?”

Wen Ying didn’t say a word. The other two looked at each other and said, “No need to switch.”

Director: “Alright, let’s continue. The difficulty is ramping up now. Please recite a line of poetry related to mothers.”

The first thought everyone had was the famous line: “The thread in the kind mother’s hand, the shirt on the traveling son’s back.” Most didn’t know anything else.

“Teacher Wen first,” the director said.

Gao Nianke looked at Wen Ying, praying in her heart: Please don’t say that line, please don’t say that line.

Wen Ying: “Lifting the curtain to bid my mother farewell at the river bridge; she gazes at me with white hair and dry, tearful eyes.”

Thank goodness it wasn’t that one. Gao Nianke breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed up, “The thread in the kind mother’s hand, the shirt on the traveling son’s back.”

Sheng Feng replied, “It should be that a mother’s kindness is heavy, making your grief unbearable.”

It was Wen Ying’s turn again.

Wen Ying: “The white-haired old mother cries behind the door; she pulls and tears her sleeves, unable to let go.”

“Oh my god, Teacher Wen, you’re too strong!” Gao Nianke’s face was full of worship. She hadn’t even heard of these poems.

The director asked, “Teacher Gao?”

Gao Nianke: “I give up. I really can’t think of anything.”

Gao Nianke withdrew. Now only Wen Ying and Sheng Feng remained. Since they had lasted this long, both were clearly well-read.

Director: “The final test is also poetry, but this time you aren’t reciting by theme. It’s a word-link game. Teacher Wen will say a line, and Teacher Sheng must start his line with the last character of her line. Whoever fails to answer loses. Understand?”

“Understood,” Wen Ying said.

Director: “Teacher Wen, you start. Say any line you like.”

Wen Ying nodded. Recalling the previous poem she had cited, she continued, “The still water clears the mind; aloof and distant from the mundane atmosphere.”

Atmosphere? (Fen)

The guests behind her whispered. Almost no one had heard this line before.

Sheng Feng realized the very first line was already too difficult. He waved his hand and said, “I can’t answer that. I admit defeat! I admit defeat!”

The director picked up the megaphone. “The results are in! First place is Teacher Wen, second is Teacher Sheng, third is Teacher Gao, fourth is Teacher Xu, and fifth is Teacher Li. We will follow the order of the first-place winner picking first. First place gets six seasonings, followed by five, four, three, and two.”

Wen Ying turned back to Pei Zhiyun with a beaming smile.

Pei Zhiyun stepped forward and gave her a hug.

“Mommy, Mama, I want a hug too!” Little Doubao shouted from below, looking up.

When they finished their hug, Wen Ying squatted down to pick up Little Doubao, supporting her small bottom. “Alright, Mama will carry you. We’re going to get the seasonings now.”

“Yay!” Little Doubao shouted loudly.

The family of three carried their basket to the seasoning area.

For cooking, they definitely needed oil, salt, MSG, and soy sauce. That already took up four spots. Pei Zhiyun looked around and picked a packet of hotpot base and some cooking wine.

Once they finished, the others came over one by one.

Li Dai and Zhang Yiwan, who were in last place, only took oil and hotpot base. Hotpot base could flavor anything.

With the seasonings decided, the next and final competition was for fruit.

The director said, “This competition isn’t for the adults. It’s for the children.”

“A competition for the children?” Everyone looked instinctively at the kids in their arms. What could they possibly compete in?

A few staff members came out to set up the scene. The director explained, “We will give each child a crab. We are having a crab race! Since Teacher Gao’s family has two children, both can participate, and we will take the best score between the two.”

“Alright,” Gao Nianke agreed.

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