Chapter 27

When Li Shungui brought the computer over and turned to leave, Wen Zhengyu seemed to realize a truth. Even the smartest people will eventually be defeated by their own intelligence. Just like the Chinese saying goes, "Smart people are often undone by their own cleverness."

Being straightforward and making a direct request, saying a few nice words to achieve the goal, would have been much simpler. But he had taken a roundabout way, thinking he had everything, including Li Shungui, under control, only to find out it was all in vain.

But he probably couldn't change that. Born with a high IQ, he subconsciously avoided direct actions, always hoping to achieve his goals through meticulous details and feeling satisfied with himself.

Is this considered high intelligence? Is this considered being smart? Wen Zhengyu began to doubt himself, and even the very concept of intelligence testing.

Plugging in the power cord and turning on the computer, Wen Zhengyu shook his head with a smile. He couldn't believe that being smart was better than being stupid. Could a fool really have an advantage over a smart person? At just fourteen years old (thirteen by the Korean age system), Wen Zhengyu found it hard to understand the profound truth that "losing is a blessing."

Putting the CD in, he started to watch the masterpiece recommended by President Lee Soo-young, featuring Leslie Cheung. But just as it began, Wen Zhengyu paused, then ejected the CD.

He had a habit. When he really wanted to understand something, he had to do it thoroughly from start to finish. Initially, his lack of thorough understanding of the entertainment industry had nothing to do with his character but was due to the lack of favorable conditions around him.

Now things were different. After Lee Soo-young explained everything to him today, he had many questions but also agreed with Lee's suggestions.

Understanding things on his own was more direct and three-dimensional than having others feed him information. He kept looking up information, and as the sky filled with stars and gradually turned dark, he continued until the sun rose.

Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking came. But there was no response. As the knocking grew louder, Li Shungui heard footsteps approaching from inside.

Click. The door opened, and as Li Shungui was about to step in, she was startled by the sight of Wen Zhengyu: "Oh! You... Did you get inspired again? Why are your eyes so red?"

Wen Zhengyu's voice was hoarse: "Come in."

Li Shungui cautiously followed, entering Wen Zhengyu's bedroom. She found him sitting in front of the computer, wearing headphones and looking at the screen. Glancing at the untouched blanket, she was surprised and approached to take off his headphones: "You... You didn't sleep all night?"

Wen Zhengyu didn't respond, snatching back the headphones. Li Shungui frowned and took them back, finally making Wen Zhengyu face her: "What's wrong?"

Li Shungui threw the headphones aside: "You still have to go to school and practice today, you know? You have a month; why rush?"

Wen Zhengyu leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily, feeling tired: "Do you think I wanted to? If it were just about viewing an idol, it wouldn't be so intense. But as a goal, I found it very hard to stop delving into his life. As the president said, his life is a legend."

Looking at the frozen image of Leslie Cheung pointing a gun at the camera, Wen Zhengyu shook his head: "Life is like a play, and a play is like life."

Li Shungui was taken aback: "What did you say? In Chinese?"

Wen Zhengyu indeed said those eight words in Chinese but had no intention of explaining to Li Shungui. He suddenly turned his head and asked: "What do you think of him?"

Li Shungui shook her head slightly: "I don't know much. If it weren't for my father, I wouldn't even know about him. Besides, I think Jo In-sung is cooler. He seems a bit too old."

Wen Zhengyu frowned and sized up Li Shungui, then stood up and walked to the bathroom: "Shallow." Li Shungui's eyes widened, and she angrily rushed over, but remembering how he had casually undressed in front of her that morning, she stopped.

She had never had the upper hand with him, but now she had the most effective way to deal with him. When Wen Zhengyu came out after washing his hands, he was stunned.

Li Shungui was calmly putting the laptop back into the computer bag, neatly coiling the power cord.

Wen Zhengyu stepped forward: "I can do it myself... Besides, I haven't finished watching it yet."

Li Shungui glanced at him, snorted, and didn't say a word. She closed the bag and picked it up to leave.

Wen Zhengyu hurriedly blocked her: "What are you doing? You said you'd lend it to me."

Li Shungui pushed his hand away: "Sorry, shallow people are fickle. I've changed my mind."

Wen Zhengyu stood there, laughing and crying at the same time as he chased after her: "You're being too stingy, right?"

Li Shungui frowned and pointed at him: "Stay back! Don't come near! Keep your distance from me in the future."

Wen Zhengyu nodded helplessly: "Okay." He paused, then looked at Li Shungui earnestly: "Shungui, I'm wrong. I apologize for what I said earlier."

Li Shungui looked at him in surprise, almost disbelieving: "Are you not thinking clearly because you didn't sleep? You're actually apologizing to me?"

Wen Zhengyu looked at the computer bag in her arms: "Yes, I apologize. I wasn't careful with my words. Low emotional intelligence is my weakness. I hope you won't hold it against me and will be more understanding. Physically, I'm fine, but mentally, I'm disabled. Would you hold it against a disabled person?"

Li Shungui pushed the computer bag into his arms with a look of disgust: "Oh. I told you to be direct, not to be shameless. You'll do anything to achieve your goals."

Wen Zhengyu's gentle smile returned: "I can't help it. If someone else said it, I might not listen. But when Shungui advises me, I have to try. After all, there's no one in this world who treats me as well as you do."

Li Shungui shivered, hugging her arms and shaking her head: "Stop it. It sounds so sappy."

Wen Zhengyu smiled, turned, and hugged the computer to go back. Li Shungui quickly blocked him: "Oh. It's already time. You have practice in the morning and school registration in the afternoon."

Wen Zhengyu waved his hand: "I'm not going. In the afternoon... we'll see."

Before Li Shungui could persuade him, Wen Zhengyu frowned and turned his head: "Are you not interested in Hong Kong stars? Why do you look so disdainful when we talk about them?"

Li Shungui sat down and shook her head: "I'm not disdainful; I just don't know much about them. Besides, don't we have plenty of stars in South Korea? Aren't they worth liking?"

Wen Zhengyu was about to open the computer bag but put it down when he heard Li Shungui's words. He turned to look at her: "You're not going to support local products when it comes to liking idols, are you? Mixing personal preferences with nationalism is too narrow-minded."

Li Shungui pursed her lips and looked at him with a sneer: "Wen Zhengyu, you were born in early 1990, making you thirteen years old. I was born in May 1989, also thirteen. Two kids who together are less than thirty, talking about the narrowness of nationalism. Can't you think about things more appropriate for your age? Don't be so mature and say things that others can't understand."

Wen Zhengyu frowned: "Shungui, listen to your oppa. Don't let your body grow but your mind be limited. Life is short; isn't it a waste to squander it?"

Li Shungui's eyes widened, and she pointed at Wen Zhengyu. Wen Zhengyu looked at the computer, slapped his cheeks in regret: "Sorry, sorry, I said it without thinking..."

Li Shungui shook her head in confusion: "I find that you really can't help but say something to hurt people. I can't tell if your emotional intelligence is high or low. Usually, people with low emotional intelligence have trouble expressing themselves, but you..."

Wen Zhengyu laughed: "What you're describing is a mentally disabled person, not someone with low emotional intelligence."

Li Shungui waved her hand impatiently: "Okay, okay. I don't understand why you and my father are so obsessed with a foreign star who has already passed away. Why not focus on the many idols in South Korea? You're just a trainee. Don't even think about movies; TV dramas are far from you. Focus on practicing singing and dancing, releasing albums, and establishing yourself in the Korean entertainment industry. Can you even guarantee that you'll debut? And if you debut, can you ensure a smooth path?"

Wen Zhengyu scratched his head in confusion, looking at Li Shungui: "Why are you imposing your fate on me? We... are not comparable."

{Piao Tian Literature}