BSI Chapter 67, Rank 1!
Chapter 67, Rank 1!
The midday sun was as scorching as a menopausal stepmother, mercilessly baking the Shanghai Theatre Academy's plastic track.
Jiang Bai stood at the very front of the military training formation, sweat dripping down his temples, but he didn't have time to wipe it away.
His attention was entirely focused on the system panel in his mind.
[Ding! Popularity +1.]
[Ding! Popularity +1.]
[Ding! Popularity +1314!]
In just ten minutes, the popularity score skyrocketed, seemingly on a jet engine, and inexplicably surged by over a thousand points!
It's worth noting that without the support of trending topics, this data would typically take an hour or even longer to accumulate.
"What's going on?"
Jiang Bai's eyelids twitched.
"Could it be that old fox Yu Zheng is up to some trick again?"
"Or have the official promotional photos been dug up again?"
Although the specific reason is unknown, this is undoubtedly good news.
Looking at the constantly changing numbers, Jiang Bai felt he could stand for another five hundred years.
……
"Disband!"
At the instructor's command, the freshmen, who were already starving, rushed towards the cafeteria like zombies unleashed.
Jiang Bai and Su Ze's trio were also mixed in with the crowd.
Just as I reached the entrance of the cafeteria, a familiar figure blocked my way.
It's counselor Lao Zhang.
Old Zhang was holding a stainless steel thermos, his face glowing. When he saw Jiang Bai, his smile became even brighter, like a chrysanthemum.
"Jiang Bai! Shall we go eat?"
"Hello, Teacher Zhang!" the four greeted in unison.
Old Zhang nodded, his gaze lingering on Jiang Bai for a couple of seconds, full of admiration:
"You're something else, kid!"
"The department head just called me again, and he was raving about you!"
"Not only the department head, but I heard even the vice dean watched the rehearsal video and said our class has produced a pillar of strength!"
Jiang Bai's heart skipped a beat, but he still had to force a smile:
"Teacher, you flatter me. It's just what I should do."
"Don't be modest!" Old Zhang patted Jiang Bai on the shoulder. "Keep up the good work, our class is counting on you."
"Oh, right..."
"When is the next rehearsal? I think it's the day after tomorrow?"
Old Zhang suddenly changed the subject:
"I happened to be free that day, so I went to take a look!"
"The department head praised you to the skies, but I, as your counselor, haven't even met you in person. This is outrageous."
boom!
Jiang Bai felt as if a thunderbolt had struck the top of his head.
Should we go take a look?
Are you going to the scene?
Wouldn't that mean facing "Jiang Baizhi" face to face?
Although he devised a "blind spot" tactic and prepared a masked double, it was based on the premise that Lao Zhang only looked at the list or was far away!
If Old Zhang suddenly feels like it and goes backstage to offer his condolences...
The scene was too beautiful for Jiang Bai to imagine.
My back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.
"Um... teacher."
Jiang Bai swallowed hard, forcing a stiff smile:
"Actually, there's nothing much to see; it's just random dancing."
"Besides, the place is messy and full of sweat, which might bother you."
"It's alright! Teacher, I'm not bothered by the smell!" Old Zhang waved his hand dismissively. "It's settled then!"
After saying that, Old Zhang picked up his lunchbox, humming a little tune, and left.
Jiang Bai was left alone, bewildered in the wind.
"It's over..."
"Now we're really dancing on the edge of a knife."
"Hopefully I can get through this..."
……
404 bedrooms.
The group returned with their food and sat around the table, wolfing it down.
Jiang Bai was picking at the braised pork while absentmindedly looking at his phone.
The screen lit up.
Several missed calls were clearly visible on the screen.
Location displayed: Kyoto.
"Kyoto?"
Jiang Bai ate a meal with chopsticks.
The only people he knew in Kyoto, besides Yu Zheng who tricked him into joining the film crew, were Wang Dazhong, the director of The Voice of China who gave him a direct pass.
"Could it be that these two want to see me?"
I was just thinking about it.
My phone vibrated again.
It's still that Kyoto number.
Jiang Bai hesitated for a moment before answering the phone.
Hello.
A male voice, extremely enthusiastic and even somewhat obsequious, came from the other end of the phone:
"Hello! Is this Mr. Li Bai?"
"This is the organizing committee of the Red Bean Cup Poetry Competition!"
Congratulations! That's wonderful news!
"Your entry, 'Seeing or Not Seeing,' has been unanimously approved by the expert judging panel and has won first prize in this competition!"
Jiang Bai was stunned for a moment.
Red bean cup?
Then it dawned on me—the poetry competition results were being announced!
"Oh, thank you," Jiang Bai said calmly.
The person on the other end of the phone clearly hadn't expected the winner to be so calm. After a pause, they continued enthusiastically:
"Mr. Jiang, given the current popularity of this poem, which is also the first prize in our competition."
"We'd like to conduct an exclusive interview with you, preferably a video, to discuss your creative journey..."
Interview?
Showing his face?
Jiang Bai frowned.
He's a very busy person right now, with military training, acting, and going on The Voice of China. How could he have time to do any poetry interviews?
Moreover, Li Taibai was originally intended to be a mysterious figure.
Jiang Bai took his phone, got up, walked to the balcony, and casually closed the sliding door.
He cleared his throat.
He deliberately lowered his voice, speaking in a deep, weathered baritone tone:
"No need."
"A good article is born of nature, and a skillful hand may occasionally bring it to fruition."
"I write poetry simply to record my state of mind; fame is as fleeting as clouds to me."
"Just give me the bonus, no need for interviews, I prefer peace and quiet."
These words were utterly pretentious.
The staff member on the other end of the phone was filled with respect.
No wonder he's a master who could write "silent love, quiet joy"!
This level of understanding is truly different!
Not seeking fame—that's the true spirit of a scholar!
"Okay, okay! We respect your wishes!"
"Please provide your bank card number in the official website backend. The prize money will be transferred within three business days!"
"Okay, I'm hanging up."
Jiang Bai hung up the phone and breathed a long sigh of relief.
Back in the dorm.
He opened his phone and logged into the Red Bean Cup official website.
really.
A red banner hangs prominently on the homepage:
[Announcement of the Winners of the 12th Red Bean Cup]
[First Prize: "Seeing or Not Seeing" by Li Bai.]
Prize: 100,000 yuan.
Jiang Bai skillfully entered the bank card number and clicked confirm.
"Done!"
"100,000 yuan in hand!"
He only spent 500 popularity points to exchange for this poem, and immediately made 100,000 yuan in cash.
This rate of return is even more lucrative than robbing a bank!
Just as Jiang Bai was happily reaping 100,000 yuan.
Suddenly, a deep, soulful, and magnetic voice rang out from the side:
"Whether you see me or not..."
"I'm right there..."
"Neither sad nor happy..."
Jiang Bai's hand trembled, and he almost threw the phone away.
I turned my head and looked.
Su Ze was standing in the middle of the dormitory, holding his phone, his eyes glazed over, looking at the air with a melancholy expression.
"You may recite my name, or you may not..."
"Love is right there..."
"Neither coming nor going..."
Gu Dapeng was gnawing on a chicken leg when he was startled by the noise:
"Second brother, what's wrong?"
"Are you bored and have nothing better to do than recite poetry?"
Lin Le pushed up his glasses: "Based on the word frequency analysis of this poem, it's about the self-cultivation of a backup option."
Su Ze ignored their complaints, finished reciting the last sentence, sighed deeply, and looked completely absorbed:
"well……"
"What a beautiful poem!"
"This poem perfectly captures my feelings for the goddess in the white dress!"
"Wherever she is, whether she knows me or not, my love remains here, unwavering!"
Jiang Bai: "..."
He forced himself not to laugh out loud, his face turning red from holding it in.
God's true feelings.
This poem is something I copied... oh no, I wrote it!
You use my poem to fantasize about me wearing women's clothing, and you still have to ask me if I agree!
That's a pretty smooth closed-loop process!
"Su Ze, you can write poetry now?" Jiang Bai asked, feigning surprise.
Su Ze waved his hand:
"I don't have that talent."
"I just saw this on TikTok!"
"This poem is all the rage now! I think it won first prize in some competition, and it's being shared all over the internet!"
"It's said the author was a reclusive master named Li Bai?!"