Chapter 127: Writing Poetry Again

Back in Yandu, Su Tong did not return to the school but continued to stay in Yang Feifei’s apartment along with Ya Ya and the others.

"Xiao Tong, what's wrong with you today? You're walking all hunched over. Is your stomach upset? Did you eat something bad?" Ya Ya asked with concern.

"I have medicine, I'll go get it for Xiao Tong," Lin Yin offered eagerly.

Su Tong was truly suffering in silence. That "guy" had been battling almost the entire way there. It was manageable while sitting, but the moment he stood up, he felt as if that fellow was being crushed by his own pocket, yet it still refused to settle down.

"No need, this is a man's ailment. You'll understand once you have boyfriends or husbands in the future." Su Tong didn't explain further as he entered the house and headed straight for his room.

Yang Feifei and the other girls looked on, bewildered. Girls had their time once a month, but it seemed boys didn't have anything like that.

The next day, Su Tong went to school to see his academic counselor and Principal Song.

"You’re going to participate in 'The Voice of Great Qin'? That’s a good thing! Just remember to mention that you are a student of our People’s University when you introduce yourself." Principal Song was delighted. She personally approved Su Tong’s leave of absence, and his request to move off-campus was granted without a second thought.

"Principal Song, about that... since I won't be living on campus, could I get a refund on my housing fees? I only stayed for one month out of the whole year; it's quite a loss for me," Su Tong said with a grin.

Principal Song felt like kicking him out. He had already made quite a bit of money; it would be nice if he donated some to the school instead of asking for a refund on housing!

"I know your grades are good, just make sure you don't fail your final exams. The school has been giving you the green light on everything, so your current task is to build your reputation. Become a household name and promote our school as much as you can," Principal Song instructed.

Su Tong looked troubled. "Principal Song, maybe I shouldn't participate in 'The Voice' after all. I'm afraid I'll fall behind in my coursework and fail my final exams."

"Publish a poetry collection or write a literary work, and you don't even have to come back for finals," Principal Song laughed.

Su Tong sighed. "I think I’d better just come back and take my exams properly."

A look of disappointment crossed Principal Song’s eyes. It wasn't just her; a group of old-timers was waiting for him to produce a poetry collection or a literary masterpiece.

Given Su Tong’s literary talent and accomplishments, if he were to publish a poetry collection, Principal Song would have agreed to let him skip class for the next three years, let alone just this semester, and she would still grant him his degree upon graduation.

Seeing the disappointment in her eyes, Su Tong realized that deep down, she hoped he would leave behind timeless classics rather than become a singer. No matter how great a singer might be, they only influence an era to a degree and are primarily for entertainment. But a literary master is different; they leave a legacy for centuries, influencing countless generations.

One cannot have both the fish and the bear's paw. For the sake of school enrollment, Principal Song had no choice but to support Su Tong in becoming a singer and entering the entertainment industry.

"Principal, let me write two poems for you before I leave," Su Tong said, glancing at the bare walls.

Principal Song’s heart leapt with joy. She quickly hurried back to her desk, took out a beautifully bound notebook, and prepared the brush and ink. "Write it in here."

Su Tong picked up the brush and sat down. Just as he was about to start, he noticed Principal Song standing behind him and scratched the back of his head. "Principal, can you wait until I'm finished before you look?"

"You have so many quirks. I've never heard of someone refusing to let people watch them write poetry. When you wrote for Jiaqin last time, you were open enough to let us watch on the spot, weren't you?" Principal Song had no choice but to sit back down.

Su Tong chuckled. "Principal Song, you strike me as very much like a woman from ancient times. I shall write poems about ancient beauties."

With that, he lowered his head and began to write with a flourish.

"Bu Suan Zi:
I live at the head of the Yangtze, you at its tail;
Day after day I long for you, but see you not, yet we drink from the same Yangtze water.
When will these waters cease to flow? When will this longing end?
I only wish that your heart may be like mine, and surely, it shall not betray this longing."

After finishing this, Su Tong glanced at Principal Song. She was truly dignified and full of grace. As someone in good health, she was no longer the slim girl of her youth due to her age, yet she wasn't plump; she belonged to that category of "plumpness" that is best described as "a woman of a certain age who still retains her charm."

"Are you finished?" Principal Song stood up, about to come over.

Su Tong hurriedly covered the notebook, blocking her. "No, not yet. Please, Principal, don't be impatient."

You certainly wouldn't be impatient, but anyone who had seen his timeless verses and knew he was writing would be anxious! Principal Song had to sit back down.

With nothing to do, Principal Song logged into a group chat for the Writers' Association, established by a group of forward-thinking seniors. Unable to contain her excitement, she sent a message: "Nian Nu Jiao is in my office right now, writing two poems for me."

"What? Nian Nu Jiao is writing poetry again? Old Song, you must let us see them later," a member of the association, who was a poet by trade, was the first to respond.

"This kid really has a lot in his belly. He didn't write enough that night? Haha, this is for the best. Sister Song, share them later."

"Old Song, his calligraphy will be very valuable in the future, too; the Calligraphy Association has their eyes on him. Don't just let him write on any old scrap of paper... take a photo and upload it later for everyone to enjoy."

"Oh, this kid is quite the handful, share it, share it."

"..."

Principal Song felt quite proud. This Su Tong could not only write poetry but could also tailor classic verses to specific people. This was what everyone considered his most impressive trait. Even those celebrated as great poets in the Association couldn't write anything comparable to Su Tong’s most mediocre pieces, let alone tailor them to an individual.

"Everyone, wait a moment, he is still writing," Principal Song replied in the chat.

At that moment, Su Tong finally finished. He put down the brush and bolted for the door as if his backside were on fire, shouting as he ran, "Principal, I suddenly remembered I have an urgent matter to attend to. I'm leaving first, no need to see me out!"

Principal Song was baffled. She followed him to the door and peered out, but Su Tong was already gone.

"This child," Principal Song shook her head and returned to her desk. She was very curious about what poems he had written.

As she read, a blush crept onto her face.

"That little rascal," Principal Song thought, caught between laughter and tears, though her eyes were filled with joy. She couldn't put the notebook down.

The first, *Bu Suan Zi*, was acceptable—short in words but long in emotion, centering on the Yangtze River to express the yearning and sorrow of separation between lovers.

"I live at the head of the Yangtze, you at its tail;
Day after day I long for you, but see you not, yet we drink from the same Yangtze water."

The first stanza depicted the distance of their separation and the depth of their longing. They were separated by a thousand miles, highlighting the difficulty of meeting and the intensity of their feelings. By using the river to connect the two locations and bridge their hearts, the emotion was infused into the water, making it flow endlessly. It was a perfect blend of the abstract and the concrete, profound in its simplicity.

"When will these waters cease to flow? When will this longing end?
I only wish that your heart may be like mine, and surely, it shall not betray this longing."

The second stanza expressed the protagonist's persistent pursuit of love and her fervent hopes. The entire piece was filled with deep emotion, layered yet cyclical, with every few lines creating a surge of feeling. The language was as clear as speech, the emotions direct and passionate, clearly drawing from the excellent traditions of folk songs. Yet, within its simplicity and freshness lay a subtle and profound artistry.

"It’s just like how I was when I was young." This poem made Principal Song sigh, stirring up memories of the past and leaving her lost in thought.

But the second poem... the more Principal Song looked at it, the more she felt a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"This little brat, how could he write something like this?" Su Tong truly made her feel both love and hate. Of course, the "love" was her appreciation for his talent—the affection of an elder for a younger generation. The "hate" was the helplessness an elder feels toward the willfulness and mischief of a youth.

Principal Song looked at the second poem once more.