Chapter 1167: Wardkil’s Poetry

Enter the small hall.

Inside, there were already many people, both men and women, all dressed in their finest.

“Xiaoyu, you’re here.”

A young man in a white suit came up quickly and glanced at Xu Shaochen. “Xiaoyu, this is…”

As he sized up Xu Shaochen, his eyes showed strong hostility and apprehension.

Xu Shaochen, with a smile, also sized him up. He looked quite good and had a decent demeanor, no wonder he could attract Chen Dongyu, the rich heiress.

“A blind date arranged by my second uncle. I couldn’t refuse him, so I brought him along.” Chen Dongyu stepped forward and linked her arm with the young man in the white suit, whispering in his ear.

The young man frowned, his hostility toward Xu Shaochen deepening, and he whispered back, “He dares to covet my woman, just watch how I deal with him.”

“Lu Zhe, don’t…”

Chen Dongyu’s face changed when she heard this. As a rich girl, she knew how vengeful these rich second-generation types could be.

If Lu Zhe offended Xu Shaochen, who knew what consequences might follow.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

Before she could finish speaking, Lu Zhe had already extended his hand to Xu Shaochen, “Hello, I’m Lu Zhe, Xiaoyu’s boyfriend. How should I address you?”

This was a declaration of sovereignty.

“Surname Xu.” Xu Shaochen smiled slightly and shook the hand Lu Zhe extended.

Lu Zhe released Xu Shaochen’s hand, “Brother Xu, do you also study poetry?”

“Not bad.” Xu Shaochen said blandly. This was a poetry society exchange meeting; in such a setting, he couldn’t admit he knew nothing about poetry.

“Really? That’s great, we can exchange ideas then.” Lu Zhe pretended to be delighted, a mocking light in his eyes. “Have you read the poems of the Russian poet Lermontov, Brother Xu?”

“No, I haven’t.” Xu Shaochen shook his head. He rarely read foreign poetry, mostly familiar with Chinese poems.

“Brother Xu, are you kidding? You’ve never read Lermontov’s poems and claim to study poetry?”

Lu Zhe looked at Xu Shaochen with an incredulous look, deliberately raising his voice several decibels as if he had seen a ghost.

In an instant, all eyes in the small hall were drawn to them.

Xu Shaochen frowned. Was this guy deliberately playing him?

“Lu Zhe, what nonsense are you spouting?”

Chen Dongyu’s face changed. She tugged on Lu Zhe’s sleeve.

Her intervention aggravated Lu Zhe, who broke free from Chen Dongyu’s hand and addressed everyone,

“This friend here says he’s never read Lermontov’s poems, yet he’s at our poetry society’s private exchange. Should he stay?”

“What? There are people like this? Such people don’t deserve to stand with us. It’s a disgrace to poetry!”

“Exactly, having never read Lermontov’s poetry, who dares claim to study poetry?”

“How ridiculous…”

Most of these people were Yunzhou University teachers, and of course, they joined Lu Zhe in opposing Xu Shaochen.

In a corner, a middle-aged man in black-frame glasses watched Xu Shaochen with a look of contemplation.

Lu Zhe smirked, eyes gleaming with smugness, as he addressed Xu Shaochen calmly:

“Brother Xu, today is an internal gathering for poetry enthusiasts, so please make yourself at home.”

He emphasized the word “internal” to stress that Xu Shaochen had no place discussing poetry with them.

“Alright, may I ask if you’ve studied Wardkil’s poetry?” Xu Shaochen countered with a sardonic smile.

Lu Zhe hesitated. He had never heard the name. Was it some obscure foreign poet?

He couldn’t admit he’d never heard of the poet; it would be too embarrassing.

So he replied with a straight face, “Of course, his poetry is among my favorites.”

“Yes, Wardkil’s poetry is certainly worth studying. I often discuss it with friends.”

“Exactly, I even have one of his poems framed by my bed.”

Everyone chimed in support, scrambling to recall which country Wardkil belonged to.

Since everyone claimed to have read this poet’s work, admitting otherwise would be humiliating.

No one dared confess they hadn’t heard the name Wardkil before.

“Really?” Xu Shaochen raised a mocking eyebrow and said calmly, “I’ve never read his poetry.”

“You’re insulting poetry! Not reading Wardkil isn’t something to boast about; it only shows your ignorance!”

Lu Zhe’s expression changed as he righteously berated Xu Shaochen.

“He’s right. Having never read Lermontov is excusable, but not even Wardkil? You should just go back to where you came from.”

“Leave already; don’t make a fool of yourself here.”

Others shooed Xu Shaochen away like an unwanted fly.

Unfazed, Xu Shaochen surveyed the room, “Do you know why I’ve never read Wardkil’s poetry?”

The room fell silent; everyone exchanged puzzled glances. How could anyone know?

“Why else? Because you’re uneducated and ignorant.”

Lu Zhe smirked disdainfully, looking at Xu Shaochen.

A faint, mocking smile curled Xu Shaochen’s lips as he coldly asked, “That’s because Wardkil doesn’t exist. I just made him up. I’m curious where you all read his great works. Mind lending them to me?”

Boom! Xu Shaochen’s words exploded in everyone’s heads.

Faces turned pale then green with embarrassment.

No one had considered that Wardkil was Xu Shaochen’s fabrication, no wonder they’d never heard of him.

Everyone shot Lu Zhe a fierce glare. If he hadn’t claimed he read Wardkil, would they have followed suit?

Lu Zhe’s face burned as if repeatedly slapped.

He’d lost all face today.

“Miss Chen, your boyfriend isn’t quite up to par. He may have talent but lacks virtue, with a narrow mind. He’ll achieve little in his life.”

Xu Shaochen left Chen Dongyu with a casual remark before turning to leave.

“Stop right there! Who were you talking about just now?”

Already fuming, Lu Zhe exploded in rage.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you embarrassed enough?”

Chen Dongyu grabbed Lu Zhe and shouted at him.

She hadn’t expected the graceful Lu Zhe she knew to become a petty person today.

And a foolish one at that, played like a clown by Xu Shaochen.