Chapter 19: New Year’s Eve

“What kind of script is the AI following? The two teams with the best chance of winning aren’t in the same group, and both got a bye—this is basically the treatment reserved for seeded teams.” Feng Jingyu hadn’t expected the plot to unfold like this. She turned uncertainly to S-77. “This was a random draw, right? The AI didn’t analyze the teams’ data or anything, did it?”

“The AI is absolutely impartial,” S-77 replied earnestly.

With that reassurance, Feng Jingyu couldn’t help but sigh, “The gears of fate…”

“The draw results are out. The teams should be receiving notifications to head to Earth,” Cen Lan said.

“The competition’s on Earth?” Yu Huaiyin was puzzled. “Does it make a difference? Is it a technical issue?”

“Earth is the holy land of esports. Holding such a major tournament here gives it real weight.” Cen Lan took a sip of milk tea and smiled. “Experiencing the unique atmosphere of the sacred ground of esports—I think it will be a trip worth making for them.”

Yu Huaiyin immediately understood. “…I bet those teams will be thrilled to come to Earth.”

“Of course. After all, the draw was conducted by the Supreme AI itself. I’m sure they’ll feel honored.” Cen Lan smiled.

Whether they feel honored or not, I don’t know; I just know that if it were me, seeing the Supreme AI personally involved, I’d be more terrified than delighted. Watching Cen Lan’s smiling lips, Feng Jingyu silently swallowed the words she’d been about to say.

·

“Whew…” Shu let out a long breath after watching the live broadcast of the draw. “Earthlings really know how to put on a show—even a draw ceremony can be this spectacular. Teacher, how do you think they managed to get the AI to do the draw? That takes some nerve and some vision.”

Before Wordweaver Star Anchor could answer, Yuhui spoke up. “As long as your reasoning meets the requirements, you can apply to the AI for approval. Isn’t that what the AI has always done? It’s just that we’ve always been passive, while Earthlings are proactive.”

Wordweaver Star Anchor nodded. “Yuhui is absolutely right. What Earthlings have done fits perfectly with the idiom ‘riding the momentum.’ Understanding the ‘momentum’ and making use of it—that’s the wisdom of Earth.”

Shu had a sudden realization. “That’s so true! But this way, the AI doesn’t seem so lofty after all…”

“The AI is, at its core, a tool for managing the Interstellar Federation. We don’t need to romanticize a tool,” Wordweaver Star Anchor said, then smiled. “Yuhui, I really like the copy of ‘Selected Works of Mao’ you picked out.”

“‘Selected Works of Mao’? That wasn’t me—it was a gift from Autumn Whisper.” Yuhui turned curious. “Teacher, is it really that good?”

Wordweaver Star Anchor nodded in admiration. “It’s endlessly rewarding, no matter how many times you read it. Autumn Whisper… she really understands me.”

“Did you hear that, Shu? Read ‘Selected Works of Mao’ carefully,” Yuhui said, turning to Shu.

Shu was baffled. “Why?”

“Because you’re the next ‘Wordweaver,’ the future director of the Institute of Interstellar Literature,” Qing Lan teased.

“Spare me…” Shu’s look of despair made all three burst out laughing.

·

The next day was New Year’s Eve.

Shu still hadn’t adjusted to Earth’s time, and with his excitement, he didn’t sleep all night, spending hours online researching everything about the Spring Festival.

At 9 a.m. Earth time, before Yuhui could wake anyone, Shu had already come out of his room.

“Senior Sister, shouldn’t we start today’s first activity—ancestor worship?” Shu looked at Yuhui with anticipation.

Yuhui gave him a look as if he were an idiot. “Ancestor worship? Your ancestors are still alive in the Central Star System—are you trying to turn the world upside down?”

A bolt from the blue left Shu completely awake. He reflexively covered his mouth, staring at Yuhui in horror.

Yuhui restrained herself from rolling her eyes, though her look of disdain only deepened. “All right, all right, I’m not going to tell your ancestors.”

Shu lowered his hand, crestfallen. “I spent all night reading up on the traditions, just wanting to experience them. I didn’t even think about whether they fit our situation…”

“Can you evolve past this single-threaded way of thinking? If you become director one day, people will eat you alive.”

Shu muttered under his breath, “I don’t want to be director…”

“You’ll have to, whether you want to or not.” Yuhui walked into the kitchen. “Come help me make breakfast. We can’t let Teacher get up with nothing to eat.”

“Okay.” Shu obediently followed.

·

Wordweaver Star Anchor was staying next door at Qing Lan’s place. When she and Qing Lan came over, Yuhui and Shu had just finished bringing the noodles to the table.

“Teacher, Qing Lan, perfect timing—come have some noodles,” Yuhui called. “Shu helped, too—he beat the eggs.”

Shu immediately puffed out his chest to assert his presence.

Wordweaver Star Anchor and Qing Lan both burst out laughing.

“The future director of the Institute of Interstellar Literature beat these eggs—I have to try them.” Qing Lan said with mock seriousness. She picked up a piece of egg. “Look at that sheen, that color—no wonder it’s the work of the future director. It’s just different.”

Shu’s face fell. “Qing Lan, you’re scaring me when you talk like that.”

Wordweaver Star Anchor laughed so hard she doubled over. “Qing Lan, where did you learn to talk like that? What have Earthlings been teaching you?”

“These are the lines my senior brothers and sisters use to deal with clients.” Qing Lan couldn’t keep a straight face either, collapsing onto Yuhui’s shoulder with laughter. “They say it’s all part of their deep love-hate relationship with clients.”

“Earth’s clients are that tough?” Wordweaver Star Anchor recalled something Yuhui had told her before—about ‘colorful black.’

“Yeah, besides ‘colorful black,’ there’s also stuff like ‘make it more refined in the atmosphere,’ or ‘make the font both smaller and bigger at the same time,’ and after ten revisions, they decide the first version was best.” Qing Lan said, “Luckily, I don’t have to deal with that.”

“Doesn’t Autumn Whisper make those kinds of requests?” Shu asked.

“She knows exactly what she wants and gives detailed requirements—except for that one time.” Qing Lan’s tone turned a bit gritted.

“What time?” Wordweaver Star Anchor was intrigued.

“That romance game, ‘Love and the Starry Sky.’ She wanted his gaze to be both domineering and gentle, distant yet intimate; his eyes had to be three parts cold, three parts disdain, three parts unfamiliarity, and one part affection. Tell me, is that even humanly possible?” Qing Lan still shuddered at the memory.

“That kind of literary rhetoric… is a bit abstract,” Shu said, careful not to laugh too hard.

“Later I found out Autumn Whisper did it on purpose,” Yuhui said, amused. “She said a painter who hasn’t had that experience isn’t complete.”

Wordweaver Star Anchor was laughing too hard to speak.

·

Breakfast ended in a cheerful mood, and the smart butler began tidying up.

Yuhui took out the items property management had given her yesterday, ready to start the day’s first activity—putting up Spring Festival couplets.

“We only had one set of couplets last year, so we just put them on the front door. But this year, with Teacher here, we can put a pair on every door.” Yuhui flashed a flattering smile at Wordweaver Star Anchor. “Teacher, could you come up with a few couplets? Qing Lan can write several sets, and we can give one to Aunt Yuelü as well.”

Wordweaver Star Anchor tapped Yuhui on the forehead. “There’s no other disciple in the entire Federation who bosses her teacher around like you do.”

“That’s the confidence you gave me, Teacher.” Yuhui said sweetly as she pulled Wordweaver Star Anchor over to the desk. Qing Lan had already prepared paper, ink, brush, and inkstone, just waiting for her to begin.

Wordweaver Star Anchor shook her head helplessly. What else could she do? She’d spoiled them herself.

“Let me think… If this couplet is for the front door, then the first line should be…”

Wordweaver Star Anchor was truly the greatest literary figure in Federation history—coming up with New Year couplets was no challenge at all.

Qing Lan listened attentively, her brush flowing smoothly as she quickly finished writing the couplets.

Once the ink was dry, the task of pasting the couplets naturally fell to Shu.

Under Yuhui’s direction, Shu really didn’t use a bit of psychic power, obediently following the Earth method: standing on a stool, listening carefully to Yuhui’s instructions, and pasting up the couplets one by one.

Next, they put up the “Fu” characters and New Year prints. Looking at their handiwork, the four aliens were all quite pleased.

“All right, next we’re heading out to watch the lion dance. I heard this year’s teams are all famous professionals—we’re in for a treat.” Yuhui announced the day’s second activity.

“Lion dance? I’m really looking forward to that!” Shu was practically bouncing with excitement. “I watched last year’s footage online, but this is something you have to see in person!”

“Hearing Shu say that, we can’t miss the lion dance,” Wordweaver Star Anchor said with interest.

“The event’s not far from our neighborhood—we can walk there in no time,” Qing Lan said. “We’d better hurry, or we won’t get a good spot.”

After tidying up, they headed out.