Surname? (Third Update)
Translator: 549690339 1
âWhen was Su Dajiaâs announcement made?â
Caught off guard, Yang Zhen found himself being pulled by Xue Zonghn towards a bell tower. The two of them squeezed through the crowd for a while. Even the normally refined Xue Zonglin swore a few times, âdamnit,â before they reached the front of the bell tower.
At that time, countless people had gathered around the bell tower. There were frail old people being jostled around, cursing as they tottered along, and children as young as seven or eight years old were wriggling around in the crowd, adding to the liveliness.
In front of the bell tower, two haughty young girls dressed as maids looked at the crowd. One of them, a girl wearing purple, held something that looked like a proclamation in her arms.
The other girl, dressed in white, smiled, and the noisy surrounding suddenly quieted down. Everyone was waiting for the girl in white to speak. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Xue Zonglin whispered to Yang Zhen, âBrother Yang Kang, this is your first time here, isnât it? You must not know about Su Dajiaâs announcement, do you?â
Yang Zhen nodded and said, âI was about to ask you about that. Those two little
maids over there seem quite arrogant.â
Xue Zonglin gave a bitter smile and said, âNot just arrogant. Cuwei and Emu are personal maids to Su Dajia and have a higher status in Tieling City than the sons of some noble families. Many young men want to win their favor to get
closer to Su Dajia.â
Yang Zhen laughed and said, âNo wonder the two maids are so arrogant. Itâs hardly surprising!â
Xue Zonglin snorted and said, âOnly people who overestimate their own abilities resort to such despicable tactics. Those who truly possess great talent participate in the contest held once a month. Once theyâre recognized by Su Dajia and get their names on the Wenhua List, they become the heroes of Tieling City. If they can reach the top of the list, they will even have a chance to engage in a classic debate with Su Dajia.â
âA classic debate?â Yang Zhen was taken aback and asked, âWhat is a classic debate?â
Xue Zonglin was stunned, then smiled awkwardly and said, âWell, Iâ¦â
âKeep your voice down!â The girl in white glared at Yang Zhen and Xue Zonghn and huffed, âMaster Xue, do you have any doubts about this announcement?
Xue Zonglinâs face changed and he quickly shook his head, saying, âNo, no, no, how dare I question Su Dajia!â
Yang Zhen chuckled lightly, looking at the girl in white with interest. Although she was young, she had a fiery temper.
The girl in white hesitated, then asked Yang Zhen, âThe gentleman looks unfamiliar, are you new to Tieling City?â
Hearing this, everyone instinctively turned to look at Yang Zhen, and whispers rose amongst the crowd.
âHeâs unfamiliar alright. Iâve never seen this man before. Could he really be a newcomer to Tieling City?â
âI heard that the Yang Zhen, whoâs been making wild claims, arrived in Tieling City, and even brazenly shouted his name in the crowd. Thatâs really outrageous!â
âBut this person should not be Yang Zhen. As arrogant as Yang Zhen is, I doubt he would dare to come to the bell tower.â
âThat being said, he probably isnât.â
Hearing the discussions around him and seeing the expression on the girl in whiteâs face, Xue Zonglin hurriedly said, âMiss Weiâer, you misunderstood. This gentleman is indeed new to Tieling City, but he is not Yang Zhen. His name is
Yang Kang.â
Yang Zhen chuckled lightly and said to the girl in white, âMy name is Yang
Kang, Miss Weiâer. Greetings!â
The girl in white huffed lightly and, speaking with an expressionless face, said, âThen, Master Yang, please refrain from causing a commotion.
Yang Zhen laughed and said, âMy apologies, I couldnât help myself. Donât , worry, Iâm usually quite low-key. I wouldnât do anything to startle people.â âThat would be better!â The girl in white glanced at Yang Zhen. For the first time, a smile crossed her face as she said, âEveryone who comes here is profoundly talented. We wouldnât want you to become a laughingstock.â
Yang Zhen chuckled and said, âThanks for the warning, miss.â
Xue Zonglin let out a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his brow, and whispered, âBrother Yang Kang, we should keep quiet and watch. Many here are extremely talented and even have numerous classic works under their belt. We simply cannot afford to be disrespectful.â
Yang Zhen nodded and curiously looked at the girl in purple.
Xue Zonglin also looked at the girl in purple, anticipation in his eyes. Suddenly, a hand slapped his shoulder, and he jumped with a start, turning his head to look and his face instantly falling.
âGong Tianque!â
Yang Zhen turned around in surprise, and immediately, his eyes widened and he was left speechless.
Damn, this Gong Tianque in front of him was unbearably flamboyant. Dressed in rosy, fur-trimmed thin attire, with a light green hat on his head that oozed the vibrancy of spring. To top it off, he wore a smug expression. He casually shoved Xue Zonglin away and said contemptuously, âXue Zonglin, someone who fails to even make it onto the Culture and Manners Chart dares to show their face here? I, Gong, do not have such a thick face!â
âYouâ¦â Xue Zonglinâs face paled, looking at Gong Tianque he said, Gong Tianque, not to mention me, since when have you been able to get on the Culture and Manners Chart?â
Gong Tianque laughed, âI am sorry, it seems like I, Gong, have a chance to enter the Culture and Manners Chart this time!â
âWhat?â Color drained from Xue Zonglinâs face, he stared at Gong Tianque incredulously, saying in a low voice, âImpossible!â
Gong Tianque looked down at Xue Zonglin dismissively and said, âXue Zonghn, remember the agreement between us, if I get onto the Culture and Manners Chart, you will get out of Danwen Academy!â
âWell, letâs just see if you can get onto the Culture and Manners Chart first! Xue Zonglin grinded his teeth and said, although the expression on his face was rather unpleasant.
Yang Zhen curiously watched the two. Just when he was about to speak, there was a sudden uproar in the crowd again.
There were gasps all around, even the two ladies, Cuwei, frowned, but this tune they didnât silence the crowd.
Yang Zhen followed the crowdâs gaze and the crowd automatically parted, a group of people were cheerfully approaching them.
âItâs Gan Bailin, never thought Gan Bailin would actually come in person!â
âThey say Gan Bailin is the one with the highest hopes to top the Culture and Manners Chart this time. A while back, he left the whole of Danwen Academy in shock with just a single character â heâs the most talented among the students of Danwen Academy!â
âThatâs not necessarily the case. Supposedly, thereâs a young girl who recently joined Danwen Academy with amazingly impressive talent, and at her tender age, sheâs already put down her marks on the talent register. Sheâs also taking part in the Culture and Manners Chart this time, but I donât know if sheâll come to watch the competition!â
âDear sir, you seem to be uninformed. That little girl is very liked by Su Dajia, theyâve already met several times. Iâve even heard that the little girl is currently inside Su Dajiaâs bell tower!â
âWhat?â
Everyone gave a start, giving Gan Bailin a strange look.
âNo wonder Gan Bailin looks so bad, even if he tops the chart this time, he might not have a chance to have a talent duel with Su Dajia!â
âThatâs not necessarily the case, it all depends on Su Dajiaâs arrangements.â Amidst the hubbub of the crowd, Gan Bailin and his group cast a glance toward the edge of the crowd and headed straight toward Xue Zonglin.
Xue Zonglinâs face turned extremely gloomy, and he even subconsciously moved closer to Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhen was taken aback, and asked in bewilderment, âBrother Xue, do you have a grudge against this Gan Bailin?â
Xue Zonglin gave a bitter smile and said, âI simply stated once, out of honesty, that Tian Rou is more talented than Gan Bailin, and I managed to offend him.â
Tian Rou?
Yang Zhen was taken aback, suddenly feeling that the name was somewhat familiar, but for the moment he couldnât remember where he had heard it.
At this moment, Gan Bailin and his group arrived in front of Xue Zonglin, sneering coldly, he said, âOn the day of the rankings announcement, when did it become a convention to allow every Tom, Dick and Harry to be present?â
Then, Gan Bailin looked at Yang Zhen with profound implications. Yang Zhen pointed to himself with a dumbfounded expression and said, âDamn, youâre insulted the Sao Saint too?â
Hearing this, everyone present was shocked, Xue Zonglin paled even more, quickly tugging at Yang Zhenâs clothes corner.
Ignoring Xue Zonglinâs attempts to stop him, Yang Zhen walked up to Gan Bailin, looked him in the eye and asked, âSir, whatâs your fatherâs family
name?â