Chapter Fifty-Six: Fooling the Great "King" (Double-Length Chapter)

Do you know what it means to feel awkward? At this moment, Wang Mo wished he could scrape out a three-bedroom apartment with his toes and hide himself inside.

Of course, the professor sitting across from him—He Zhixing from the Department of Literature at Qingbei University—wasn’t faring much better. A man who had lived a lifetime, yet never expected to encounter such an embarrassingly “social death” moment.

“Heh heh.”

“Heh heh.”

The two exchanged awkward laughs.

After a long silence, He Zhixing finally asked again, “You… are you really that Wang Mo?”

Wang Mo nodded. “Yes.”

“But…” He Zhixing trailed off, yet Wang Mo understood perfectly well what he meant: if Wang Mo possessed such awareness, such patriotism, such talent, why did he come across as so uncultured on television?

Wang Mo offered a sheepish smile. “My mind blanked at the time, and I misspoke.”

“Mm.” He Zhixing and the other professors exchanged glances, saying nothing.

Wang Mo could tell they didn’t quite believe him. That was only natural—for one to become a professor at China’s top university, one must possess not only vast knowledge but also extraordinary experience. They wouldn’t be so easily convinced by a simple explanation.

Wang Mo’s mind stirred. He glanced at Wu Yong, Luo Yun, and the others.

He Zhixing caught his meaning. “Wu, why don’t you and the others step out for a moment? Let us old fellows have a few words alone with Wang.”

Wu Yong and the rest nodded, quietly excusing themselves. Even Yuan Xiong, after a moment’s thought, left the room.

Once only the professors remained in the sitting room, He Zhixing turned to Wang Mo again. “Wang, if you have something to say, now is the time.”

Wang Mo was already prepared. In his heart, he silently called out: System, give me the aura of a scholar.

In the next instant, the previously unremarkable, somewhat youthful Wang Mo’s entire demeanor changed.

His eyes gleamed with intelligence. Though his gaze remained clear, it now shone with a luminous depth. Even without speaking, the unique refinement of a learned man radiated from him—he was utterly transformed from moments before.

In the room, the previously composed elderly professors suddenly found their eyes widening.

“My goodness.”

“What’s this?”

“Hmm?”

He Zhixing, in particular, nearly cried out in astonishment. Forgetting all reserve, he hurried forward and seized Wang Mo’s hand, examining him from head to toe, occasionally patting him as if to confirm he was real.

His eyes and face were full of disbelief as he muttered, “What’s going on? What is this?”

Wang Mo had anticipated his change in aura would eventually be discovered. In the world of performing arts, many skilled actors can instantly shift their aura—for example, from a refined businessman one moment to a menacing criminal the next with just a change of expression.

So, to him, changing his aura was nothing to hide. The difference was that his transformation was more thorough than even the finest actors. Others were merely acting, but for him, it was real.

Moreover, he had his deeper reasons for revealing this to the elderly scholars now. First, he would never ordinarily get to meet such giants of the literary world; this was a rare chance to show he wasn’t a charlatan seeking fame. Second, he understood the weight these men carried in Chinese literature. If he could gain even a sliver of their recognition, it would be a tremendous boost for his hoped-for comeback.

Sure enough, upon witnessing Wang Mo’s scholarly bearing, the literary elders were visibly moved.

Professor Tang Xuanyuan exclaimed, “It is said that rivers and mountains may change, but one’s nature is hard to alter. No matter how much a person restrains their aura, traces will show in their words and actions. Wang, you actually managed to deceive us old men just now—how did you do it?”

Wang Mo replied humbly, “I’m not quite sure myself. It just changed with a single thought.”

Changed in a single thought?

The professors exchanged glances, marveling.

He Zhixing sighed, “Perhaps this is what they call talent.”

To them, only “talent” could explain Wang Mo’s ability to shift his aura so completely in an instant.

Wang Mo had been considering how best to invent an excuse if questioned further, but upon hearing the word “talent,” he silently gave He Zhixing a mental thumbs up.

Indeed, any ability an ordinary person cannot fathom can be explained as “talent.”

Out loud, however, he remained humble. “You flatter me, Professor He.”

Afterward, as He Zhixing, Tang Xuanyuan, and the others conversed with Wang Mo, they discovered he was quick-witted, articulate, and possessed an impressive breadth of cultural knowledge.

He was nothing like the online rumors that painted him as ignorant and uneducated—a mere illiterate.

Save for some unfamiliarity with specialized literary research, Wang Mo’s grasp of foundational knowledge rivaled that of their own top students.

And their students—all were the finest young minds.

For Wang Mo to match them in basic knowledge was already the highest of praise.

Beyond knowledge, his conversation was modest, polite, and considerate, which greatly pleased the professors.

Scholars like He Zhixing had devoted their lives to literature, conducting themselves with decorum—graceful in speech, humble, cautious, and steady. Yet, beneath this lay a certain stubbornness and pride. They were often dismayed by the frivolity and impatience of today’s youth, their lack of respect for knowledge, and the rise of internet celebrity culture. But their refinement prevented them from voicing such opinions.

Yet, when they recognized a worthy young person, these elders would not hesitate to show their genuine appreciation.

“Wang is an excellent student!”—this was the unanimous conclusion in their hearts after just ten minutes of conversation.

They also became convinced of Wang Mo’s earlier explanation: that his poor showing on television was simply a result of mental blankness.

After some time, He Zhixing suddenly frowned. “Wang, have you ever streamed online?”

Wang Mo’s brows lifted in surprise. “Professor He, you watch live streams?”

He Zhixing chuckled, shaking his head. “I can’t keep up with those newfangled things. It’s my granddaughter—she was a fan of yours. After your incident, she even cried in secret several times. Later, she heard somewhere that there was a streamer whose voice sounded just like yours, and he seemed very talented. So she dragged me to watch.

“At first, I didn’t pay much attention—just sat with her to keep her company. But as I listened, I realized that streamer did have some cultural foundation. Especially a phrase he said at the end, and the signature he wrote—those truly amazed me. I even had the impulse to ask for his contact information.

“But now I see, that person’s voice, aura, and conversation are exactly like yours. So I suspect that streamer might be you?”

Hearing this, Wang Mo’s mind raced through several thoughts. Having revealed his scholarly bearing, he had no intention of hiding his identity. His livestreams were always intended to one day reveal his true self. He just hadn’t expected He Zhixing to have watched his streams and recognized him. An unexpected windfall—now he could save himself much explanation.

Wang Mo nodded slightly but hadn’t yet spoken when Tang Xuanyuan interjected in surprise, “He, you’ve always been so reserved—few words move you. Yet you were amazed by something Wang Mo said? Is that true?”

He Zhixing laughed, “Let Wang tell you himself. I guarantee your opinion of him will change once more.”

In an instant, all eyes turned to Wang Mo.

He scratched his head, a little embarrassed (shamelessly so). “Professor He flatters me. I just jotted down an impromptu signature about the aura of a scholar.”

Tang Xuanyuan pressed, “What did you write? Tell us!”

Wang Mo replied, “With literature in one’s heart and humility in one’s chest, the spirit of poetry and books naturally shines forth.”

The room was silent for a moment.

Aside from He Zhixing, who looked on with a smiling gaze, the others seemed momentarily lost in thought.

After a while, Tang Xuanyuan shook his head and sighed. “What a line—‘With literature in one’s heart and humility in one’s chest, the spirit of poetry and books naturally shines forth.’ Especially the last phrase—how marvelous! Truly, well said. Wang, it seems you were holding back when you chatted with us earlier.”

They had thought Wang Mo was merely a boy with solid basic knowledge. But to coin such a phrase—this required more than knowledge; it demanded true literary spirit.

The more they savored the words, the richer their taste became. In just a few characters, the noble character of a scholar leapt from the page.

He Zhixing beamed. “Tang, Li, what do you think?”

Li Nianren sighed, “Online rumors do such harm!”

He Zhixing shook his head, “The internet truly cannot be trusted. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, who would believe that the Wang Mo, maligned by all online, is in fact such a talented youth?”

Tang Xuanyuan looked at Wang Mo. “Wang, the online abuse against you is overwhelming. At your age, can you really bear it?”

Before Wang Mo could answer, He Zhixing cut in again, “Tang, this brings me to another thing I admire about him. When this young man was livestreaming, facing a barrage of criticism, he spoke another phrase that deeply moved me.”

Another phrase? Another that drew He Zhixing’s admiration?

The others’ hearts raced.

“What did he say?”

“Tell us!”

He Zhixing recited, “Amidst a torrent of insults during the stream, Wang Mo said:

‘In this world, some slander me, deceive me, insult me, mock me, slight me, belittle me, despise me, or lie to me—how should I respond?

Simply endure him, let him be, avoid him, bear him, respect him, ignore him. After some years, just wait and see.’”

The elders’ hearts pounded once more. They regarded Wang Mo with newfound admiration.

Wang Mo quietly gave He Zhixing an inward thumbs-up: this was divine assistance indeed—he need say no more to prove himself.

And sure enough—

Tang Xuanyuan spoke, “Wang, at your age to possess such composure, to see through rumors and insults—such a state of mind is rare even for me.”

Wang Mo quickly replied, “Please, I was just speaking off the cuff—it’s nothing truly profound.”

Tang Xuanyuan shook his head. “To say such words is proof of your depth of thought.”

“Yes,” He Zhixing agreed. “No wonder you remain calm in the face of online abuse. Just for that, you’re ahead of ninety-nine percent of people. But what puzzles me is—with your talent, why did you become a celebrity chasing popularity?”

Wang Mo coughed lightly. “That was the company’s plan for my public persona, I…”

Before he could finish, He Zhixing burst out angrily, “Entertainment companies these days have no bottom line—taking a promising youth and shaping him like this!”

The others likewise denounced Yunhai Media.

Wang Mo thought to himself: Sorry, company. But he said aloud, “Professors, please don’t be upset. In fact, my downfall may not be a bad thing for me, for society, or for countless young people.”

“Oh?” They were puzzled.

Had Yuan Xiong been present, he would have known exactly what Wang Mo was up to. But after their conversation, the professors had already decided Wang Mo was a fine young man—talented, virtuous, modest, and reserved. Such a youth could not be lying.

So they waited for his explanation.

Wang Mo began to speak at length. “In the entertainment industry, everyone knew I was nothing more than a pretty face—no talent, no work to my name. As a top influencer, I set a poor example for young people—a misplaced set of values. My downfall serves to show that someone like me should not be idolized.

“Only through my painful example can young people understand that their idols should be worthy—not people without virtue, culture, or substance, not those with only looks and no depth. In that sense, my downfall is meaningful—it has value!”

“Well said!”

“Excellent!”

The professors praised him enthusiastically.

Wang Mo continued, “And though I’ve fallen, I refuse to sink into despair. That’s why I turned to livestreaming. By streaming with a mask after my fall, I aimed to show: as long as you study hard, master knowledge—even without a face, even without looks—you can make your way in a world flooded with internet celebrities and pretty-boy idols. In this way, I can set an example and teach young people correct values, correct outlooks on life and the world…”

“Marvelous!” The literary elders could not contain themselves—they stood and applauded.

Wang Mo’s words echoed their deepest convictions.

He Zhixing, especially moved, declared, “Wang, you’ve done well. I have another thought: you may have fallen from grace, but not due to a moral failing—merely a slip of the tongue. Officially, you did nothing wrong; it was just public opinion that brought you down.

“I believe: you are not without a chance to rise again! With your talent for composition, your knowledge and cultural foundation, once you make a name for yourself in composition or streaming, you can reveal your identity and return to the entertainment world. Use your story to teach all those chasing idols: appearance is not everything—knowledge is eternal!

“Yes! Do just that! You fell because of knowledge, and in the end, you will rise because of knowledge. This rise and fall will prove the importance of learning. For today’s youth, the entertainment industry, and countless misguided idol-chasers, you’ll be the best example!”

“Exactly!” echoed Tang Xuanyuan.

“Exactly!” echoed Li Nianren.

The others agreed as well.

Wang Mo replied, “Thank you, professors. But for a disgraced celebrity like me, is it truly possible to return? The media and the public would tear me apart.”

“Heh!” In that instant, a sharp light flashed in He Zhixing’s eyes. “Your case isn’t truly serious—it was online abuse that destroyed you. The real culprits are the abusers and the media. After all, to err is human—who can claim to be without fault? Should you be condemned forever for a single slip? Is it right to hound someone to death, even after they’ve faced hardship and sought redemption? Such thinking is toxic!

“There is an old saying: ‘A prodigal who turns back is more precious than gold.’ If you can rise again through your own ability, guiding today’s youth to proper values, your actions deserve not censure, but praise and acclaim.”

Oh!

This was yet another stroke of divine assistance!

Wang Mo’s heart was filled with surprise and delight. He found himself growing ever fonder of Professor He Zhixing. He hadn’t even gotten to the main points himself, and yet He Zhixing had already steered the conversation exactly where he needed it to go.