Entering the hotel, he arrived on the third floor.
As Qin Lang stepped onto the third floor, he immediately sensed something was off.
The corridor was bustling with people coming and going; it was quite a lively scene.
How could Director Zhao’s family dinner be this crowded?
“Could all these people be here to suck up to Zhao Kongxi?”
Qin Lang wondered to himself.
Sure enough, it seemed every world had its fair share of social climbers.
“Well, I’m different. I was actually invited!”
As Qin Lang reached the door, a man stopped him.
“Miss, may I see your invitation, please?”
Qin Lang blinked. “Invitation? What invitation?”
“The invitation for this event, of course! If you don’t have one, you’ll have to pass a test first. If you succeed, you can enter.”
Qin Lang frowned. What kind of nonsense was this? They invited him, and now they were asking him for an invitation?
Who does business like this? It was ridiculous!
Qin Lang felt like just turning around and leaving.
But his stubborn streak kicked in. Now he was determined to get in no matter what!
Once he was inside, he’d see what kind of explanation Director Zhao had!
“Fine,” he said, his tone a bit sharp. “What’s the test? Bring it on!”
Just then, a crowd of people surged forward behind Qin Lang, all looking excited.
“You all know the rules, right?” the man at the door asked calmly.
“Of course we do! Just give us the challenge already. If we get it right, we can go in, right?”
“Yeah, stop dragging your feet! You’re wasting everyone’s time!”
…
The man cleared his throat. “Alright, since you’re all ready, listen up!”
The noisy scene instantly fell silent.
Everyone stared eagerly at the man about to announce the challenge.
“Here’s the upper couplet: ‘Nantong Zhou, Beitong Zhou, North-South Tongzhou connects north and south.'”
“Only those who can match this couplet will be allowed entry. You have ten minutes.”
After speaking, the man watched the now-puzzled crowd with an amused expression.
“This couplet seems easy at first glance, but looking closer… it’s incredibly difficult.”
“Exactly. The first ‘Tong’ is part of the place name, but the second ‘Tong’ means ‘connects’. And the way it uses ‘north’ and ‘south’… it’s brilliant!”
“Too hard. How can anyone come up with a matching line in just ten minutes?”
…
Qin Lang frowned. So Director Zhao was a man of culture after all.
This must be his way of turning away all the people trying to latch onto him!
It wasn’t too blunt, and it showed he had a unique style.
“No wonder he’s an official. Such careful thinking!”
Qin Lang couldn’t help but feel a bit of admiration.
The others in the crowd, however, were deeply troubled.
The couplet was simply too difficult. Countless potential matches flashed through their minds, but none fit the structure.
Time ticked by, second by second. The room grew quieter, more and more tense.
A slight smile played on the doorman’s lips.
“Oh, and by the way,” he added, “this couplet was created by Miss Zhao Qinghui herself. She came up with it while traveling. She passed through two cities, one called Nantongzhou and the other Beitongzhou, and it inspired her!”
“However, Miss Zhao hasn’t been able to think of a suitable matching line herself. So she’s offering it as a challenge, hoping someone here can. And if anyone does, they’ll get a chance to take a photo with her!”
“This is a golden opportunity for you all. Don’t give up so easily!”
His words injected a huge surge of motivation into the crowd!
The men, especially, had reddened eyes and quickened breaths, their determination renewed to crack the couplet.
But Qin Lang’s frown deepened. Zhao Qinghui… why did that name sound so familiar?
Suddenly, a man burst into loud laughter.
“I’ve got it! I’ve got it! I finally figured it out!”
Envious and jealous looks shot his way from everyone around.
Being able to match Zhao Qinghui’s couplet would bring both fame and fortune. And if it caught her attention…
Zhao Qinghui was supposedly a stunning beauty with extraordinary grace. Who wouldn’t want a chance for close contact, let alone to win her heart?
“Oh? You’ve thought of a matching line? What is it?”
The man who’d solved it could barely contain his excitement.
“I just thought of it! Listen: The upper line is ‘Nantong Zhou, Beitong Zhou, North-South Tongzhou connects north and south.’ My matching line is: ‘Men living life, women living life, men and women living life give birth to men and women (boys and girls)!'”
The moment he spoke, the crowd was stunned!
Technically… the structure matched, but somehow it just felt…
So wrong!
Even the doorman was taken aback, his mouth twitching as he struggled for words.
“Haha, I matched it, right? I did! So I can go in now, can’t I?”
Seeing the man’s excitement, the others grew annoyed.
“What kind of couplet is that? It’s a disgrace to decency!”
“Exactly! It has no artistic conception. Such a vulgar line is an insult to Miss Zhao!”
“Right, forcing a line like that on Miss Zhao is just disgusting!”
“We don’t accept it! That couplet doesn’t count!”
…
The man’s face fell. “You’re all just jealous! If you’re so capable, why don’t you come up with one yourselves?”
The crowd fell silent, muttering. If they could match it, would he be the one showing off?
Seeing their silence, the man grew even more pleased.
“I’m different from you. I’m the man who matched Miss Zhao’s couplet! If you’re so good, match one yourselves! This is pure envy, admit it. Too bad, all your jealousy won’t change a thing. I’m the one getting a photo with Miss Zhao!”
Qin Lang raised an eyebrow slightly. He really couldn’t stand this guy’s arrogant attitude.
“A petty man who achieves his goal is insufferably conceited,” Qin Lang muttered.
His voice wasn’t loud, but in the quiet hallway, it was perfectly clear.
“What did you say? If you’re so smart, you match it! Don’t think just because you’re a woman you can talk nonsense!”
Qin Lang sighed helplessly. This guy had targeted him.
Was Qin Lang the type to just take an insult without firing back?
It was just a lousy couplet. What was there to be so superior about?
“I honestly can’t understand what’s so hard about this. Why are you so happy? A matching line as crude as yours, any three-year-old could come up with!”
“Ridiculous…”
“But since you’re so unconvinced, fine, I’ll give you ten matching lines right now.”
Ten?
Everyone who’d been annoyed by Qin Lang’s comment was now stunned.
Was he treating couplets like wholesale cabbages?
