Idols Gain Favorability Fast

Yuan Shu recalled the melody in his memory and softly began to sing: 

"When will the bright moon appear? I raise my cup and ask the blue sky. 

I do not know what year it is tonight in the heavenly palace. 

I wish to ride the wind and return, but I fear the jade towers and celestial halls—too high, too cold to bear. 

Dancing with my shadow in the clear moonlight, how different is this from the mortal world? 

Turning past red chambers, lowering through carved windows, shining on the sleepless. 

There should be no resentment, so why does the moon always shine brightest when people are apart? 

People experience joy and sorrow, parting and reunion; the moon waxes and wanes, 

such matters have been difficult to achieve in perfection since ancient times. 

I only wish for long-lasting companionship, 

so that though a thousand miles apart, we may share the same moonlight." 

Yuan Shu sang the lyrics rather than simply reciting them. Since he had been a karaoke enthusiast in his past life, his singing was on tune, and the song from his lips carried a sense of beauty. 

The young girl Cai Wenji listened, staring at Yuan Shu in a daze, thinking to herself: 

"This new senior brother, although he seems a bit gloomy, actually has quite a nice sharp chin when you look closely." 

"And being able to sing such a beautiful song, he surely can't be a bad person. They must have been wrong about him." 

"My father didn't lie to me. This senior brother really is a genius. I should learn more from him in the future." 

"Ding! Beauty Cai Wenji's favorability toward the host has increased by 40 points. Current favorability: 40 (Close Friend)." 

Yuan Shu had just finished singing when he heard the system notification, leaving him stunned. 

No way, what just happened? Her favorability jumped by 40 points all at once? 

It seemed that the great scholar Su Shi's lyrics had a powerful effect on a literary girl like Cai Wenji. 

But this was probably the limit of what he could achieve with favorability. After all, he couldn't expect a nine-year-old girl to develop romantic feelings for him, could he? 

Cai Wenji, her face flushed with excitement, asked Yuan Shu, 

"Senior brother, did you really write this song? The lyrics and melody are both absolutely perfect." 

Yuan Shu sighed inwardly—favorability sure was useful. Look at that, he had already been upgraded to "senior brother." 

But deceiving a little girl made him feel slightly guilty, so he responded awkwardly, 

"Uh, I just happened to compose it by chance. Since my little junior sister likes it, I'll give this song to you." 

Cai Wenji was thrilled when she heard Yuan Shu was gifting the song to her. 

"Really? Senior brother, you're really giving this song to Yan'er?" 

Yuan Shu patted Cai Wenji's little head and smiled. 

"Of course. But you have to keep this a secret for me, okay? Don't let anyone else know, not even Master." 

This time, Cai Yan did not dodge Yuan Shu's hand and let him pat her little head. 

She seriously responded, 

"Yan'er understands. This song will be a secret between senior brother and me." 

Yuan Shu nodded in satisfaction. The fewer people who knew about these plagiarized poems and lyrics, the better—it would save him from unnecessary trouble. 

After receiving the song, Cai Wenji was overjoyed. She now looked at Yuan Shu the same way a fangirl would look at her idol. 

"Senior brother, what's the name of this song?" 

"Let's call it 'When Will the Bright Moon Appear'." 

Just as the two of them were chatting on the stone bench, Zhou Yi finished his studies for the day and walked out of Cai Yong's study. 

Seeing Cai Yan and Yuan Shu talking so happily, he was surprised. 

Wasn't this little junior sister usually quite proud and aloof? Why was she being so friendly toward Yuan Shu? 

Yuan Shu saw Zhou Yi coming out and smiled at Cai Wenji, saying, 

"Little junior sister, senior brother has to go home now." 

Cai Wenji, reluctant to see him go, asked, 

"Senior brother, when will you come again?" 

Yuan Shu gently reassured her, 

"I'll come every day." 

Cai Wenji brightened at his words and said happily, 

"Then, senior brother, will you chat with Yan'er every day?"

Yuan Shu agreed: "Of course! From now on, after studying every day, I will come to visit my little junior sister." 

Cai Wenji extended her small hand and said: "Then pinky promise, no going back on your word!" 

Yuan Shu also extended his large hand and hooked her pinky, completing a promise with the little girl. 

"Junior brother, I came by carriage today. Would you like a ride?" Yuan Shu turned to ask Zhou Yi. 

"Sure, I'll trouble senior brother then." Zhou Yi initially didn't plan to accept, but seeing how close Yuan Shu and Cai Wenji were, he felt curious and wanted to understand more, so he agreed to Yuan Shu's invitation. 

The two got into the carriage together, and on the way, Zhou Yi asked Yuan Shu: 

"Senior brother, our little junior sister is usually a spoiled and headstrong girl. Why is she so attached to you?" 

Yuan Shu smiled and said: 

"Maybe it's because my charm is so strong that even children naturally develop affection for me." 

Zhou Yi thought to himself: In terms of looks, I'm far superior to you, yet the little junior sister doesn't even give me a second glance. You're clearly just brushing me off. 

But since he had no way to expose Yuan Shu, he could only observe things slowly in the future. 

… 

A month passed in the blink of an eye. 

During this month, Yuan Shu diligently went to study at Cai Yong's residence every day, showing an excellent attitude. This made Yuan Feng very pleased, thinking that sending this boy to study had indeed been the right move. 

Several major events occurred in Luoyang during this time. 

The first was the establishment of a business association called "Wanshan Commerce" in Luoyang. 

No one knew where its owner, Boss Shen, came from, but with immense capital and connections, he managed to secure some of the busiest shops on Luoyang's commercial street and opened various businesses such as restaurants, inns, and textile workshops. 

He also assembled several trade caravans that traveled between Luoyang and the surrounding counties. 

Additionally, Wanshan Commerce acquired a plot of land in the northern part of Luoyang and built the city's largest brewery, claiming to produce the finest wine in the world, attracting widespread attention. 

The second major event was the sudden rise in fame of Wang Yue, the Sword Saint of Yanshan, in Luoyang. He became a highly sought-after guest among noble families, with many aristocratic clans eager to send their young members to learn swordsmanship from him. 

Wang Yue had already been quite famous before, but his reputation was mainly within the circles of wandering swordsmen. The truly influential noble families had never paid him much attention. 

However, with the opening of the "Yanshan Martial Hall" in Luoyang, many aristocratic youths learned advanced sword techniques there, bringing Wang Yue's name into the noble circles. 

Learning swordsmanship at Yanshan Martial Hall suddenly became a trend in Luoyang. 

This was similar to how some modern parents, initially focused only on their children's academic performance, didn't care about extracurricular interests. 

But then, one day, they heard that the neighbor's child had started learning the piano and was doing really well. 

A colleague's child had also started piano lessons and was making great progress. 

These parents wouldn't be able to sit still anymore—they would definitely enroll their own child in piano lessons too. 

If no one learns a skill, that's fine—everyone is on the same level. 

But if someone learns it while you don't, then aren't you falling behind? 

That is absolutely unacceptable—this is how competition spirals out of control. 

Xi Zhicai understood this aspect of human nature and used it to spread Wang Yue's reputation. 

Before Yuan Shu could even ask to learn swordsmanship, Yuan Feng took the initiative to speak with him: 

"Gonglu, you have been doing very well in your studies lately—your father has been watching and is very pleased. 

However, being proficient in both literature and martial arts is the true aspiration of the Yuan family. Would you be interested in learning swordsmanship?"