How Many People Are There, Exactly?

After talking with his mom on the phone for over an hour, the complicated emotions Zhao Yu had felt when the hospital stirred up old memories finally eased somewhat.

Today's stream was about to begin as well. He composed himself and opened his livestream as usual.

The moment he went live, A Shui's connection request popped up. Zhao Yu accepted it.

"Not bad, bro! Your song's popularity is absolutely exploding. I checked the comments, and they hit 999+ in no time," A Shui praised.

"It's alright. I think it's only natural."

The sheer value of Compendium of Materia Medica was already enough to crush most songs nowadays, so Zhao Yu wasn't surprised in the slightest.

[IG Awesome sent Rocket x99]

[IG Awesome: Congratulations on the song selling so well~]

"Thanks, boss. Same to you, same to you," Zhao Yu immediately said gratefully.

[IG Awesome: Why isn't Yuuka here? Is she not coming today?]

"She'll be here soon. She seems to be busy with something. I'll ask her." Zhao Yu took out his phone.

After he had ended their call today, Yuuka had apparently been busy with something. He had sent her two messages that afternoon, but she hadn't replied.

"Yuuka, are you still busy?"

"No! I'm free now!"

Yuuka finally returned to her usual reply speed, which made Zhao Yu breathe a sigh of relief.

At some point, he had started becoming overly concerned about gains and losses too. Yuuka hadn't replied for so long that he had been a little worried.

A few minutes later, the three of them appeared on screen together again after a long time. A Shui's huge face was as eye-catching as ever.

"Long time no see, Yuuka."

"Long time no see, Jackey-kun."

Yuuka actually used Chinese this time, and a hint of surprise appeared on A Shui's face.

"You've improved so fast! You can speak Chinese already?"

"Only a little bit," Yuuka replied with difficulty.

"I think Yuuka is amazing too. She's only been learning for a week, yet she's already reached this level," Zhao Yu praised her at just the right moment.

[At this rate, even Brother Coin seems a little behind her.]

[The title of Chosen Chinese Cigarette is about to change hands.]

[So here's the question: Yuuka can learn simple Chinese in one week, so why can't certain Korean imports learn it after several seasons?]

[Those who get it, get it. Better not say any more.]

"Ahem, brothers, don't stir up trouble with that," Zhao Yu hurriedly reminded the Bullet Screen.

[What? You're chickening out already? Come on, you're so weak!]

[I'm dying, isn't A Shui right next to you? Just let him draw the fire. He's a 100% teamfight-participating AD anyway.]

"What? You can drag me into this too?" A Shui looked helpless.

"Alright, alright. Actually, I need to ask you guys for a favor today," Zhao Yu interrupted the Bullet Screen.

"Isn't Yuuka learning Chinese? She wants us to teach her together, preferably by asking her some grammar-related questions."

[Interesting. I'll take this job.]

[If it's for Yuuka, I can do anything.]

[The guy above, tone it down. But for Yuuka, we really should take this seriously.]

The Bullet Screen immediately became interested upon hearing that.

"Then I'll start with something simple, alright, Yuuka?" Zhao Yu asked.

"No pwoblem! I can!" Yuuka raised her hand like an elementary school student as she answered.

"Then let's begin. First question: What's your name?" Zhao Yu began asking in Chinese.

"My name is Ueno Yuuka. I'm twenty years old." This time, Yuuka's Chinese was a little smoother.

"What do you like to eat?"

"Soup dumplings, twice-cooked pork, and shredded pork with green peppers."

Yuuka's answer was an extremely standard Japanese trio. If she added Tianjin rice, it would be even more classic.

"Your home—"

"Isn't that a little too easy?" A Shui suddenly interrupted Zhao Yu's question.

"Huh? Yuuka has only just started learning. We can't hit her with difficult questions right away, can we?" Zhao Yu instinctively retorted.

"Oho, oho, you're already defending her? Don't you two seem a little overly close?" A Shui teased.

"What's wrong with defending her? If you've got the skills, go find one yourself," Zhao Yu said.

[??? Something's off!]

[What? Is this the rhythm of making it official?]

[No! My Yuuka!]

The livestream viewers keenly noticed something was off. Zhao Yu used to put up a stubborn front, so why was he outright admitting it now?

[Did Yuuka really give herself to him?]

[It was just something that happened naturally.]

[Promise me, Yuuka, don't give yourself to him, okay?]

"Lord Yu, what does 'give herself to him' mean?" Yuuka asked innocently.

"It doesn't mean anything. They're just losing their minds!" Zhao Yu turned around and shot the camera a vicious glare, speaking quietly at the same time.

"Don't corrupt Yuuka!"

[There it is, confirmed!]

[My Yuuka!]

By this point, how could the viewers not understand what was going on? The Bullet Screen immediately filled with wails of grief.

"Alright, let's continue. If you think that was too easy, then come up with some harder ones." Zhao Yu glanced at A Shui as he spoke.

"Oh, right! Don't make them too hard, or Yuuka won't understand."

"Wait a moment." A Shui disconnected the call, then quickly addressed the viewers in his livestream.

"Brothers, those two have betrayed our singles' alliance. Can you stand for this?"

[Absolutely not!]

[Damn it, give us back Yuuka!]

"How about we crank up the difficulty for them?" A Shui revealed an evil smile.

Since you two had stopped pretending, then bear the resentment of us single dogs!

A few minutes later, A Shui reconnected with Zhao Yu.

"You're not plotting something terrible, are you?" Zhao Yu looked wary.

"How could I be? They're all very simple questions." A Shui said with a smile.

"That's good." Though Zhao Yu was somewhat suspicious, he still chose to trust A Shui.

"I'm ready, Jackey-kun!" Yuuka said confidently.

"Then listen carefully!" A Shui said.

"Dante is Italian, but Ding Zhen is Chinese. Dante has been to hell, but Ding Zhen has not been to hell. Ding Zhen was born from his mother, and Ding Zhen was also born from his mother. But Dante and Ding Zhen are two different people."

"How many people are there in this sentence?"

Fuck! He really shouldn't have trusted A Shui! Zhao Yu's smiling face immediately froze.

"Yuuka, how about we skip this question? He's making things difficult for you."

"No! You can't be afraid of difficulties when learning Chinese!" Yuuka stubbornly shook her head, then started counting on her fingers.

Although A Shui's words were complicated, they were still basic vocabulary, so Yuuka could more or less identify the individual Chinese characters.

It was just that once they were strung together, she could no longer quite understand them. Still, if she only had to count how many people there were, that should not be a problem.

"Dante, Ding Zhen, Dante Ding Zhen Zhen... Dan..."

As she counted, Yuuka suddenly froze.

Her face went blank, her mouth moving as she repeated the words over and over.

"Dante, Ding Zhen, Ding Ding Zhen Zhen..."

"I understand now, there are three people! Dante, Ding Zhen, and Ding Ding Zhen Zhen!"

"Huh? Ding Ding Zhen Zhen?" A Shui was puzzled.

"Dante is Italian, Ding Zhen is Chinese, and Ding Ding Zhen Zhen is Japanese, so there are three people!"

Yuuka declared firmly.

[Oh no, Old Master Ding suddenly changed nationalities!]

[Hahahahaha, Ding Ding Zhen Zhen actually works. That sounds way better than Litang Junichiro!]

The livestream was instantly filled with a joyful atmosphere.